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Recommen- dations.
Permanent obstruction on Kellet's Bank.
Alteration
to minefield.
Battery on Green Island.
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The line of mines is to extend in a straight line from Belcher's Point to Stonecutter Island, a distance of 4,000 yards.
We are strongly of opinion that an efficient defence cannot be obtained by these arrangements, and we have consequently addressed a letter (vide Appendix I.) to the Officer Commanding the troops, China and Straits Settle- ments, urging that the closing of Kellet's Bank be reconsidered.
We recommend the following scheme as being more suitable for both present and future requirements :-
(1.) Kellet's Bank to be closed by a permanent obstruction, a channel 400 yards wide being left between the obstruction and Green Island, which would be closed in time of war.
(2.) The minefield could then be broken up into two sections, one extending from Stonecutter to Kellet's Bank, a distance of 1,500 yards; the other across Sulphur Channel from Green Island, a distance of 600 yards. We do not consider it necessary to enter into details regarding the permanent obstruction on Kellet's Bank, as the matter has already been considered by the authorities at the War Office.
(3.) A battery, to contain one heavy and two medium B.L. guns, to be erected on Green Island. The heavy gun is that now proposed to be mounted on a site above the town, but we recommend that it should be of 10-in. and not 9-2-in. calibre. The two medium guns are additional to the present proposed armaments.
The guns on Green Island should be mounted on dis- appearing carriages in an enclosed work. The 10-in. B.L. gun should have an arc of fire, extending from the west extremity of Stonecutter's Island to Mount Davis (an arc of about 270 degrees). The arcs of both the 6-in. B.L. guns should contain the area of water from the west to the south of Green Island.
(4.) The batteries existing and under construction, with the exceptions. hereinafter mentioned, to be completed as at present designed.
Belcher's
Point Fort.
Belcher's Point Fort.
There are many points connected with this work which call for comment. The fort is most conspicuous, the outlines of the work and the slopes being too regular, and there being much exposed masonry, a large proportion of which cannot be hidden by planting. The planting of the slopes is most unsatisfactory. Bamboos (which do not grow in the neighbourhood) have been planted in lines round the scarps, the effect of which will be to render the fort even more conspicuous than it would be without planting. It would have been better to trust to prickly pear and other obstructions than to construct the massive stone revetments, which are costly to build, difficult to hide, and easy to destroy, whilst the ditch, being unprovided with flanking works, is a positive disadvantage to the defence.
The exterior slopes are very steep and, therefore, liable to give way under climatic influences, even if not exposed to bombardment.
Among minor details the following alterations are proposed:--
The roof of the cartridge store for No. 1 gun is insufficiently protected, the thickness over a portion of it consisting of about 33 ins. of masonry work, and of 2 to 3 ft. of earth.
The bombproof passage from the casemates to No. 3 emplacement is almost in prolongation of Sulphur Channel, and a shell clearing the crest of the parapet might pass down this passage. To prevent this the arch should be
· lowered.
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