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181

Galle.

At the time Galle was under the consideration of the Colonial Defence Committee' the armament was practically obsolete, consisting of one 7-inch rifled muzzle-loading gun and nineteen smooth-bore guns of various calibres; and the Committee recommended that three 7-inch rifled muzzle-loading guns should be mounted on three of the old bastions, and three on a new battery to be constructed at Watering Point, and that six 64-pounder rifled muzzle-loading guns should be mounted on other parts of the old ramparts; but emplacements for one 7-inch rifled muzzle-loading gun and two 64-pounder rifled muzzle- loading guns only have been constructed, viz., at Triton Bastion, and at Klippenburgh and Eolus Bastions, and the guns have been mounted. The positions selected were good, but at Watering Point, which occupies a salient and most important position upon the extremity of the harbour opposite to the town, and which had hitherto been unoccupied, no expendi- ture was incurred, though its position in the defensive arrangements was recognized, and a work to occupy it was designed.

Galle is a partially-inclosed harbour about 1,200 yards deep, and 1,600 yards wide at the entrance. The town stands on the western side, and is surrounded by ancient works of irregular bastion trace. Having regard to the open character of the harbour, it should be provided with a heavy armament.

Ceylon is not so much exposed to Russian enterprise as places farther east, and may perhaps enjoy some security from its proximity to India; but Galle is the most exposed point of Ceylon, and, if fortified at all, we should not be content with guns of less calibre than 10-inch rifled muzzle-loading guns of 18 tons.

Appendix No. 4.

CEYLON.

Galle.

5 10-in. R.M.L. guns.

Batteries

It is now proposed to remodel the four seaward bastions of the fortress, viz., Star, Armament Eolus, Klippenburgh, and Triton, to receive such guns, and to place a similar gun in Utrecht Bastion; but in order to compensate for the low level of these guns, special means of protection should be devised, shielded emplacements not being recommended, as they restrict the arcs of fire; to take up a new position for two additional guns of the same calibre to the north-west of the town on Chapel Hill, an eminence over 80 feet in height; these may be en barbette, and should be supplemented by one or two medium guns.

It should be observed that the existing fortifications upon the land side are sufficient to secure the place from being captured by a sudden attack."

Battery Armament

At Watering Point the site is contracted, and will not probably suffice for more than two similar heavy guns, but if possible three should be placed there, with two medium guns; the position is over 100 feet above the water, and the guns need not be shielded; Battery the position is isolated, and the work must in consequence be self-defensible.

This arrangement will keep vessels at a distance of 4,000 yards from the harbour, but will not render it secure from shell fire.

The temporary works at all three places have been exceptionally well done, and would, at Galle and Colombo, require little revision to adapt them to receive 9-inch rifled muzzle- loading guns of 12 tons instead of the existing 7-inch rifled muzzle-loading guns of 7 tons.

At Trincomalee the guns have been mounted on naval slides, and the emplacements would need reconstruction.

The expense of substituting 9-inch rifled muzzle-loading guns of 12 tons for the 7-inch rifled muzzle-loading guns of 7 tons would be as follows, viz. :—

Trincomalee---

Works, including scarping at Fort Frederick Guns

Colombo-

Works Guns

Galle-

Works Guns

·

..

·

常备

"

..

::

::

::

::

::

£

8,300

16,696

500 12,310

100 2,462

Armament

107

£

.

14,080 17,925

Chapel Hill.

..

£ 17,040 7,170

Watering Point.

•

£ 9,680 7,170

Garrison.

Trincomalee, Fort Frederick.-129 men will be required to man the guns, of whom 43 may be infantry.

Fort Ostenburgh.-186 men will be required to man the guns, of whom 62 may be infantry; 200 men will be required for the three posts at Chapel Hill, Ostenburgh Ridge, and Orr's Hill; and 100 men should be added for general purposes at Fort Frederick, and 400 at Fort Ostenburgh, with 50 Royal Engineers submarine miners for manipulating the three lines of submarine mines, and 35 mounted men for general purposes, making a total of 1,100 of all arms.

At present there is barrack accommodation for 266 rank and file, so that it would seem to be necessary to provide barrack accommodation for 834 rank and file.

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Trincomalee.

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