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Appendix No. 4.
VANCOUVER ISLAND.
or four shots, the first and last of which would strike at a very acute angle, and probably without much effect. I therefore consider that not less than six 10-inch guns should be mounted at Sangster's Knoll; two, including the shoulder guns, to see Albert Head and the water inshore of it, and five, including the shoulder gun, to fire on to Royal Roads, the left gun being so mounted as to be able to fire into the mouth of the Esquimalt Harbour.
At Cape Saxe the same number and description of guns are required; one gun on the left to cover the entrance of Victoria Harbour, and five guns, including the shoulder gun, to be directed on Royal Roads, the right gun being mounted so as to cover the beach under Rodd Hill.
On account of the great distance between these two batteries (5,000 yards), an enemy's ship, by taking advantage of one of the dense fogs that are prevalent in this locality, might pass between them with impunity. A vessel might also attempt to get into the dead water under Sangster's Knoll, where the guns, 240 feet above the sea-level, and unable, without special appliances, to be depressed more than 7 degrees, would not see the water within about 650 yards of the site of the battery.
To meet these two weak points, guns are required on Rodd Hill, two to be directed towards Albert Head, and four to command the entrance to the harbour.
As the range at which the latter would be required to come into action against a ship approaching the entrance of the harbour is not more than 1,500 yards, the smallest armour-piercing or 7-inch gun would be sufficient for the main battery, and to obviate any inconvenience from the employment of guns of different calibres in the same battery, the other two guns should be of the same nature. Although the guns at Signal Hill might be required to fire at short distances, their most probable duty would be firing at long ranges on ships approaching the harbours, and on this account they should be of great power-12-inch, or at least 10-inch. Not more than one gun can be mounted without great expense in blasting away about 20 feet of the summit of the mound, and to insure that this shall remain serviceable as long as possible under fire, it should, if possible, be mounted on a counterpoise carriage, the pit for which would be formed in the solid rock.
Although the currents and eddies at the mouth of Esquimalt Harbour are very strong and irregular, the depth of water would admit of observation mines being employed, and therefore, if a section of submarine miners can be spared, I would recommend twenty-seven 100-lb. observation mines should be supplied. A few floating mines would be useful in the dead water under Sangster's
Hill.
This would complete the sea defence of Esquimalt Harbour, not to my full satisfaction, but as efficiently as appears compatible with the views of the Colonial Defence Committee.
From the foregoing remarks it will be seen that the sea defence of Esquimalt Harbour can be considered independently to that of Victoria Harbour, but as the dockyard and the garrison (if one should be formed) must depend upon Victoria for their supplies, it seems desirable that this city should not be left at the mercy of an enemy. As remarked above, all that appears necessary is to protect the place from bombardment from the sea.
The two guns on Signal Hill and two of those on Cape Saxe will be able to direct their fire upon the outer part of the entrance. To co-operate with them, and to command the water round to upon the Macaulay Point, I propose a battery on Beacon Hill with one gun on the right* to fire entrance of Victoria Harbour, one on the left to fire into Ross Bay, and four guns besides the two flank guns to bear upon the water to the south.
It would be desirable to be able to defend the mouth of the harbour by submarine mines in case vessels of small draught of water were to take part in the attack, and I would therefore recommend that sixteen 100-lb. obstruction mines should be allotted to this harbour.
The details of the batteries are shown in plates A to G,‡ approximate estimates for which will be found below:-
A, B.
C.
D. f
E.
F.
G.
}
Sangster's Knoll.
Rodd Hill.
Signal Hill.
Cape Saxe.
Beacon Hill.
As previously remarked, Esquimalt and Victoria, in the absence of a strong fleet, are not free from risk of being attacked by a land force. If the troops came from the United States, they might arrive either by sea from San Francisco or from the inland waters of Puget Sound; if from Siberia, they might come either by the Straits of Fuca or from the Straits of Georgia, the channels between Vancouver Island and the mainland, although difficult to navigate, being practicable for moderate-sized
steamers.
It must not be forgotten with regard to Russia that the southern half of the Straits of Fuca and the eastern half of the Haro Strait are American waters, and therefore neutral to Russia during war with England, so that her vessels could come within a very short distance of our coast with impunity.
A military expedition arriving from the east would find favourable landing-places at Sooke Inlet or Beecher Bay to the westward of Race Rocks, or in Parry Bay to the north-west of those rocks, from all of which good roads practicable for all arms lead to Esquimalt Harbour, and a branch road leads to Sangster's Knoll, and to Belmont, a small farm behind Rodd Hill.
These roads pass over undulating plains, covered with large trees at moderate intervals, and with very little undergrowth to interfere with the movements of infantry. Once arrived at the head of Esquimalt Harbour, the roads are open to either Victoria or to the rear of Esquimalt Deck- yard.
The smaller features of the country in the direction of Sooke Inlet and Pedder Bay are so
1
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1
1
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* Qy. left.
+ Qy. right.
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