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Salients-
Appendix No. 4.
ADEN.
Isthmus Lines.
5 64-pr. M.L.R. guns.
Flanks-
10 8-in. S.B. guns.
Garrison-
144
The guns at present mounted on the terre-plein of these lines are ten 8-inch, fifteen 24-pounders, six 12-pounders, and one 8-inch howitzer, all smooth-bore. It would be well to reduce this number, and substitute, as proposed, 64-pounder muzzle-loading rifled guns at the salients, and replace the guns in the flanks by the best of the lightest smooth- bore guns at the station.
It is worthy of consideration, however, whether the substitution of machine guns in the flanks would not be advisable. Though an extra sum would be required for armament, the number of artillerymen required would be considerably reduced. Instead of 100 men Men. being required for the flanks, not more than thirty would be necessary.
115
1
Artillery
Infantry
207
**
Total
322
..
Cost-
£
Works
Armaments
..
2,000 3,300
Total
E
5,300
Jebbel Huddeed.
1 64-pr. M.I.R. gun.
230 feet above sea level.
Gateway Redan.
2 8-in. S.B. guns.
28 feet above sea level.
It would not appear necessary to mount a gun in the tower at El Gerif, in the centre of the lines, nor is a gun on Jebbel Huddeed required for the land defences. As, however, a gun on this latter point would, in addition to firing down the isthmus, bring a plunging fire to bear on the head of Aden Bay, a 64-pounder muzzle-loading rifled gun should be placed there, which, besides firing over the isthmus, would cross fire with the gun at the salient of the Hedjif Battery.
No further work is required at the Tower Gate. To prevent surprise in that direction from the isthmus, two 8-inch smooth-bore guns may be substituted for the four 24-pounders at the gateway redan.
The escarps of the lines should be repaired, and all native footpaths, of which one runs up under Jebbel Huddeed, should be destroyed. For the Isthmus Defences are now proposed :—
On salients
Jubbel Huddeed
(Also to fire over head of Aden Bay.)
In flanks
Gateway Redan
The expense may be put down as:-
Works
Armament
Total
The men required would be :-
For the service of the guns→→→
For salients
For flanks
::
:::
Total
(Of whom 115 should be artillerymen).
5 64-pr. M.L.R. guns. 1 29
33
10 8-inch S.B. guns, or 10 machine guns.
2 8-inch S.B. guns.
2,000 3,300
5,300
Men,
72
100
172
And, in addition, 150 infantry should be provided, making―
Artillery Infantry
Total
•
Men.
115
207
••
322
If machine guns are provided in the flanks this number might be reduced to-
Artillery Infantry
··
**
Total
..
Men.
68
184
232
Crater Defences.
In this case the cost of the armament would be increased by about 3,0007.
(c.) CRATER Defences.
Although, if a landing were effected in Front Bay or Holcut Bay, any advance on the rear of the Isthmus Defences, or upon the Steamer Point position, could be easily opposed on the Munsoorie heights and at the Main Pass it is desirable to prevent enemy's ships taking up a position off Seera Island, or Marshag, from which they could easily destroy the town of Aden and the military establishments at that end of the Peninsula.
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