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134
Garrison,
Appendix No. 4.
MAURITIUS.
With the exception of Grand Port, Flacq is, perhaps, the best; but the reef in its front is close to the shore; it is consequently exposed to the heavy swell which always rolls upon the shore, and there is no anchorage for ships.
These landing-places may be left to themselves, and the defence concentrated about Port Louis.
Grand Port, however, requires consideration. It is, in reality, an extensive roadstead, stretching from Point de la Colonie to Grande Rivière, south-east, formed by a reef which runs parallel to, and at a distance of 3,000 yards from the coast, from Ile de la Passe, the south entrance, to Ile Roche, the north.
This roadstead, which is 24 miles long, is not very wide, and in places the channel is intricate; but the water is deep and everywhere smooth, being protected from the heavy ocean swell by the reef, which is uncovered at low water. The anchorage is about 2,000 yards from the shore, and capable of receiving a considerable number of vessels. Import- ance attaches to this as the most feasible base of operations, in which vessels can keep the harbour in all weathers.
Upon the other hand, it may be defended without difficulty. The accessible points inside are Mahebourg, on the south, and Grande Rivière, on the north; between these the country is mountainous, with spurs running down to the shore, and without roads.
Works might be constructed at Mahebourg, at Grande Rivière, and at an intermediate salient called "The Devil's Point;" but they would need to be strong self-defensible works, mounting heavy guns, and their part would be over as soon as a landing had been effected elsewhere, when they would either surrender or be masked. At any rate, they would then have no effect upon the defence of the island.
The French posts on the shore in this neighbourhood did, during the war of 1806-10, fall more than once into British hands, but without influencing in the slightest degree the main operations; the British were able to make no use of them while they held them, and were ever unable to retain them for any length of time.
The works indicated would be costly, and the expenditure would be out of proportion to the object to be obtained; they cannot, therefore, be recommended. Nevertheless, the anchorage so invites an enemy to make use of it that it is only with extreme reluctance left entirely to his pleasure.
The approach to Mahebourg and old Grand Port might, no doubt, be blocked easily at the line indicated on the Chart,* and that to Grande Rivière might be barred by a few submarine mines, guarded by a masked battery of light guns on the low ground to the north of the Feuilles spurs, and swept by a similar battery on or near the site of the old Grande Rivière Battery; but these obstructions—and they are the only slight obstructions which could be made would not prevent an enemy from making use of the intermediate shore; and though, if he landed there or elsewhere, the detachments in the batteries would be at once withdrawn and the guns spiked and thrown into the water, the delay to him would be trifling, and would scarcely prevent his using the harbour as a primary base of operations.
For the service of the sea batteries 200 artillery and 150 infantry will be required; for the five posts, 40 artillery and 260 infantry; for the citadel and the Pouce, 310 infantry; and to these should be added, for submarine mining purposes, one-half company Royal Engineers, and a movable force of 680 infantry.
R.A.
Infantry.
R.E.
Sea batteries
200
150
Five posts
40
260
Citadel and Pouce
310
Submarine mining
50
General purposes
680
240
1,400
50
Total of all arms
1,690
Barracks, 30,000%
Reduced estimate for Fort George-
2 10-in. guns.
The existing barracks in and about Port Louis will suffice for about 1,250 men; 150 men may also find accommodation in the posts and batteries proposed; so that barrack accommodation for 300 men will still be required.
It may here be convenient to summarize the defensive measures set forth above:— 1. The port may be denied to an enemy by remodelling Fort George for heavy guns and by providing submarine mines.
2. The town may be partially protected, greater security may be given to the port, and landing in the vicinity may be rendered impossible by works for heavy guns on Tombeau and Grande Rivière Bays, with accessory works for lighter guns near the mouths of the rivers which fall into these bays.
3. The port and town may be rendered safe from injury or insult by occupying Barkly Island, in which case the battery for heavy guns at Grande Rivière and a portion of the 6,670 heavy armament of Fort George may be dispensed with.
£
Battery Armament
+
9,400
Total
·
16,070
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* Not printed.
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