CAB7-4 — Page 434

Page 434

Page 434

Appendix No. 4.

NEWFOUNDLAND.

Chain Rock Battery,

15,620

8,100

2 10-in. R.M.L.

2 64-prs.

Works

Armament

Submarine mines-

Boats

Buildings

1,200 1,000

Stores

Total

Fort Amherst.

3 10-in. R.M.L.

Works Armament

Signal Hill Lines.

4 64-prs.

6 field-guns.

6 rifled howitzers.

Works

Armament

South Side Works.

764-prs.

Works Armament

number--

Western Defences.

3,400

406

The narrowest part of the entrance channel is just opposite the Chain Rock, Here where a battery exists for four smooth-bore guns close to the water's edge. two heavy guns should be mounted in casemates with iron shields, firing down and across the channel.

Two medium guns should be associated with them for flanking the line of submarine mines. There would probably not be room for these guns in Chain Rock Battery, but a suitable site might no doubt be found in the neighbourhood.

This would close the entrance, but it is desirable to have more fire on the approaches and to prevent bombardment.

on

The Newfoundland Defence Commission recommended the construction of batteries the North Head, but the inaccessibility of the site and the consequent large expense 1,200 entailed in forming communication and in constructing the battery on it render the selection of another site desirable; and, moreover, from the height of the hill the guns on it would not see the actual entrance to the harbour or the deep water close underneath.

Fort Amherst, on the south side of the entrance, affords a suitable position for a battery of two or three heavy guns from which to command the approaches to the £ entrance. It has, however, this objection, that it cannot efficiently command the water along the southern coast-line towards Freshwater Bay. From the limited area of this battery it will be necessary to casemate these guns.

23,650 10,800

Land Defence.

With the land defence it is impossible to deal satisfactorily in this Memorandum on account of the want of proper maps, and of the want of any Report on the place giving weight to the modern developments of weapons, but it seems evident that it is necessary to hold the ground both to the north and south of the entrance.

On the north lies Signal Hill with its barracks and the most important battery. It is a position that can be made strong against a close attack, and is conveniently situated with respect to the town. It would therefore appear desirable to make this the head- quarters of the defence, and following the advice of the Commission of 1859, to retrench 15,000 the lower ridge, including Crow's Nest and Carronade Hill. The armament of this position

6,300 should include medium guns for firing into Quiddy Viddy Harbour,

£

The ground on the south side commands this, as well as the whole of the town and the harbour, and would appear to offer the greatest inducement to an assailant to capture it. It is not a position, however, against which an attack with artillery can be readily made on account of the difficulties of approach and the rugged nature of the country; but the information available is not sufficient to define precisely the position and nature of the works required; this must be determined by local examination. A work secure against a coup-de-main would probably suffice, and should be placed on the most favourable point, most likely the highest. From the formation of the ground, which is rugged and divided into three 3,150 parallel ridges between the sea and the harbour, it is probable that an advanced work and

two lateral works will also be required.

£

20,000

The works hitherto mentioned are necessary to deny the harbour to an enemy. In Works around the town, say 3 in order to secure the use of it to our own ships, works must be constructed on the hills to the west and south of the town. In the absence of correct maps it is impossible to indicate where these should be or how many will be necessary, but the country being so 30,000 rugged and sparsely cultivated, it is not probable that it will be necessary to go far from

4,500 the town.

10 64-prs.

Works Armament

£

There are many harbours along the coast and in the neighbouring bays which the enemy could use as bases of operation against St. John's, but which cannot be defended by permanent works on account of the dispersion of our forces that would result; but in time of war the roads of approach from them should be watched, and arrange- ments should be made to give the earliest information possible of any hostile landing in any of the bays.

The garrison required would be-

Infantry

Royal Artillery Royal Engineers

Total

:::

::::

**

Men. 2,300

350 50

2,700

Page 434

The estimated cost is-

To deny the harbour to an enemy To secure the harbour

April 28, 1881.

April 30, 1881.

::

Page 434

::

£ 106,020 140,520

(Signed)

(Signed)

J. H. SMITH.

T. L. GALLWEY,

Inspector-General of Fortifications.

Page 434