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Appendix No. 4.
If there were a sufficiently large force available, a good position for defence against an attack from the north and west, and commanding the approaches from these directions, could be taken up by utilizing several strong buildings occupying the crest of the hill to the northward of the town NEWFOUNDLAND.
These are:-
Left: 1. The new Roman Catholic establishment of the "Christian Brothers," standing on the crest of the hill about 150 yards north-west of Fort Townshend, and having a complete command over the surrounding country.
2. The Roman Catholic Cathedral, and strongly-built houses adjoining it, having an equally good command.
Centre: 3. The Provincial Buildings.
Position on ridge
north of St John's. See Map 2.*
Left.
Centre.
4. Government House.
Both these buildings command the country to the north and north-west, and the roads from Portugal Cove and Torbay.
Right: 5. The Penitentiary overlooking Quiddy Viddy Lake, and commanding the roads from Right. Quiddy Viddy, Logey Bay, Outer and Middle Coves, and Torbay.
All these buildings, which have been previously referred to at paragraph 31, are most favourably situated on the ridge; they are most substantially built of stone, and are three-storied.
The ground in front slopes gently to the stream flowing into Quiddy Viddy Lake.
The left of this position might be thrown back on River Head above the head of the harbour.
Ground in front.
Left flank.
The right flank would rest on Signal Hill, where the ground is naturally very strong and Right flank. remarkably well suited for defence. This point, therefore, remains to be considered, for the enemy having either forced or turned the position, a final resistance could be made here, and the garrison might hold out for a considerable time.
Hill.
Signal Hill is a peninsula which may be said to be almost isolated by the harbour on one side and Description of Signal Quiddy Viddy Lake on the other. The crest, which is 520 feet above the sea, is about 440 yards long,
See Map 2.* with an average width of about 70 yards. At the north-eastern extremity there is a small hill about 18 feet higher than the general crest-line, which it commands to the south-west. From time to time it is evident attempts have been made to increase the natural strength of this position by scarping away the rock, and it is believed that this point has always been looked upon as the citadel of St. John's, and as such the difficulties in the way of its being carried by an enemy are very great.
About 150 feet below the crest, in the neighbourhood of St. George's Pond, the ground becomes Cover for troops. tolerably level, and there are several good places where troops could be camped. From this plateau See Map 2.* there are several spurs projecting to the northward and westward, and the ground falls steeply towards Quiddy Viddy Lake and the harbour of St. John's.
33. Third Consideration.
As regards the third principal consideration, viz., the best and most economical means of defence, the question has to be considered in its relation to the peculiar characteristics and occupation of the people of Newfoundland.
Hitherto very little has been done by the Local Government in making preparations for the defence of a harbour which in time of war must be so important, both for colonial and Imperial purposes, and the Colony has relied entirely on Imperial assistance for protection against foreign aggression.
In the year 1846 a Bill was introduced into the House of Assembly, by direction of Governor Sir J. Harvey, for establishing a militia force in the Colony, but after being read a first time it was withdrawn by the Attorney-General, and the attempt was abandoned.
Militia Bill, 1816.
In the year 1859 this question was again brought up, and in the following year it was subinitted Question of militia to a Joint Committee of both branches of the Legislature, who presented a Report on the subject, dated considered in 1859-60. the 7th March, 1860. The following is an extract ---
[6
They are of opinion that the Legislature of Newfoundland would do well to lend their ready concurrence to any well-considered undertaking for affording increased military defence to this Colony which may be consistent with the public means at their disposal and the many imperative claims upon the revenue for the internal improvement of the Colony.
"Your Committee would further report that in the year 1846, on the recommendation of the Secretary of State, a Bill was introduced into the Legislature for the establishment of a militia, which was withdrawn, the prevailing opinion then, and still, being that such a measure, as a reliable means of defence, would be impracticable, from the peculiar avocations of the great bulk of the people necessarily engaging them in the fisheries during the greater part of the year. Your Committee concur in this view, and regard it as an additional reason for the increase of the present garrison."
In the course of the same year (1860) the subject of raising a volunteer corps was considered, and Volunteers, 1860- eventually five companies were organized in the Colony and armed by the Imperial Government. This force does not appear to have been a very great success at any time, and at the end of three years it ceased to exist.
After this all idea of adopting any system of local defence seems to have been completely aban- doned, and from the year 1870, when the Imperial troops were withdrawn, up to the present time, not the slightest attempt has ever been made to develop any practical measures for its own defence.
In the year 1878, when there was a possibility of England being engaged in war, the question of Opinion of Council in the assistance which could be afforded by the Colony for its own defence was brought by Governor Sir the J. H. Glover before the Executive Council, who decided that "all that the Government feel themselves
in a position to undertake is to provide volunteer gunners for guns provided at the expense of the Imperial Exchequer."
It will be observed from the foregoing extracts that all attempts to raise a militia force in the
[1103]
* Not printed.
5 I
year 1878.
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