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The best way of occupying it would appear to be to construct a small casemated work on the summit to act as a keep, and to place a heavy gun at the extremity of each of the spurs to command all the horizon to seaward. On the south side of the hill two heavy guns should be mounted in casemates to fire across the mouth of the harbour. It will be necessary to mount some medium guns to protect the lines of submarine mines across the mouth of the harbour, and others to oppose a landing in Choc Bay. Communications would require to be made between the various batteries.

Appendix No. 4.

ST. LUCIA.

Works (including roads) Armament

Submarine mines-

Boats

£

61,562

26,650

4,300

2,500

2,820

Total

9,620

Morne Fortuné.

Buildings Stores

On the Morne Fortuné the existing works should be repaired and improved, and some bomb-proof accommodation provided.

At Morne Chabôt and at Abercrombie's Hill small self-defensible works containing magazines would probably suffice.

3 64-prs.

Works Armament

3 64-prs.

£

••

"

8,125 1,350

Morne Chabót.

Works Armament

£ 7,437

1,350

Fort Abercrombie.

3 64-prs.

£

Works

7,437

Armament

1,350

Field-guns

1,500

Rifled howitzers

3,000

9,000

Some field-guns should be provided for general use.

In addition to the works two torpedo-boats should be provided.

There are two other harbours at St. Lucia, besides anchorages and landing-places; one, Grand Cul de Sac Bay, is under the guns of Fort Charlotte, on the Morne Fortuné, at a distance of 2,500 yards. The other, Marigot Harbour, is about 1,200 yards further off. It does not seem desirable to weaken the defence by extending it to the latter place.

To the north of Castries lies Pigeon Island, covering St. Croix roadstead. This was occupied at one time by troops, and there are barracks there now.

The garrison required would be-----

Infantry

Royal Artillery

Royal Engineers

Total

能源

:::

Men.

1,500 200

50

1,750

Torpedo-boats Other harbours.

SUMMARY of Cost of Proposed Defences.

To deny the harbour to an enemy

£ 97,832

To deny the harbour and protect the town from bombardment

··

140,881

(Signed)

J. H. SMITH.

April 8, 1881.

(Signed)

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

April 8, 1881.

BARBADOS.

No. 114.

War Office Memorandum on the Defence of Barbados.

THE Island of Barbados, the most easterly of all the West Indian Islands, is 21 miles long and 14 in extreme breadth. The general character of the country is hilly; the highest point, Mount Hillaby, rising to a height of 1,104 feet above the sea.

It possesses no harbours properly so called, but several roadsteads and landing-places, all of which are on the west or leeward side of the island, with one exception, named Consett Cove, which, however, is difficult of access.

The safest roadsteads are those in front of Speightstown and Holetown, and Carlisle Bay in front of Bridgetown, the capital. There is also a landing-place at Oistin Bay, on the south coast.

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BARBADOS.

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