2
The Committee have no knowledge of the condition of these works, nor of the position of Fort Dufferin, alluded to in the telegram of the 13th May from the Governor- General to the Secretary of State, which was only completed and armed last year; but as the whole of the armaments consisted of smooth-bored ordnance, with the exception of five 64-pounder rifled guns in Fort Dufferin, the Committee consider they are totally inade- quate to meet present requirements.
'The smooth-bored armament enumerated in the Governor-General's telegram is as follows:-
18-pounder guns, 2 mounted; 24-pounder guns, 8 not mounted; 32-pounder guns, 14 mounted; 8-inch guns, 2 mounted; 68-pounder guns, 2 mounted.
The Committee recommend that à battery should be established on Partridge Island, which should be a strongly inclosed self-defensible work for four 7-in. 7-ton rifled guns, and three 64-pounders. In the event of war, this work being at some distance from the town from which the defenders would probably be supplied, will require a permanent garrison of about 150 to 200 men with proper accommodation for their temporary occupation.
They further recommend that a battery should be constructed at Negro Point to mount two 7-ton and three 64-pounder guns, and another at or near Dorchester Battery for two 7-ton guns. The works in rear of Negro Point should also be maintained, and might be armed with some of the smooth-bored guns to protect the rear and gorge of the battery on Negro Point, which should be an inclosed work with a defensible gorge.
With respect to the garrison for these works, the Committee would suggest that, con- sidering the large population of the city and environs of St. John, amounting to 52,000, there ought to be no difficulty on the part of the Dominion Government in providing adequately for it.
The Governor-General states that there are four batteries of artillery, one company of engineers, and a battalion of infantry, with four more batteries in the vicinity. The Committee are in ignorance of the actual strength of these units, but they are of opinion that the total force, considering the importance of the position, should not be less than 2,000 men, including artillery, which would suffice to man the guns and afford security against any force which might attempt to land and advance upon the town of St. John to the east, or on the suburb of Carleton to the west of the harbour.
In the absence of any information as to the present condition of the works, and of the construction and position of Fort Dufferin, which probably occupies one of the sites they have recommended above, the Committee are unable to form any estimate of the cost of the proposed works, they therefore limit their estimate to the cost of the armament with a supply of 100 rounds of ammunition per gun,
Eight 7-ton guns, complete
One 64-pr., in addition to five already in position
Total
Sydney, Cape Breton.
£
8,000
600
8,600
THE port of Sydney, Cape Breton, is one the defence of which is of importance in order to deny to an enemy the power of obtaining coal, which is produced from mines in close proximity to the shores of the inlet, within which the town and loading-stages are situated.
Several batteries formerly existed for the defence of this port, but they had all been allowed to go to ruin previous to their being handed over to the local Govern. ment, with the exception of one on Chapel Point, in which six 32-pounder guns were mounted.
From the telegraphic despatch of the Governor-General, dated 13th May, it appears that there are at present eight 32-pounder smooth-bored guns mounted, but these, although good and efficient guns a few years ago, are not now adequate to repel an attack by ships armed with rifled artillery.
The Committee, therefore, recommend the erection of two batteries in succession, one in support of the other, on the western side of the entrance inside Swivel Point, probably Chapel and Mines Points might suit, but the Committee not having an accurate knowledge of the ground, recommend that the exact sites should be determined by some competent officer selected for this purpose. If the Dominion Government desired it possibly the Commanding Royal Engineer at Halifax might be spared for this duty.
3
The Committee are of opinion that each of these batteries should mount not less than two 7-ton and go 64-pounder muzzle-loading rifled guns, and suggest that they should both be placed on the western side, instead of on opposite sides of the entrance, because they couceive that in this position, both being nearer to the more inhabited districts, they would most probably be manned and defended with less difficulty, and less interference with the ordinary pursuits of the inhabitants than if one of the batteries were on the eastern side of the entrance.
The Committee have not sufficient information to enable them to judge of the probability or possibility of an enemy landing to the westward of Cranberry Head, with a view to making a dash and capturing the proposed batteries by a coup de main, but it would appear advisable that the possibility of such an attack should be considered on the spot, and proper precautions taken against it by making the batteries self-defensible, or otherwise by a defensible work on the high ground in rear of them.
The Committee recommend also the construction of a battery to mount two 7-ton, two 64-pounder guns in second line on Edward Point, to bring a fire on the water from Fishery Cove on the east to the loading ground on the west, which, in case of the entrance being forced, would prevent a ship taking the coal at the stages.
This harbour is one which is particularly well adapted for defence by submarine mines, which, if laid in the channel under the protection of the proposed advanced batteries, and protected at night and in foggy weather by guard boats, would render it unnecessary to construct the battery on Edward Point, and would afford complete security to the harbour,
The Committee are not aware whether the Dominion have any trained body of men who can take charge of submarine mining defences, without which they cannot be efficiently worked, and have, therefore, thought it right to recommend the third battery.
With respect to the number of men requisite for manning the batteries and for securing them against attack by a force landed in the neighbourhood, the Committee observe that the Governor-General, in his telegraphic despatch of the 13th May,* states that there are one battery of artillery and three companies of infantry at Sydney, but the strength of these units is not given.
The total force necessary for fully manning the guns, allowing for casualties, would
be about 150 artillery, and it is desirable that the infantry should be increased to the extent the population, stated to be about 3,000, will admit.
The estimate for the works is as follows, but will be subject to deduction, if the existing batteries can be utilized, which is probably the case:-
Four 7-ton guns complete
Four 64-pr.
"
Batteries, magazines, &c.
Total cost of two batteries
Battery on Edward Point, including armament
Total
Or, as an alternative—
Two batteries, as above Submarine mines
Total
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Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.
:::
::
£ 4,000
2,400
4,800
11,200
5,600
16,800
11,200
3,000
14,200
Charlottetown, with a population of about 7,000 inhabitants, is on the Hillsborough river, about 4,500 yards from Blockhouse Point, where it discharges into Hillsborough Bay. The approach to the river through the bay is by a narrow channel, about 1,300 yards in width between shoals, carrying only three fathoms of water, for a distance of about 5,000 yards.
The channel up the river inside Blockhouse Point, for a distance of nearly 3,000 yards, averages only about 400 yards in width.
According to a telegraphic despatch from the Governor-General of Canada, dated 13th May, it appears that there are three 32-pounder smooth-bored guns at Charlottetown, but the Committee have no information as to the position in which these guns are mounted, At any rate, being only smooth-bored guns, they are altogether inadequate for the defence of the harbour against ships armed with modern rifled artillery.
The Committee are of opinion, therefore, that the defence of Charlottetown against
• See Miscellaneous No. 35 z, p. 37. [709]
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