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Appendix No. 4.
BAHAMAS,
SEA DEFENCES.
Hog Island, West.
382
These considerations point to the necessity of strongly occupying Hog Island, and of mounting some heavy guns there, principally to keep off an enemy's ships from approach- ing within bombarding distance. Owing to the length of the island, it appears impossible to do this effectually with less than three works.
Of these, one," Hog Island, West," should be placed at the west extremity of the island where the lighthouse now stands. It should be armed with five heavy guns: two 5 10-in. R.M.L. (2 shielded, 3 bar in casemates, with iron shields, to fire across the mouth of the harbour and down the
bette).
2 64-prs.
£
shallow western approach behind Silver Cay, and three to fire to seaward. Two medium. guns
should also be mounted to flank the submarine mines which would be laid across the 29,370 mouth of the harbour, and to flank the beach to the east.
Works
Armament
..
18,900
Submarine mining establishment-
£
Boats
1,250
Stores
..
1,800
Buildings
••
1,500
Total
..
4,550
Hog Island, Central.
3 10-in. R.M.L., barbette.
2 64-prs.
Works
Armament
Hoy Island, East,
5 6-in. R.B.L.; or
5 7-in. R.M.L.
Works
Armament
3 64-prs.
Works Armament
Fort Montague,
LAND DEFENCES.
4 12-prs.
Works Armament
Blue Hills.
Fort Charlotte.
3 6-in, R.B.L,
3 64-prs.
6 rifled howitzers.
2 12-prs.
Works Armament
? 12-prs.
Fort Fincastle.
REDUCED SCHEME,
Fort Charlotte.
3 10-in. R.M.L., barbette.
3 64-prs.
4 12-prs.
3 8-in. rifled howitzers.
£
16.720 11,700
£
Another work, "Hog Island, Central," should occupy a position about 3,000 yards from the first, and be armed with three heavy guns, firing to seaward, and two medium guns. This work would assist in keeping off vessels trying to bombard the town, and would also cover the best entrance to Salt Cay anchorage.
The third work, "Hog Island, East," is intended to hold the east end of the island, and to keep off light craft attempting to manoeuvre in the waters in that direction. It should be placed near the end of the island, in which position it could not be approached by heavy ships within 2,000 yards. It therefore appears unnecessary to arm it with 3,250 heavy guns, although it should be provided with something more powerful than the present Service medium guns. It would require five guns, as it has to fire over a large arc.
12,650
In order more effectually to close the eastern entrance, and to oppose any attempt at landing on the north-east coast, it is necessary to reconstruct Fort Montague, and to arm it with, say, three medium guns, and to provide some obstructions, such as sunken 7,480 barges. 1,350
£
This, with the addition of some medium guns at Fort Charlotte to fire into the harbour, completes the coast defence.
There are three roads of approach to Nassau: the south road across the centre of the island, and the east and west roads along the north coast. The south and west roads are easily defended in places.
The south road crosses the Blue Hills, which are over 100 feet high, at a point about 2 miles from Nassau, offering a good position for resistance. Some earthworks £ might be thrown up here, and positions prepared for field-guns, to be sent out from 2,000 Nassau. 1,000
£
10,000
6,800
The west road passes under Fort Charlotte, and, as a landing may be effected any- where between Delaport and Bar Point, it does not seem advisable to extend the defences in this direction, but to depend on Fort Charlotte, assisted at long range by "Hog Island, West," and, perhaps, supplemented by field works constructed on the ridge in advance towards Brown's Point.
Fort Charlotte will require revision to fit it for modern warfare. The best way to treat it must be considered locally, but it would seem as if this might be effected by forming the existing ditch into an enveloping work, and cutting a fresh ditch outside. The present fort would then become a retrenchment.
The east road passes near Fort Montague; it is, however, doubtful if this work is 500 sufficient to close it, if not, it must be supplemented by field works across the road and on
the hill to the southward.
Fort Fincastle, one of the old defences, on a hill above Nassau, appears no longer to form part of the scheme of defence, though it might be useful as an infantry post if the intrenchments on the Blue Hills were forced. It is, in its present state, of little use, and could only be improved by an entire reconstruction.
If, instead of protecting the harbour, it be wished merely to deny it to an enemy, this can be done by thoroughly revising Fort Charlotte and arming it with, say, three heavy guns, and by laying submarine mines across the entrance.
Works Armament
4 64-prs.
Fort Montague.
£
24,750 15,150
£
Works
7,480
Armament
1,350
Submarine mining estab-
lishment (as before)
4,550
Fort Montague would also require to be remodelled and armed, as in the more com- plete scheme of defence, and obstructions should be laid across the eastern entrance.
This will not protect the town from bombardment.
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