32
if used for that purpose, it is easy to conceive their being enticed away by a feint, or by false information.
14. A nucleus of 100 Royal Marine Artillerymen at Esquimalt under naval authority would, with the assistance, in case of attack, of the volunteer militia, render this dockyard secure A most trifling expense, I submit, where such large interests are at stake. Such a body of marine artillery would be valuable for many duties now requiring expensive hired labour, and if consisting of a proportion of men skilled in trades, a portion of the cost of maintenance would be reimbursed by their workmanship in the dockyard.
15. I have nothing to add to Captain Bedford's Report relative to the employment of torpedoes, except to strengthen his opinion that they would be useless without specially trained torpedoists for their management, and to express my want of faith in any extem- porary and partial adoption of that means of defence. Nor do I see much occasion for resort to torpedoes to guard this small harbour, as an enemy, if not prevented by guns from approach, could attain his object without entering the harbour.
I have, &c.
(Signed) A. DE HORSEY,
Rear-Admiral and Commander-in-chief.
Note to Paragraph 8.
The position marked B in Appendix No. 3 (the same as G in Captain Bedford's inclosed plan) although a good advanced situation for fire on approaching ships, is objec- tionable in one respect, the high rocks immediately in the rear of the battery would render it a "shell trap."
None of the other positions are open to this objection.
Memo.
A. DE H.
"Shah," at Esquimalt,” June 21, 1878. The defences of this port being now under consideration, and in part commenced under the superintendence of Lieutenant-Colonel de la Cherois T. Irwin, Inspector of Artillery, who has, I understand, been sent to Vancouver Island by the Canadian military authorities for that special service, you are to place yourself in communication with that officer, and to communicate freely with him as to the operations necessary for defence by submarine mines, or otherwise.
2. After examination of such points as have been selected for guns, together with such other situations as you may think desirable for placing guns in position (having due regard to the probable number of men available for their preservation in efficient condition, and to their being situated where they would not be liable to suprise and capture by an enemy) you are fully to report to me your views on this subject, bearing in mind the primary importance of the safety of the naval yard, and taking into consideration that, whilst more extensive works may be desirable in the future, the immediate necessity is the best application of such resources as are now available.
3. In performing this service you are to take to your assistance Gunnery Lieutenant Charles Lindsay and Captain Alexander Burrowes, Royal Marine Artillery, and, in drawing up your Report, should either of these officers differ in opinion on any material point you will direct them to draw up a separate statement, showing in what respect the difference exists, and you will inclose it as an Appendix to your Report.
4. Having obtained the sanction of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, I propose lending such of the guns now in store at the dockyard as may not be required by Her Majesty's ships, and these, I believe, comprise the only guns available for the defence of this place.
5. A statement of any necessary expenses incurred in visiting such positions as are not convenient for conveyance by ship's boats is to be subsequently furnished.
To Captain F. G. D. Bedford,
Her Majesty's ship "Shah."
(Signed) A. F. R. DE HORSEY,
Rear-Admiral and Commander-in-chief.
Sir,
33
Defences of Victoria and Esquimalt.
Shah," at Esquimalt, June 27, 1878. With In compliance your Memorandum I have placed myself in communication with Lieutenant-Colonel Irwin, Inspector of Artillery, and in company with him, and the officers ordered to assist me in drawing up this Report, have visited the various points selected by him as sites for the proposed batteries.
We have also examined other situations, and have carefully considered the subject, and keeping in view the means at present at command for defending this port, I have the honour to report as follows:--
1. The guns available are:-one 8-inch muzzle-loading rifled, 9 tons, with carriage and slide complete; three 7-inch muzzle-loading rifled, 6 tons, with carriages and slides complete; four 64-pounder wrought iron, 64 cwt.; four 64-pounder, 71 cwt., converted.
For mounting the 64-pounders there are two carriages and slides complete for 71-cwt. guns, one carriage and slide for a 64-cwt. gun, and five truck-carriages for each description of gun.
There is also a 9-inch muzzle-loading rifled 12-ton gun, with carriage and slide complete, which is at present appropriated for Her Majesty's ship "Shah.”
2. The present condition of the defensive works is this-
At Finlayson Point, near Beacon Hill, a two-gun barbette battery has been erected, and will shortly be armed with two 64-pounders, 71 cwt., mounted on slide carriages A.
At Macaulay Point a three-gun barbette battery is under construction, and the earth- work is well advanced.
It is intended to mount the three 6-ton guns there, C.
A tracing of the plan of this work is attached.
3. The other works proposed at present are:--
A two-gun battery, 64-pounder, at Ilolland Point, near Beacon Hill, B.
A two-gun battery, 64-pounders, at Saxe Point D, and one 64-pounder to be placed
on a mound near Rodd Point E.
4. Colonel Irwin informs me that he proposes taking the work in the following
manner :-
(1.) On the completion of the earthwork at Macaulay Point, to finish and arm the battery at Finlayson Point.
(2.) Complete and arm Macaulay Point battery.
(3.) Construct the two-gun battery at Saxe Point.
(4.) Construct the one-gun battery at Rodd Point.
5. In considering these works Colonel Irwin has taken 2,000 yards as the effective
range against wooden ships of war in motion, and on the tracing attached, using this estimate as a basis, I have shown by a light shade of pink the area covered by the proposed batteries.
6. It will at once be remarked how incomplete this arrangement is as regards the defence of the dockyard and harbour at Esquimault, which are practically only defended by one 64-pounder froin a vessel approaching from Albert Head, and keeping near the west shore, which would probably be the position selected for shelling the dockyard.
The proposed battery on Saxe Point being over 3,000 yards from the 5-fathom line at its nearest point, may be considered as out of range.
7. To remedy this defect, I propose that a battery should be erected on the largest of the Brothers' Islands, marked F, which we visited with Colonel Irwin. It is a most com- manding position, and the additional area protected is indicated by a light blue shade.
It is true that it is nearer the dockyard than is desirable; but with an enemy in the position above-mentioned the island would be quite out of line with it, and even if fired at when aligned there is a considerable eminence on the mainland immediately behind it, and a distance of 700 yards from it to the principal stores.
It has, besides the great advantage of being so much advanced, the additional one of not being liable to be enfiladed from its formation.
Colonel Irwin concurred in the desirability of arming this island, and there are no serious difficulties in the way of doing so.
Building a battery would necessitate the removal of some of the graves.
8. It now remains to suggest the best way of disposing of the available guns for the defence of Esquimalt; and presuming that four 64-pounders are appropriated for Beacon lill, and one for Rodd Point, and the three 7-inch guns for Macaulay Point, there remain one 9-inch (?), one 8-inch, and two 64-pounders, and I offer the three following suggestions:-
(a.) Supposing the 9-inch gun is available ?
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
TICO. 885
4 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO