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who would willingly enrol themselves in such a force if it were duly fostered and supported by the Appendix No. 4. Government of the Colony, under Imperial direction, the formation of a Naval Coast Defence Corps appears to be the best and most economical system of defence for Newfoundland, and it is upon this NEWFOUNDLAND). assumption that the following suggestions are based.
34. Suggestions.
The following suggestions for the defence of St. John's are based upon two considerations :---- 1. A direct attack by an enemy's ships from the sea.
2. A landing at one of the numerous bays or coves in the vicinity of the capital and an advance against it by land.
As regards the first consideration, it is suggested that all idea of utilizing the existing batteries- with the exception of the Queen's-should be abandoned, and that the whole energy of the defence should be concentrated in a battery on the North Head Hill, and a few heavy guns on the crest of Signal Hill.
Existing batteries to
be abandoned, and guns to be mounted
on the North Head
Hill,
The advantages of the position on the North Head Hill have been already alluded to at para- Position of gung graph 32, and after a careful examination of other points this appears to be in every way the most shown on Mup 2.** suitable for constructing any permanent works for the security of the capital against any direct attack from the sea.
The position on this hill is completely commanded from the high ground of Signal Hill, imme- diately in rear, where it has been suggested a few heavy guns might be placed with advantage.
Hill.
The rock forming the North Head Hill is composed chiefly, on the surface, of a pudding- Description of rock stone, or conglomerate, and on the inside of a reddish granite, interspersed with a blue stone. forming North Head The rocks show themselves in all the higher points, and in places are thinly covered with earth and moss. Towards the sea they are all more or less precipitous, but on the land side there is a so:newhat steep, but quite accessible, slope to the level ground in Ross Valley, which would afford good cover for troops.
Looking at it from the sea, this hill is most difficult to discover, for being of the same colour and appearance as the steep ground of Signal Hill in rear, it appears to be a part of it, instead of being separated from it by Ross Valley.
Guns mounted here would command the whole of the offing between Cuckold's Head and Guns command offing. Freshwater Bay, also the entrance to the harbour, and, being at a considerable elevation above the sea, would not only be most difficult for an enemy to hit, but their fire would also be plunging, and there-
fore take effect on the most vulnerable part of an iron-clad.
As the rock is tough and hard, but not very difficult to work, and appears to be well suited for the Armament suggested. construction of the necessary pits, it is suggested that the armament for this hill should consist of six heavy muzzle-loading rifled guns, mounted on the Moncrieff principle. By these means the advantage
of an all-round fire would be obtained, the guns would be separated, less exposed to fire, and, being invisible, would be less liable to be disabled by the fire of an enemy.
These guns would be within easy reach of the troops quartered in the barracks on Signal Hill, and the existing footpath communicating with them could be easily rendered practicable for the men to move by when required to man the batteries.
The disadvantage of the North Head is that there is no really good means of communicating with Disadvantage. it; but if it were determined to utilize it as a position for guns, it would be better to construct a narrow road along the north side of the Narrows, near the water's edge, and so avoid the steep footpath over Signal Hill. Such a road would only be required for troops, as all the heavy ammunition and stores could be landed from boats at Ross Valley.
sea,
Three heavy guns on Signal Hill would cover all approaches to St. John's, both by land and excepting that of a force which might have succeeded in effecting a landing in Deadman's or Fresh- water Bays, and afterwards have occupied the Southside Hills.
Guns on Signal Hill.
There would be no difficulty in constructing expense magazines and guard-houses for troops on Magazines. the North Head Hill, which would be perfectly secure against an enemy's fire.
35. Torpedoes.
With a harbour so remarkably well adapted for submarine defences, there can be little doubt that fixed torpedoes must always play a very prominent part in any scheme for the defence of St. John's, but at the same time too much reliance must not be placed on this passive system of defence, for recent experiments have shown that by using counter-mines with heavy charges it is quite possible for an enemy to clear a passage through a channel barred by torpedoes. It will, therefore, always be neces- sary to have guns in position to protect the torpedoes against destruction by small boats sent in by an enemy for that purpose, and to cover them with such a fire as will render all attempts of this nature impossible. It is for this reason, therefore, that it is suggested the Queen's Battery should be retained Queen's Eattery to be as a defence; it commands the entrance to the Narrows, and if armed with accurate and easily-worked retained.
No. 6 on Map 2.* guns, it would fulfil the object of covering the torpedoes, and the guns might also be used against an enemy in the offing, or to cover the flank of the guns on the North Head Hill against a force attempting to land at Ross Valley. Three or four 64-pounder muzzle-loading rifled guns would do very well for Proposed armament.
this battery.
36. Electric Light.
The value of the electric light as a preventive against surprise, or night operations by torpedo- boats, is now generally admitted, and, therefore, it would seem advisable that it should be considered in connection with the system of torpedoes. The Chain Rock Battery appears to offer a good position for this apparatus, as the light could be thrown from that point over the whole of the Narrows, and the machinery necessary could be easily protected.
*Not printed.
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