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248
463
No. 133.
War Office Memorandum on the Defence of Viti-Levu.
THE east side of Suva Bay or Harbour, on the south coast of the Island of Viti-Levu, has, after full consideration and discussion, been selected as the site for the future capital of the Fiji Islands, the shore line extending from the south side of Walou Creek to the native village being that selected for first occupation.
The harbour is well sheltered, deep, and capacious, having a total area of 1,600 acres of 5 fathoms and upwards in depth. It is approached through a short but very deep channel, at its narrowest part about 600 yards wide, formed by a gap in the extensive coral reefs which, generally speaking, skirt the coast-lines of these islands.
In order to determine what defences are required to protect the harbour from bombardment so that it may be made a safe place of refuge wherein vessels could refit in security, it is desirable to consider briefly the situation in which an attacking squadron would find itself which was bent upon capturing or destroying the stores of coal and provisions, the dockyard establishment, or the shipping taking refuge in the harbour.
It would in the first place, on account of the great depth of water outside the harbour, be unable to anchor, consequently the attack would have to be conducted while the squadron was more or less in motion, probably in a circular or elliptical
course.
Reference to the chart shows the gradually decreasing width of the channel between the coral reefs to be such that to conduct a manœuvre of this nature successfully, without risking dangerous or fatal contact with the reefs on either side, it would be necessary to give them a wide berth, or in other words to keep a long distance out, i.e., away from the point of attack. Experience has, however, shown that, cæteris paribus, in long-range actions between ships and batteries on shore, the advantage has always remained with the steadier gun platform afforded by the latter. It may therefore be reasonably assumed that a single ship, or even a small squadron, would either avoid the place or would endea- vour to push home its attack, which could only be done by boldly entering the harbour. There are no natural obstacles to prevent this latter course, as the channel of approach is deep and easy of navigation; moreover, as it leads into a capacious harbour, also free from obstacles, a vessel could steam in at some speed.
The channel, then, and its approaches are the points at which the free passage should be disputed.
This may best be effected by the erection of a battery for four 10-4-inch breech- loading guns behind iron shields, and two similar guns mounted in cupolas or small turrets, near the north end of the arm of the reef which stretches in front of and parallel Armament to the site of the future town.
The fire of these guns alone could not be absolutely relied on to prevent the entry of even one hostile armoured vessel; if several combined in the attack the chances of one of them successfully passing the battery would be greatly increased.
Some other defensive measure, therefore, is requisite, which should if possible present
an obstacle to the otherwise free passage of the harbour entrance.
Works
Stores Boats
Appendix No. 4.
FIJI ISLANDS.
Harbour Battery,
£ 83,750
•
27,000
The water is unusually deep for the application of electro-contact submarine mines, Submarine mines- but the variations of the tide are so slight that, with some trifling additions to adapt them to the depth, there is no insuperable difficulty against their employment, and no more effective method of providing the desired obstacle can be suggested.
There is one other entry into the harbour to which no allusion has hitherto been made. It is through a channel running inside the main coral reef, and connecting Suva and Lauthala Bays. This channel has a minimum depth of 18 feet, but being intricate, tortuous, and narrow, could hardly be navigated by vessels of that draught.
Storehouses
Total
It might very readily be permanently obstructed, but it forms the most direct and sheltered communication between the port and future capital on the one hand, and the River Rewa on the other. This river is the largest in the island, and is the great highway of its eastern half, along which the bulk of the produce from that part is exported. No permanent obstruction, consequently, is admissible. The channel, therefore, should be denied to an enemy's use by submerging in it some electro-contact submarine mines, and the mining field should be protected by two medium guns on one of the hills to the north Armament or north-west of Suva Point.
Works
£
3,000
4,500
3,000
•
10,500
Point Battery.
£ 5,250 1,100
With respect to the nature of defence required against attack from land, the informa- tion obtainable as to the probability, or even possibility in the absence of roads, of such an attack being made is insufficient to allow of a scheme of defence being based upon it. The possibility of this form of attack will, of course, increase pari passu as the Settlement is opened up, but at present, and for some time to come, it is believed that it is unnecessary to guard against the approach of any force by land, except in the case of a landing being effected in either of the adjacent bays, Namuka or Lauthala, the best method of meeting which would probably be to hold the peninsula between Suva and Lauthala Land works, 5,000. Bays.
How this can most effectually be carried out can only be determined when reports or correct plans have been received.
With respect to the garrisons for these works, 135 men would be required for the harbour battery, of whom 50 should be artillery; 24 men, 12 of whom should be artillery, would be required for the Suva Point Battery, and 30 submarine miners.
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