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377

Land Defence.

The land defences may be conveniently considered in three divisions-the east and north-east, the north-west, and the west.

On the east and north-east of English Harbour a line of heights, with some intervals, extends from Blockhouse Point to Sanderson Point on Falmouth Harbour, a distance of about 3,400 yards. A line of works on these heights would guard the dockyard from being carried by a sudden assault, while the hills themselves cover it from any but indirect fire. Outside these works there are two good landing-places, at Indian Creek and Mamora Bay. An advanced position might, perhaps, be taken up at Chalky Hill, overlooking Willoughby Bay, but it appears scarcely necessary to go so far in this direction.

The nature of the works on this side might be as follows :-

At Shirley Heights the barracks should be arranged within a defensible inclosure, and a battery of field-guns, with some rifled howitzers, should be kept here.

At Blockhouse the old work should be restored, and three medium guns mounted.

At Dow's Hill a work should be constructed to mount two medium guns.

The hill to the north of the harbour, marked 236 on the Chart, should be occupied by a small inclosed work.

Works

Barracks

Appendix No. 4.

Armament

3 64-prs.

Works Armament

2 64-prs.

Works

Armament

2 64-prs.

Works Armament

ANTIGUA.

Shirley Heights.

看診

•

Blockhouse.

£

2,000

5,000

"

4,500

£ 4,730 1,350

Dow's Hill.

£ 5,500 900

North Hill.

The intervals between these works should be closed by obstacles and intrenchments, Intrenchments- and as the line is so close to the dockyard the intrenchments should be prepared at Works leisure.

+

Fert Monk.

•

£ 5,500 900

4,000

These works do not cover the dockyard from the north-west, where it is exposed to view from Falmouth, across Falmouth Harbour and the sandy isthmus separating the harbours. In this direction, however, on the highest part of a ridge, 695 feet above the sea level, are the remains of a large work called Fort Monk, which appears to command all the approaches from the north to Falmouth and English Harbours, and itself looks 3 6-in. B.L.R. or 7-in. R.M.L. down into the dockyard at a range of 3,000 yards. This work it will be necessary to 3 64-prs. restore and to occupy. Being in such a commanding position, and only 3,000 yards from 3 field-guns. the entrance to Falmouth Harbour, it would be advisable to mount here some guns capable Works of acting with effect against shipping from such an elevation, and thus to make it a second Armament line of defence to Black's Hill.

On the west the country is very rugged, the approaches appear to be all commanded from Monk's Hill and the Middle Ground, and it does not seem necessary to make any works here; but the entire question of the land defence requires local examination and report.

There are other harbours and landing-places in Antigua which might be made use of Other harbours, by an enemy, but to fortify them all would entail too heavy an expenditure and a larger garrison than would be available in time of war. Two or three field-pieces should be kept at Fort Monk ready to move to any threatened point of landing.

The garrison required would be—

£

14,960 4,050

Infantry

Artillery

Royal Engineers

Total

·

Summary of cost of proposed defences, 149,5402.

April 8, 1881.

[1103]

Men.

1,500

200

50

1,750

(Signed)

J. H. SMITH.

(Signed)

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

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