CAB7-4 — Page 392

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364

Appendix No. 4.

THURSDAY ISLAND.

Greenhill Battery.

5 8-in. B.L.R. guns.

2 64-prs.

Works

£

34,000 13,600

Armament

::

Total

Torpedo-boats

Gun-boat

47,600

9,000 13,000

Submarine mines-

Stores

2,600

Boats

4,500

Storehouse

2,500

Total

Barracks

9,600

£

defence, or having the whole defence on a separate island from that on which the main Settlement is established, renders it advisable to seek a site on the latter, where the advantage of concentration would outweigh the slight inferiority of position.

Reference to the Chart shows that there is a hill 200 feet in height on the west side of Thursday Island, one of a range forming the background of the new Settlement, from which apparently a clear view can be obtained of, and a fire brought to bear on, the anchorage and any of the approaches thereto.

It may be noted that it shares the disadvantage common to all the hills close to the coast; it is commanded by others within the range of artillery fire, but on the whole it appears to be the most eligible site.

A work mounting about five 8-inch rifled breech-loading and two medium guns en barbette should be erected upon it, with which should be associated in the defence two torpedo-boats and a gun-boat of such light draught that it might be capable of moving about in the shallow channels with some freedom. This battery, with the co-operation of the naval force above suggested, and some observation ground mines, should suffice to render the port, as a coaling and provision depôt, secure from naval attack.

A garrison of about 220 men would be necessary, of whom 60 should be artillery and 20 submarine miners.

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JAMAICA

•

Barrack accommodation for 50 men would be provided in the fort. For the remaining 17,000 170 men it would have to be constructed elsewhere.

Against possible attacks by land Thursday Island itself appears to be sufficiently secure, but whether there are convenient landing-places on the other islands at which light guns could be landed, and from which they could be advanced to sites within range of the anchorage and Settlement, remains to be ascertained.

There is a fair anchorage on the north-west side of Hammond Island; a force landing on the shore of which, and advancing about 14 miles to the hills on its south coast, might with light guns at a distance of 2,000 to 3,000 yards cause very serious annoyance, and some loss to the Settlement and harbour.

The method of meeting attacks of this nature must be largely determined by the degree of probability attaching to their occurrence. If, as is believed, such probability is but very remote, it would suffice perhaps to rely upon naval resources alone for their discomfiture,

Works Armament

Barracks

Submarine mines

Two torpedo-boats Gun-boat..

May 17, 1881.

Total

•

RECAPITULATION.

:

JAMAICA.

£

:::

34,000 13,600

17,000

9,600

9,000

13,000

96,200

(Signed)

J. H. SMITH.

(Signed)

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

No. 107.

Colonial Office to Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad.

Sir,

Downing Street, August 19, 1881. WITH reference to the letter from this Department of the 22nd June,* I am directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to transmit to you, for the information of the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad, a copy of a despatch from the Governor of Jamaica reporting the appointment of a Committee to report upon the defence of the Colony.

I am, &c. (Signed)

* No. 43, Appendix No. 4, Second Report.

ROBERT G. W. HERBERT.

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