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inclosed self-defensible work for three medium guns on a knoll about 120 feet above the water, and at some distance within the embouchure of the Tombeau River,
Appendix No. 4.
MAURITIUS.
Tombeau River Work.
3 64-pr. M.L.R, guns.
Battery Armament
This latter work is of necessity some distance within the entrance to the river, and, consequently, cannot see, or can see very little of the shore; and it is, therefore, proposed to place two 64-pounder muzzle-loading rifled guns in the old Dauphiné Battery on the left bank of its mouth, from whence the shore on either side of the bay can be effectually Batteries
seen.
A similar self-defensible work should be placed upon the slopes of Semaphore Hill (Mount Longue), and a field position should be prepared upon the junction of the Pample Mousse and Cannonier's Point roads.
To the south-west of the town the country is more difficult, and the shore is inacces- sible, as it is protected by the reef, which extends seawards to a distance of 1,200 yards.
Armament
Batteries Armament
::
Grande Rivière Bay.
£ 11,500 1,350
As the town is not so liable to injury from this side, it does not seem necessary to have recourse to so large a work as is proposed for Tombeau Point. But a battery for two 2 10-in. M.L.R. guns, 18 tons. 10-inch muzzle-loading rifled guns of 18 tons should be placed upon the bend of the coast- line to east of Grande Rivière Bay, and two medium 64-pounder muzzle-loading rifled Battery guns should be mounted in Battery Condé, which should be revised to receive them.
Armament
£
4,025 900
8,050
1,350
This side can be held by two posts, one in the vicinity of Koenig's Farm, and one above the Pailles, on the slopes of Quoin Bluff, with an entrenched position on the eastern bank of the Grande Rivière, culminating where the railway to Souillac crosses it.
These posts should mount three position guns.
As already stated, the works described above will not secure the dock establishments and the town from shell fire; to attain this a more advanced position must be sought for. The only point where such a position can be found is Barkly Island, a small island 850 yards in advance of the entrance to the harbour.
A work on this island must of necessity be very strong, as it stands in an isolated position, and, as it is low, a portion at least of its guns should be behind shields.
Battery Armament
£
12,075
7,400
Battery Condé.
2 64-pr. M.L.R. guns.
4,025 900
Kænig's Farm.
Armament
11,500 1,350
Quoin Bluff.
8,050 1,350
Battery
Battery Armament
Barkly Island.
It is proposed to construct a work on this island for five 10-inch muzzle-loading rifled guns of 18 tons, of which three shall be shielded, and for two 64-pounder muzzle-loading 5 10-in. M.L.R. (3 shielded) guns, rifled guns.
18 tons.
If this work be constructed, the heavy-gun battery at Grande Rivière can be dispensed 2 64-pr. M.L.R. guns. with, and the two shielded guns in Fort George will no longer be required.
£
Battery Armament
38,525 19.400
On this side
It remains to consider what steps shall be taken for the land defence. there is little room for doubt, for whether the defences are pushed forward to the shore on the windward side of the island, or whether a stand is made in the neighbourhood of Port Louis, it is necessary to prevent the mountains round the town falling into the hands of an enemy. If he once gained a permanent hold of these heights he would command the town, and all that has been proposed would be useless.
Fort Adelaide, the citadel, stands on a hill 285 feet high, immediately above and behind the town, which it commands thoroughly, but is itself commanded by a hill 347 feet high 1,200 yards behind it, and this hill again is in its turn commanded by the Pouce, which, at a distance of 3,000 yards behind it, rises to a height of 2,700 feet.
Fort Adelaide is a well-built masonry work, mounting nineteen smooth-bore guns of various calibres, and containing bomb-proof accommodation for 131 men. It is proposed to retain six of the twenty-four smooth-bore guns for close defence.
Sir F. Malcaster, writing in 1813, recommended the occupation of the Pouce, upon which there appears to be a convenient plateau for a small post, 600 or 700 feet below the summit. A small force here would not only bar the approaches to the town, but would serve to keep the environing ridges clear. No roads apparently pass over the ridges here, and a small infantry post would suffice; but, with a view to clear the ridges and to prevent any attempt to occupy the hill behind the citadel, a couple of light field-guns might be added.
Four field-guns should also be provided for general purposes.
It is, however, to be noted that, at the time of the conquest of Mauritius, the French held, and were driven.out of, Pirebôt. This Pirebôt can hardly be the Peiter Both Moun- tain, which is higher than the Pouce, but is probably a lower position upon one of the plateaux of the Long Mountain, which runs from the Peiter Both to the signal station.
As already stated, there can be no doubt about most of the landing-places on the windward side. They are generally of no extent, they afford no facilities for a landing in force, and the passages through the reef by which access to them is gained are narrow.
[1103]
2 M
Battery
Armament
The Pouce.
£ 8,050 300
D
General purposes~~
4 field guns
600
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