Plate III.†
Plate V.t
164
The smaller features of the country in the direction of Sooke Inlet and Pedder Bay are so unmarked, and the ground so covered with trees, that in the absence of a good survey any attempt to select a permanent position for defence against an advance of troops would be premature.
A force attacking on the east could disembark at any of the small bays in that direction, that which appears to offer the greatest advantage being Cormorant Bay, directly opposite to and within about 8 miles of the American Island of San Juan. From all these bays good roads lead to the city of Victoria, near to which they pass along the level land that lies between the protruding masses of rock, which, while dividing the whole front into a series of small positions of about 1,500 yards extent, are not large enough to prevent those positions being turned, all the low land being practicable for the movement of troops.
The number of landing places and the roads leading from them are too great to be defended by permanent works, and therefore the protection of Victoria from the west against a land attack must be left to the garrison and extemporized field., works. All that seems possible is to throw up rough emplacements at the most important points as shelter for guns of position.
The peninsula of Esquimalt district might be made very strong against an attack from the east by the construction of a work to command the isthmus, and the formation of batteries to occupy the south bank of Portage Inlet, making use of the latter as a wet ditch. The position is extensive, being nearly 3 miles in length. The Portage Inlet is nearly dry at low water in several parts, but could be easily deepened by dredging. This position could be turned by an enemy passing to the hills on the west side of the harbour.
A scheme of this magnitude would involve a larger outlay than appears to be intended, and I therefore confine my recommendation, with regard to the artillery for defence against land attack, to the provision of twelve guns of position, 40 and 20-pounders, Armstrong, with their carriages, &c., adapted to the common harness of the country, so that they could be moved to any position from which a hostile landing or advance could be most successfully opposed.
or two
As, however, a force attempting to disembark could be more effectually encountered on the water than on land, it would be advisable that one armour-plated gun-boats for harbour defence should be kept at the station, more especially because the sea-going ships, having a greater extent of coast and water to watch and guard, must necessarily pass the greater part of their time at
sea.
The defence against actual assault of the small peninsula on which the dock- yard is placed is practicable, as the guns on Signal Hill command the isthmus and road towards Victoria, and there are positions for field-guns for the same purpose, and a narrow position across which field-works could be thrown up in a very short time.
Telegraphic communication from Esquimalt and Victoria to the entrance of the Straits of Fuca, and round the coast to the north of the Saanich Peninsula, is of the greatest importance, and should be established at once. A part of the cost of maintenance, &c., would probably be met by allowing the telegraph to be used for messages from the shipping that passes through the straits.
Garrison.
Artillery. The coast occupied by the defensive works is of considerable extent, and is divided by the two harbours, so that it would be impossible to move men rapidly from one flank of the position to the other; there are no special features that would enable the defenders to forecast the object of the attack of the enemy who in his ships, could quickly change from one point to another, therefore it would be necessary that all the batteries should be manned directly notification was received of the approach of a hostile squadron.
There are twenty-six guns in all; and of the detachments required to serve them, not less than one-third of the men should be well practised and skilled gunners; the remainder, and a reserve equal to one-third of the detachments, might consist of half-trained men. The militia do not get sufficient training to be expert gunners. Skilled men must therefore be supplied from the Imperial artillery. The militia and other inhabitants living near the batteries might in a short time be made into effective assistants if any organization existed under which these men
⚫y. west.
+ Not printed.
165
could, in peace, be allotted to the various batteries, and there be exercised with the guns and appliances they would be required to use when the batteries are called into action.
Without such practice the same condition must arise at Esquimalt as now exists in Halifax, where, with a large force of militia artillery in the city, many of the powerfur guns provided for its defence would, in case of attack, be useless, because the Royal Artillery are numerically inadequate to serve them, while none of the militia artillery have been exercised with the guns, and never having been inside the batteries, are entirely ignorant of the position of the various magazines, &c., and could give but very inefficient aid.
The total number of artillery required to serve the sea batteries at Esquimalt would be:-
Sangster's Knoll,
Rodd Point Signal Hill
Cape Saxe
Beacon Hill
Total
66266
188288
Guns.
Gun Detachments.
Reserve
Battery,
Militia.
Number. Description.
R.A.
Militia.
10-inch
30
60
30
7-inch
18
36
18
10-inch
10
20
10
10-inchi
30
60
30
10-inch
30
60
30
26
118
236
118
118
..364
}
472
General totalRoyal Artillery
Militia
I do not propose any artillery especially for the guns of position, as by the time these would be called into action the point of attack would be so far determined that gunners could be spared from the nearest sea batteries.
Engineers.-Civilian wages are very high in British Columbia :-
Carpenters
Masons Bricklayers Plasterers
Trades.
Rate of Pay per Day.
From-
£ d.
0 12
I 1 0
1 0.
0 15
1
To-
£ a. d.
0 10
6
0 15 0
6
0 12
6
0 10
6
0
0 10
6
0 15
0
Plumbers (only two in Victoria)
1 1
0
1 1
0
0 12 6
1 1 0
Smithe
0 10 6
1 1 0
Labourers (White)
0 6 3
0 10 6
"
(Chinese)
0 5 0
0 6 0
(Indian)
0 5 0
0 6 0
Painters
Joiners
Sapper labour, assisted by military working parties, would be more economical than civilian labour, and the work would be better done, as the class of tradesmen procurable at Victoria are not of first rate character. A company of Sappers should therefore form part of the garrison, and if submarine mines are supplied to the station, a section of submarine miners would be necessary.
These men could not be supplemented from any local sources.
Infantry. The proposed works, with the exception of Signal Hill, being open to attack from the rear, should not be left without the protection of infantry, more / particularly the batterics on Sangster's Knoll and Rodd Point, which, cut off by Esquimalt Harbour, have no means of rapid land communication with the towns of Esquimalt and Victoria, where the main body of the defensive force would be collected.
The shortest of the positions to protect Victoria from an attack by land from the north or west is not less than 6,000 yards in extent, but it is broken into
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