PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
ELCO 885
4 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
Existing batteries to be abandoned, and
guns to be moanted
on the North Hoad Hill.
Positions of guns shown on Map 2.
Description of rock forming North Head Hill,
Guna command offing.
1
Armament anggented.
Disadvantage.
Guns on Signal Hill
Magazines.
Torpedoes.
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Therefore, taking everything into consideration, and the certainty that many men would be found who would willingly enrol themselves in such a force if it were duly fostered and supported by the Government of the Colony, under Imperial direction, the formation of a Naval Coast Defence Corps appears to be the best and most economical system of defence for Newfoundland, and it is upon this assumption that the following suggestions are based.
34. Suggestions.
The following suggestions for the defence of St. John's are based upon two con- siderations:-
I. A direct attack by an enemy's ships from the sea.
2. A landing at one of the numerous bays or coves in the vicinity of the capital, and an advance against it by land.
As regards the first consideration it is suggested that all idea of utilizing the existing batteries with the exception of the Queen's-should be abandoned, and that the whole energy of the defence should be concentrated in a battery on the North Head Hill, and a few heavy guns on the crest of Signal Hill.
The advantages of the position on the North Head Hill have been already alluded to at paragraph 32, and after a careful examination of other points this appears to be in every way the most suitable for constructing any permanent works for the security of the capital against any direct attack from the sea.
The position on this hill is completely commanded from the high ground of Signal Hill, immediately in rear, where it has been suggested a few heavy guus might be placed with advantage.
The rock forming the North Head Hill is composed chiefly, on the surface, of a pudding stone or conglomerate, and on the inside of a reddish granite, interspersed with a blue-stone. The rocks show themselves in all the higher points, and in places are thinly covered with earth and moss. Towards the sea they are all more or less precipitous, but on the land side there is a somewhat steep but quite accessible slope to the level ground in Ross Valley, which would afford good cover for troops.
Looking at it from the sea this hill is most difficult to discover, for being of the same colour and appearance as the steep ground of Signal Hill in rear, it appears to be a part of it, instead of being separated from it by Ross Valley.
Guns mounted here would command the whole of the offing between Cuckold's Head and Freshwater Bay, also the entrance to the harbour, and, being at a considerable elevation above the sea, would not only be most difficult for an enemy to hit, but their fire would also be plunging, and therefore take effect on the most vulnerable part of an iron-clad.
As the rock is tough and hard, but not very difficult to work, and appears to be well suited for the construction of the necessary pits, it is suggested that the armament for this hill should consist of six heavy muzzle-loading rifled guns mounted on the Moncrieff principle. By these means the advantage of an all-round fire would be obtained, the guns would be separated, less exposed to fire, and, being invisible, would be less liable to be disabled by the fire of an enemy.
These guns would be within easy reach of the troops quartered in the barracks on Signal Hill, and the existing footpath communicating with them could be easily rendered practicable for the men to move by when required to man the batteries.
The disadvantage of the North Head is that there is no really good means of com. municating with it; but if it were determined to utilize it as a position for guns, it would be better to construct & narrow road along the north side of the Narrows, near the water's edge, and so avoid the steep footpath over Signal Hill. Such a road would only be required for troops, as all the heavy ammunition and stores could be landed from boats at Ross Valley.
Three heavy guns on Signal Hill would cover all approaches to St. John's, both by land and sea, excepting that of a force which might have succeeded in effecting a landing in Deadman's or Freshwater Bays, and afterwards have occupied the South. side Hills.
There would be no difficulty in constructing expense magazines and guard-houses for troops on the North Head Hill, which would be perfectly secure against an enemy's fire.
35. Torpedoes.
With a harbour so remarkably well adapted for submarine defences, there can be little doubt that fixed torpedoes must always play a very prominent part in any scheme for
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the defence of St. John's, but at the same time too much reliance must not be placed on this passive system of defence, for recent experiments have shown that by using counter- mines with heavy charges it is quite possible for an enemy to clear a passage through a channel barred by torpedoes. It will, therefore, always be necessary to have guns in position to protect the torpedoes against destruction by small boats sent in by an enemy for that purpose, and to cover them with such a fire as will render all attempts of this nature impossible. It is for this reason, therefore, that it is suggested the Queen's Battery Queen's Battery to be should be retained as a defence; it commands the entrance to the Narrows, and if armed No. 6 on Map 2. with accurate and easily-worked guns, it would fulfil the object of covering the torpedoes, and the guns might also be used against an enemy in the offing, or to cover the flank of the guns on the North Head Hill against a force attempting to land at Ross Valley. Three or four 64-pounder muzzle-loading rifled guns would do very well for this battery.
36. Electric Light.
A
retained.
Proposed armament.
The value of the electric light as a preventive against surprise, or night operations by Electric light, torpedo-boats, is now generally admitted, and therefore it would seem advisable that it should be considered in connection with the system of torpedoes. The Chain Rock Battery appears to offer a good position for this apparatus, as the light could be thrown from that point over the whole of the Narrows, and the machinery necessary could be easily protected.
37. Booms.
Booms or chains between the Chain and Pancake Rocks have been used from time Boome to time for the protection of the harbour, but with a well-arranged system
of torpedoes this appears to be unnecessary.
38. Gun-boats.
One or two small gun-boats, carrying a single heavy gun each, would be found Gan-boats, most useful auxiliaries to the land defences, as they could move into position where their fire would reach points which might be imperfectly defended from the shore.
39. Torpedo-boat.
A swift torpedo-boat for guard purposes, and for use against an enemy, if an oppor- Torpedo-bost, tunity offers, would be most useful to the defence. A boat of this description, patrolling the offing and visiting the small bays in the neighbourhood of the harbour during the night, would discover and give ear'y notice of any suspicious movements of the
enemy.
40. Advance by Lond.
With respect to the second danger, viz., an advance by land against the capital, it may Advance by land. be assumed that for its protection it will be necessary to have a field force of sufficient Field force necessary. strength to act in conjunction with the local levies against an enemy, by taking up a favourable position on his line of advance, in order. to attack him before he approaches
the town.
On all the roade converging on St. John's good positions could be found which would Good positions near be most useful to a small defending force; and if previously reconnoitred and the position roada
to be taken up determined upon, there appears to be no reason why a force inferior to that of the enemy, but having the advantage of a knowledge of the country and choice of position, should not be able to defeat one numerically superior. It is very improbable that any force which an enemy would attempt to land would exceed 600 or 800 men, and it is upon this supposition that the following suggestions are based :-
1. A force of at least 400 regular infantry, for the purpose of co-operating in the Force suggested. field with the local levies and maintaining order in the town.
2. Four field-guns. The new 13-pounder muzzle-loading rifled gun seems to be well suited for this purpose, as it is accurate, light, and easily worked. It is suggested that field-guns should be supplied, as there are but few places in the vicinity of the roads to which they could not be moved with ease.
Field-guns.
3. Six mountain guns (200 lbs.). These are recommended for use in those places Mountain-guna. where it would be impracticable or dangerous to place field-guns. They could be moved from place to place by utilizing the transport of the country.
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