CO885(3-4) — Page 301

96

Whatever system of defence may eventually be determined upon to protect the bay, the occupation of the points mentioned in this paper will in no way interfere with it.

April 29, 1878.

His Excellency the Governor,

(Signed)

F. C. HASSARD, Colonel, Commanding Royal Engineers, South Africa.

I have instructed my Deputy Adjutant-General to apply to the War Office for any report and plans that General Westmacott, R.E, may have sent in to the Home Authorities on the subject of the Table Bay defences. In the meantime I think it would be advisable that a Committee should be at once, assembled to report upon what could be done provided some guns were forthcoming. The Commodore might sit as President, and I should be glad to place the services of Colonel Dean Pitt and Colonel Hassard at your Excellency's disposal as members. As the Committee would consist of navy and army members, it would be necessary that the Committee should assemble under your Excellency's orders. (Signed) FRED. THESIGER, Lieutenant-General.

P.S.--Since writing this I have ascertained that Captain Nixon, R.E., was associated with Colonel (now Major-General) Westmacott, R.E,, in the preparation of the latter's Report on Colonial Defences; I therefore requested Captain Nixon to place on paper roughly what he considered General Westmacott's views to be, and I forward them for such consideration as they may be deemed worthy of

F. T.

Assistant Military Secretary.

Sir,

?

With reference to the defences suggested by Major-General Westmacott, R.E., in his Report of the 4th September, 1877, for the protection of Cape Town and Table Bay, I have the following remarks to make, in accordance with your request for some further explanation :-

The mound called Kyk in de Pot is the best position available for mounting guns, as from this point the offing and approach to the dockyard could be well covered. At a comparatively small cost this mound could be converted into a battery for three or four guns of 6 tons weight, with magazines and protected gorge. Amsterdam Battery is not in a good position, for the ships in the dockyard would mask part of its fire. I know that subsequent to the date of this Report General Westmacott preferred a spot on the north of the dockyard, between it and Somerset Hospital.

Old Fort Knokke is, in my opinion, a more suitable position for a battery than Craig's Tower, because it covers as much of the bay and is a mile nearer to the centre. General Westmacott proposed to mount two 6-ton guns at each of these places, as well as two at

both the Imhoff and Amsterdam Batteries.

The plans for each of the earth-work batteries would be similar in detail to that of the battery now being constructed at the North Battery, Simon's Town.

General Westmacott based his estimate of the cost of mounting these guns, viz., 1501. a gun; on an estimate which I made for the temporary four-gun battery at South Point, Simon's Town, which actually cost in construction a little over this sum. The design for this battery is much simpler than that now being constructed, the design for the latter being based on a design sent from the War Office, with superior magazine accommodation.

F. W. NIXON, Captain,

(Signed)

D.O.R.E.

Commanding Royal Engineer,

The accompanying papers are forwarded for your perusal, with a request that they may be returned with the remarks and recommendations which you were good enough to offer to submit to his Excellency the Governor on this subject.

(Signed) F. W. WALKER, Lieutenant-Colonel,

Acting Military Secretary.

April 25, 1878.

}

1