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Saxe Point, two 64-pounders.
Brothers Island the 8-inch and one 64-pounder.
At the position marked G in the dockyard, the 9-inch.
(b.) Supposing the 9-inch is not available?
The 8-inch and one 64-pounder on Brothers' Island, and two 64-pounders at G: or,
(c.) The 8-inch at G and the three 64-pounders on Brothers' Island.
The position selected in the dockyard and marked G is a very commanding one; and though open to the objection of having a high cliff not far behind it, would add very inaterially to the defences of the harbour, and in the event of the battery at Saxe Point not being erected, would prevent ships taking up a position to enfilade Macaulay Point.
9. With regard to the preservation of the guns, the 64-pounders on truck-carriages would only require painting, as when mounted in a garrison, say once a-year, the movable parts being, of course, kept in store.
also.
The heavy guns might be lightly housed over with lumber, and the projectiles
10. To man these guns there are only fifty volunteer militia, who are at present under instruction.
They are bound to serve if called upon during the next three years for any time not exceeding one year.
Colonel Irwin considers that with them he could barely man five guns, and these would naturally be, as the men are all enrolled and drilled at Victoria, the batteries at Beacon Hill and Macaulay Point.
11. In drawing up this Report I suppose this port has, from urgent causes, been left without any of Her Majesty's ships, and that it is dependent on the resources of the place for defence against sudden attack.
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Doubtless on, an alarm of this kind there would be no lack of volunteers, but untrained and entirely unused to working heavy guns they would be but little use without a well disciplined nucleus to guide and instruct them. It is therefore necessary that steps should be taken to remedy this defect, for the guns without men would be worse than useless, and I suggest that if the dockyard guard was strengthened and composed of picked marine artillery men it would meet the case.
12 Torpedoes. The entrance to the harbour could undoubtedly be made secure by a series of submarine mines, buoyant or ground, and it affords admirable facilities for this kind of defence.
A certain number of mines could be improvised with the material on board this ship, the moorings for them laid down, and the torpedoes prepared and left ready to be place at short notice; but it would be useless to attempt anything of the kind unless at least one trained torpedoist was permanently stationed here; and extemporary mines, however good, should not be relied upon to render this harbour secure by this kind of defence, but a well considered system should be devised, and permanent mines and material supplied.
13. Obstructions could be extemporized, such as rafts of timber fastened together by chains and moored across the entrance; booms, buoyed cables, &c., but these should be covered by guns especially placed for that purpose, as those at present proposed do not command the narrowest part of the channel.
14. In conclusion, I have to acknowledge the assistance I have received from Lieu. tenant Lindsay and Captain Burrows, R.M.A., in drawing up this Report, and the desire shown by Lieutenant-Colonel Irwin to afford information and co-operate in every way.
I have, &c. (Signed) FRED. G. BEDFORD, Captain.
To Rear-Admiral A. F. R. de Horsey, Commander-in-chief.
PRINTED AT THE FOREIGN OFFICE BY T. HARRISON,—8/12/79.
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