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Appendix No. 4.
SEYCHELLES.
Hodoul Point Battery.
2 10.4-in. B.L. guns.
2 64-prs.
Battery
Armament
St. Anne's Battery.
3 10.4-in. B.L. guns.
£
202
There are no defences on the island at the present time, neither is any garrison main- tained there. Its short, though eventful, history in our naval annals shows that it played an important part in the maritime wars in the end of the last and the beginning of the present century, and that it should not be omitted from consideration in any comprehen- sive scheme of Imperial defence.
The military information obtainable respecting the port and the islands around it is insufficient to permit of definite recommendations being based thereon; consequently, some of the proposals presently submitted may, on the receipt of further and fuller reports, prove susceptible of much alteration and improvement; but an examination of the chart leads to the conclusion that the port possesses considerable natural facilities for defence, either (1) as a port of refuge wherein vessels may lie in security while refitting, or (2) as a coaling and provision depôt, the use of which is denied to an enemy.
1. It would appear that the first object may be attained by erecting small works at Hodoul Point (Mahé Island), St. Anne's Island, and Cerf Island for nine heavy and six medium in all; and a work on the lighthouse reef in advance of that structure for
guns 19,375 five heavy guns.
Submarine mines should be laid across the entrance of the inner harbour, and a few across the centre and southern channels of approach. There are three or four narrow entrances through the coral reef into the inner harbour, which may require to be perma- nently obstructed in order to exclude the possible entry of hostile torpedo-launches.
A gun-boat of the "Comet" class should be stationed here.
10,100
£
2 64-prs.
Battery
30,600
Armament
14,600
Cerf Battery.
4 10'4-in. B.L. guns.
2 64-prs.
Battery
Armament
£
36,300
19,100
Lighthouse Battery.
5 10 4-in. B.L. guns.
£
Battery
81,750
Armament
•
22,500
Mines-
Stores
•
2,690
Boats
4,300
Storehouse
2,500
Total
9,400
Permanent obstructions Gun-boat
2,000 13,000
Land defences
•
Barracks-
Full scheme Small scheme.
2. To deny the use of the harbour as a coaling and provision depôt only, the batteries at Hodoul Point, St. Anne's, and Cerf, the outer submarine mines, and the gun-boat might be omitted.
No information is available as to the requirements for defence against attack by land, 5,000 but the mountainous and difficult nature of the country induces the belief that little beyond a few emplacements for position guns, and the construction or improvement of roads thereto will be needed to secure the town and store depôts against this form of attack.
£
For want of precise information with respect to building materials and labour avail- able locally, it is difficult to estimate the cost of the foregoing proposals. The amounts given must therefore be taken as roughly approximate only.
With respect to the garrisons for the first scheme, 500 men of the Imperial troops would be required, of whom 120 should be artillery, and 30 Royal Engineers for sub- marine mines.
Permanent barrack accommodation for about 50 men would be provided in the various 45,000 batteries. Accommodation for 450 men would have to be built.
.. 20,000
For the second and smaller scheme a garrison of about 250 men would be required, of whom 80 should be artillery and 30 Royal Engineers. Barrack accommodation would be required for all, as a casemated fort surrounded by water in a tropical climate would probably be objected to on sanitary grounds as a permanent dwelling-place for Europeans.
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Works Armament
Submarine mines Obstructions
Gun-boat Land defences
Barracks..
Total
:
RECAPITULATION.
First Scheme.
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:
:
:
£
168,025
66,300
9,400
2,000
13,000
5,000
45,000
308,725
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