551 8
244-
The cause of the deadlock which has arisen therefore rests with General Black.
25. Whilst deferring to General Black's experience in military matters, the Committee unanimously venture to take exception to his objections to the scheme. As the road is to be only 18 feet in width, it is scarcely justifiable to describe it as a "broad" road. Again, it appears that the road could be rendered practically useless for hostile purposes by destroying a few short portions. And, from the nature of the coast, the Committee have no hesitation in saying that the landing of a force under cover of darkness at any point between Sandy Bay and Kennedy Town would be exceedingly difficult, if not impossible, owing to the steep and rugged nature of the coastline. The road as designed would traverse the hillside at a level of about 55 to 60 feet above sea-level and would therefore have to be gained, assuming the landing to have been effected by scrambling over ground which General Black himself describes as so steep and "rugged that no formed body of soldiers could move along it at night."
26. Finally, the Committee regard General Black's objections as out-of-date and somewhat far-fetched.
27.
The scheme for a road round Mount Davis is not a new one. It was mooted on the occasion of the Colony's Defence...