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162
No.
Name of Work.
of
Nature of Guns.
Guns.
Citadel
91 guns.
*22*
8
29
20
12
4
7
8"
"
11
Fort Charlotte, George's Island
20 guns.
∞ ∞ +
Fort Clarence, Eastern Passage
11
19 guns.
4
64-pr.
"
4
82-pr. S. B.
Remarks.
7" M. L. R. 64-pr. M. L. R. 24-pr. S. B.
20-pr. B. L. R. 13" mortars.
32-pr. saluting.
10" M. L. R.
""
g" 68-pr. S. B.
9" M. L. R.
10" M. L. R.
9"
19
10" M. L. R.
A
Excepting the saluting guns, only two are
mounted, though they are in the fort. correspondence is now going on with the War Office on the subject. It is hoped that fifteen of the most important will be in position by the end of the year.
The eight 68-prs, have been dismounted, and removed from the island, and it is under- stood they will be replaced by 64-prs. M. L. R.
Nos. 1 and 2 emplacements the guns were dismounted about two years ago, and have not yet been remounted. The four 64-prs. counterweight guns not yet mounted, but instructions have been given for mounting two next year.
Mounted.
Mounted.
:
σ ca
3
3
8
g"
"
Ives Point
9 guns.
York Redout
11 guns.
Cambridge Battery
8 guns.
LO GO
5
10" M. L. R.
3
"יד
"}
Ogilvie Battery
5
9" M. L. R.
10 guns.
5
29
Prince of Wales's Tower
8
64-pr. M. L. R.
8 guns.
North-West Arm
4 guns.
4
80-pr. M. L. R.
There are only five guns mounted; the other three are kept in reserve at Cambridge Battery.
Approved, but not constructed.
2. The guns actually in position and intended to be placed would appear to be ample for the protection of the approaches to the port; nevertheless it is admitted that, if the ships of an enemy could succeed in effecting an entrance in a fog, or by running the gauntlet of the forts reach the Narrows, they would be practically out of range from any fort or work now in existence-Fort Needham, shown in the chart of the harbour, being a myth. It is obvious, therefore, that some further obstacles against the entrance of ships of an enemy are necessary, and especially at a time when the defence of the harbour could not be relied upon by the presence of vessels of war in the port. A system of submarine mines is now being organized at various points adapted for such means of defence, and these are to consist as follows:
Off St. Ives Point, twenty-one 100-lb. electric contact torpedoes; fifteen 250-lb. buoyant torpedoes, placed in 17 fathoms water, and moored at a depth ot 45 feet low water; ten 500-lb. ditto, ditto.
Off York Redoubt, twenty-eight 100-lb. electric contact torpedoes.
Off north-west arm and at the entrance it is intended to place torpedoes so that the guns from Cambridge, Ogilvie, and Ives Point could protect the torpedo field.
3. The officer commanding the Royal Engineers thinks that all the torpedoes should be fired from a torpedo station at Mount Pleasant, thus placing all the wires in a line with the entrance, instead of across the passage to the nearest shore, where they would be more easily dragged up. In this I quite concur.
4. In order to maintain this port as a harbour of refuge in time of war, the submarine mines should be fired by observation, or the contact electric method, and I think that some Whitehead torpedoes should be placed at Ives Point, George's Island, and the York Redoubt; at the latter work the guns are 177 feet above the sea, and shot would not touch the water within 480 yards from the shore, consequently a gun-boat could pass with safety under the fire of these guns. At present the forts and batteries are not in telegraphic communication except by flag semaphore, but it is intended this year to complete the system by wire communication with the citadel. Money has been granted, but instructions have not yet been sent. Should an enemy's vessel succeed in getting as
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