PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
C.O. 885
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
Interior dimensions.
Shifting-room,
Old principal maga rine.
" on Map 2
Ordnance store.
* on Map 2.
Commissariat and
Royal Engineer houses
and on Map 2.
Hospital.
No. 2 on Map 1,
Store-house.
* on Map 2.
Strategical value of 1 Newfoundland.
I Ita commanding
1
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side of the bill, which has been scarped away to admit of its construction, and is well protected.
Its interior dimensions are: length, 40 feet; breadth, 19 feet; height, 13 feet. It has never been used as a magazine, and although the walls are slightly cracked in places, it appears dry and in a good state for storing powder.
There is a small shifting-room adjoining which was built at the same time and is also in good condition.
20. Old Principal Magazine.
This is a small stone building on the summit of Signal Hill, and was intended as the principal magazine until the new one was built in 1868. It is not bomb-proof, and is of slight construction; it was enlarged in the year 1862 to receive the powder sent for the defence of the harbour of St. John's, and is now capable of holding 975 barrels.
This magazine was reported in 1866 as unfit for the reception of powder on account of its slight construction and its proximity to the quarters of the troops (houses C and D) from which it is only about 25 yards distant, and separated by an open wooden paling. The magazine, with the adjacent buildings, appears to be in good condition.
21. Government Buildings.
The Ordnance store near Fort William, containing the Storekeeper and Clerk's offices and quarters is at present in occupation and in fairly good condition.
The Commissariat and Royal Engineer quarters are also in occupation and in good order.
22. Hospital.
The military hospital was built about twenty years ago; it is a stone building on the west side of Signal Hill, and is at present used as a civil hospital. It is in very good order, and would accommodate 41 patients. There are quarters adjoining for 1 medical officer, and also stabling for 1 horse.
23. Store-house on Signal Hill.
This is a small wooden building near houses C and D; it is at present used as a store for the bedding, &c., belonging to the quarantine establishment. It requires some repairs, but generally is in fair condition.
24. Defence of Newfoundland.
Before entering upon the question of the defence of Newfoundland it is necessary to define what may be considered to be the chief objects which must generally be kept in view in any scheme for colonial defence. These are:-
1. The strategical value of the Colony, or of any of its ports in the event of war.
2. The dangers to which the Colony will be exposed.
3. The best and most economical means of defence.
As regards the first consideration, it can scarcely be denied that the Island of Newfoundland, from its situation at the mouth of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, occupies a valuable strategical position, and must ever be regarded as of the first importance to Great Britain as the key to Canada,
During the early occupation of the island, both England and France were so impressed geographical position. with its commanding geographical position with respect to the Canadas, that for many years the Colony presented a constant scene of warfare, owing to the struggles of these rival nations to retain possession of such an important point.
Value of St. John's
Advantages as a naval station.
Protection of com- merce will depend on Havy.
Being the nearest point to Europe, and almost directly situated on the main route to Canada and the United States, the position of St. John's is such as to make it one of the most important, if not the principal strategical point on the western side of the Atlantic.
For a naval station during war its value will be immense, as a fleet using it as a base of operations would paralyze the commerce of the entire seaboard of the neighbouring continent, and retain for Great Britain the command of the whole North Atlantic Ocean.
As the protection of commerce must depend principally on the navy, it becomes
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rendered impreg
necessary to have numerous depôts, where ships of war engaged in the protecting duties St. John's easily may obtain coal and all those supplies which in the present day are so essential to keep able." them efficient. For such a purpose as this St. John's will be found very valuable. The harbour affords one of the most secure anchorages in the world, and is so fortified by nature that it merely requires a very moderate outlay and a few troops to render it impregnable against any attack from the sea.
With regard to the second consideration, viz., the danger to which the Colony will be second consideration. exposed during war, it would appear that the only part of the island which would afford Importance of Penin- any advantage to an enemy by its capture would be that included in the Peninsula of la of Avalon. Avalon, within which the greater part of the population and the whole wealth of the Colony
is collected.
The only towns and roads in the island are to be found in this peninsula, and there can be no doubt that, should an attack ever be made by an enemy, it will be within this district and directed against the capital.
h
So long as Great Britain maintains her naval supremacy it will scarcely happen that Newfoundland will be exposed to danger from any serious expedition, as intelligence of such a thing being contemplated would be known long before it could be carried into effect, and could easily be frustrated. But the real danger to which the Colony is exposed is the capture of its capital and the seizure or destruction of its stores, coals, and shipping by a sudden raid by one or two hostile vessels which have escaped the protecting cruizers.
Bearing in mind the facility with which a harbour so favourably situated and so strong Enemy will not by nature may be protected against any direct attack from sea, it may reasonably t be concluded that in no case will an enemy venture to attempt to force the passage of the harbour unless it is left in such an utterly neglected state as to invite attack, but, taking history as a precedent, he will endeavour to utilize one of the numerous harbours in the neighbourhood of the capital by making it a point d'appui for operations by land against the flanks or rear, both of which are undefended and perfectly open to attack.
venture to force the
Thus, we find as far back as the years 1761 and 1762, when the harbour Advances by land defences were much weaker and the roads approaching St. John's in a much worse against St. John's. state than at present, the French preferred landing in the Bay of Bulls, 20 miles distant to See Map 1. the southward, and the English in Torbay, 7 miles to the northward, to the precarious and hazardous attempt to force the passage of the Narrows.
The principal danger appears, therefore, to be in an attack by land, and it becomes necessary to consider the different places in the vicinity of St. John's where an enemy
could land.
One of the most favourable places for effecting a landing at any time, except when a Torbay strong north-easterly wind is blowing, is Torbay, 7 miles to the northward of the capital, Bec Map 1: where General Amherst landed in 1762 for the recapture of St. John's, which was then in the possession of the French.
There are three points within this bay where it would be practicable for ships to disembark troops. These are: (1) at the head of the bay in a narrow gut which offers considerable advantages for disembarking from boats, provided the landing is not opposed; (2) at Middle Cove, about 14 miles to the south-east; and (3) at Outer Cove, still further to the castward, and about a mile within the southern headland of the bay.
The anchorages at these two last-mentioned places are bad, and the first is by far the most favourable point in every way for landing an attacking force.
The country in the neighbourhood of the landing-places at Outer and Middle Coves is rugged and broken by deep gullies. The same remark applies in a lesser degree to the ground at the head of the bay.
See Map 1.
There are two main roads by which troops could advance, connecting these points Road. with St. John's, besides several cross-roads between the three places. The best and most direct road to the capital is that from the head of the bay, which is in good order and fit for all arms. The second, from Outer and Middle Coves, is fairly good. the foot of a range of hills, and is commanded from them nearly the whole distance.
It passes along The country between these roads is rough, swampy, and intersected with small ponds Country. and lakes. It is in places covered with stunted wood and young fir trees, and generally does Bee Map 1. not offer any practicable advantages for defence. There are, however, several points on the main road which would be good positions for disputing the advance of an enemy, who, in all probability, would not venture in such a broken country to leave the road.
25. Bay of Bulls.
The next landing-place, to which reference has already been made (paragraph 26), is Bay of Bulia. the harbour of Bay of Bulls, about 20 miles to the southward of St. John's where, in the See Map 1.
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