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13. It is submitted as being desirable that a defensible barrack for half a company should be constructed on the hill above Beran's, near Cason's Gate, and occupied at all times. With another half company at High Knoll (when ready) a peace garrison of two or more companies of infantry would be distributed in a much more satisfactory manner than can be done at present. These two hill stations would also form valuable sanitaria for the entire garrison, and as they would be free from ordinary garrison duties, they would afford opportunities for drill and other exercises which at present are simply non-existent. Change of station, at desirable intervals, would also do much to relieve the dull monotony of the soldiers' life here. Now it is impracticable.

14. As regards the artillery portion of the garrison, they must necessarily continue to be quar- tered at or near the sea defences; they will remain principally at Ladder Hill, furnishing detachments to Munden's and to the other outposts. High Knoll, when complete, will require an artillery detachment.

15. No special mention is here made of High Knoll Fort. The authorities, as stated in Inspector- General of Fortifications' Memorandum of the 26th April, 1881, will, when carried out, fulfil all desirable conditions. The importance of this fort is fully recognized.

Sea Defences.

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16. The Inspector-General of Fortifications' Memorandum of the 26th April, 1881, above alluded to, states that it is intended to replace the present armament of Ladder Hill and Munden's Hill with 64-pr. muzzle-loading guns and rifled howitzers; to add seven 10-in. muzzle-loading guns of 18 tons, in casemates with shields, to the existing armament of Munden's Point Battery, which is to be retained and it indicates the idea of the abandonment of the (so-called) Half-Moon Battery at Lemon Valley.

17. As regards this latter point, being strongly impressed with the necessity for some guns being retained at Lemon Valley, I have lately urged the retention of the existing battery there, with a slight modification. Without artillery at this spot I do not see how to prevent even a single unarmoured cruizer attacking some of the ships at anchor, if she approaches from the westward, and close in shore; this can be done by night or by day, there being no intricacies of navigation, no probable armament of Munden's Point would prevent it, while the guns at Munden's Hill and Ladder Hill would not be available, as they could not be brought to bear.

18. The armaments intended for Ladder Hill and Munden's Hill, and that for Munden's Point Battery, will, if carried out, leave little to be desired, so far as guns are concerned. But there are one or two conditions yet to be fulfilled in the sea defences, which are most desirable when the exposure to sudden attacks from the sea is considered, combined with the difficulties of land communication to the different posts in this mountainous spot.

19. The battery at Ladder Hill is inside a fort, is safe from a coup de main, and has the advantage of lodging on the spot the requisite gun detachments. It is, however, different at Munden's Point and Munden's Hill, both of which are open to the rear, and the approaches to them from the east unseen from Ladder Hill.

20. Considering the importance of Munden's Point Battery, which will contain all the heavy armour-piercing guns, it is thought that a small work on the top of the hill should be constructed, so as to overlook the approach to Munden's Point from Rupert's Valley; this work would, at the same time, form a nucleus to the eight guns to be mounted on Munden's Hill, and which will otherwise be without protection from assault, and in a period of hostilities should lodge at least some portion of artillery to work these guns, no accommodation of the kind existing at present.

21. Munden's Point Battery should be closed on its right or accessible flank, so as to be defensible against a rush, made by a few men who may have landed. It should also be able to lodge per- manently a portion of the gun detachments, considering that the communications to the battery are fully exposed to view from the sea; the existing small barrack at the battery will probably be removed for the proposed extension, and other barracks are a long way off.

22. These points, joined to the fact that the road is not practicable for wheeled transport, would render it very difficult to replenish, after an engagement, the expense magazines at Munden's Point within a reasonable time. It is submitted that a store magazine be constructed in the immediate vicinity. Ladder Hill, which is of less importance than Munden's Point and Hill, is far better provided with magazine accommodation, and has the further advantage of being a point in the line of the best carriage road in the island, either from James' Town or from High Knoll.

23. Much importance is attached to the necessity of providing beforehand for quartering, in time of hostilities, a sufficient number of artillerymen in the sea defences, so as to be ready for immediate action. This necessity arises from two causes--

(1.) From the liability of the anchorage to instant attack, without notice.

(2) From the exhausting and harassing effects on troops of having to be moved to and fro frequently in such a mountainous as well as tropical spot as St. Helena.

24. The establishment at St. Helena of a coal depôt for naval purposes, which could only be situated advantageously in Rupert's Valley, would render it desirable to reoccupy the Half-Moon Battery at Bank's. This would afford an admirable site for two 64-pr. guns to flank the coast as far as Munden's. It would also permit the mounting of two 10-in. muzzle-loading guns for general defence seawards, and it has the advantage that it is not possible for a ship to fire against the battery without being seen from Munden's Hill, Munden's Point, and Ladder Hill. But the extension of works is only recommended as being contingent on the establishment of a coal or other naval depôt in Rupert's Valley.

25. The proposals detailed as above may be summarized thus--

Land Defences.-(1), Construction of two towers; (2), defensible barrack for half a company; (3), a few breast-works for opposing the passage up the ravines.

Sea Defences.--(4), Retention of Lemon Valley Battery; (5), small closed work on Munden's Hill,

Appendix No. 4.

ST. HELENA

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