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some additional barrack accommodation, and an outwork on the north side is necessary, as well as a traverse across the centre of the work.

Or. Ladder Hill is a coast battery for medium guns, about 612 feet above the sea. The hill is inclosed by a wall, and contains the largest barracks in the island. It commands James Town, which could not be held by an enemy without he first obtained possession of this position.

On Munden's Point, 102 feet above the sea, and overlooking James Bay and Rupert Bay, is a small casemated battery, without shields, containing three 7-inch rifled muzzle- loading guns of 7 tons, firing over the anchorage, and on Munden's Hill, above Munden's Point, some smooth-bore guns are mounted at a height of 426 feet above the sea.

There are also along the coast-line several outlying batteries, but the armaments of these are not kept up, with the exception of that at Half Moon Battery at Lemon Valley, where two medium guns are mounted at a height of 158 feet above the sea.

The present approved armament is as follows:-

Ladder Hill: Three 64-pounder rifled muzzle-loading guns and five rifled

howitzers.

Munden's Point: Two 9-inch rifled muzzle-loading guns (no emplacements built)

and three 7-inch 7-ton rifled muzzle-loading guns.

Munden's Hill: Five 64-pounder rifled muzzle-loading guns and three rifled

howitzers.

Lemon Valley (Half Moon): One 7-inch 7-ton rifled muzzle-loading gun (emplace-

ment not yet rebuilt).

High Knoll: Two 64-pounder rifled muzzle-loading guns and four 20-pounder

rifled breech-loading guns,

For general use: Four 7-pounder rifled muzzle-loading guns.

Proposed Defences.

The general scheme of defence already in part carried out, appears to be correct, viz., to place the heavy gun defence of the anchorage at Munden's Point, supported by batteries of lighter guns at Ladder Hill and Munden's Hill, the whole being commanded by High Knoll, and to meet any attempt at landing at the outlying valleys with a moveable force, assisted by such works as may be already in existence.

Appendix No. 4.

3 64-prs.

ST. HELENA.

Ladder Hill.

No special provision need be made for works at Ladder Hill or Munden's Hill, except for two new emplacements for 64-pounders on the latter, some slight alterations only being R. howitzers. necessary in the other cases to enable them to receive their approved armament.

3 R. howitzers.

Works

Munden's Hill.

5 64-prs.

£ 1,200

High Knoll.

5,000

Munden's Point.

7 10-in. R.M.L.

An expenditure of about 5,000l. is required at High Knoll, of which the greater part is for the construction of barracks for 100 men, which were not included in the original design. The balance is required for the advanced entrenchment on the north side Works and for the traverse.

The 7-inch rifled muzzle-loading guns at Munden's Point are useless against any armoured ships except those of the lightest class. Guns of not less power than the 10-inch rifled muzzle-loader of 18 tons should be mounted here. From the position of the 3 7-in. 7-ton R.M.L. (mounted). battery under a high cliff, and from its restricted area, it will be necessary to put the guns in casemates, and in order to command all the deep water, and to have at least two firing over every part of the arc to seaward, seven will be required.

guns

It is not probable that any saving would result from attempting to put one of them into one of the casemates now occupied by a 7-inch gun, as the casemate would require revision, and, moreover, is not strong enough to take a proper shield. The 7-inch guns had better be retained as a support.

The only outlying battery which is at present armed is Half Moon Battery at Lemon Valley. As this is 4,000 yards from Munden's Point it can add but little to the defence of James Town, and the anchorage of Goat Pound Point, which it more especially protects, is within effective range (3,000 yards) from Munden's Point Battery. Half Moon Battery has been reported dangerous from falling rocks, and as from its small size it can only take one 7-inch rifled muzzle-loading gun en barbette, which even then could only have a parapet 7 feet 6 inches thick, it would appear advisable to abandon it.

St. Helena is not a suitable locality for the employment of submarine mines or torpedo boats.

The garrison required will be--

Infantry

Royal Artillery

Royal Engineers

Men.

1,350 250 20

Total

1,620

The estimated cost is 94,650%.

(Signed)

J. H. SMITH.

April 26, 1881.

(Signed)

[1103]

T. L. GALLWEY, Inspector-General of Fortifications.

Y

Works

Armament

..

£

63,250 25,200

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