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The hard rock everywhere is metamorphic quartzose sandstone, varying in hardness, fracture, and solidity. There are veins and fragments of quartz, and much laminated and distorted sandstone.

The sandstone rocks protrude through beds of clay or mixed débris of stones, sand, &c. A peat surface prevails over these from 1 to 6 feet deep. Some of this peat is never dry; in the winter very few dry places are to be found around Stanley Harbour.

The most watery and spongy places are from Weir Creek to Sparrow Cove, on the north of Port William, and from Sapper's Hill along the Murray Heights to Hooker's Point, on the south of Stanley Harbour.

The peninsula, including Ordnance Point and ground east of Whalebone Bay, is the driest locality and the poorest feeding ground; it is very well suited for military move- ments. There is little water to be got here.

From Yorke Bay and Hooker's Point to the lighthouse at Cape Pembroke is a waste of sand dunes.

The sand is blown over the peat banks and clay surfaces, and during the time of the strong summer winds is constantly in motion.

In winter the track to Cape Pembroke is soft, slushy, and boggy.

Appendix No. 4.

FALKLAND ISLANDS. Geological features. Sandstone rocks.

Clay beds. Peat surface.

Ordnance Point and Peninsula.

The Pembroke Peninsula.

Sandy waste.

Access to lighthouse, Cape Pem-

Stores are now taken to the lighthouse in the pilot-boat, occasionally on horseback, when the supply has run out before a landing can be effected, sometimes ten days to a broke. fortnight.

The "dip" of the sandstone ridges is very steep, generally 70 to 80 degrees; occa- sionally the beds are vertical.

The long line of Engineer Ridge and the Navy Peninsula has a slight leaning to the south; so also has the ridge on the south of Stanley Harbour. Both ridges have gaps in them.

Above the Murray Heights (highest point 160 feet above sea-level), and in continua- tion to the westward, rises Sapper's Hill to a height of 400 feet.

On the southern face the rock lies in nearly flat beds, forming cliffs, in one place 50 feet high. These cliffs range one behind the ether, and at the foot lie fragments of rock of all sizes up to 50 tons weight.

Facing Sapper's Hill to the south is another lower hill, showing one abrupt cliff to the north, and evidently broken away from Sapper's Hill. I call this "Miner's Hill." The elevation is about 130 feet, and the dip to the south.

At some of the points washed by the sea the land rests on ledges of rock, viz., at Horse Point, Doctor's Point, and Blanco Hill. At other points, on almost vertical ridges, viz., at Ordnance Point and Hookers Point.

Yorke Point is a complex vertical ridge 35 feet above high-water mark, where there would be great trouble with the foundations for a battery.

The attack must come from ships of war and transports. The Commander would attempt long-range fire until the guns of the defence were silenced (or he would sacrifice one or more vessels to effect this).

In landing a mixed force for attack by surprise or by open force, there are to be con- sidered the difficulties of rowing through kelp, as well as the moving over the rough and boggy ground above described.

Troops could be landed from ship's boats-

1. In Berkeley Sound, 12 miles, or 4 hours' rapid marching overland to Stanley; ·

2. In Fitzroy Harbour, a 5 hours' march;

3. In Sparrow Cove, inside Port William ;

4. On the Pembroke Peninsula, from 2 to 3 hours' march;

5. At Hooker's Point, or near Horse Point;

6. In Port Harriet.

The three last-named are on the south shore, within 1 hour's march of Stanley. In no case could such a force bring with them ordinary light artillery, unless guns were specially mounted on sledges or on very broad wheels; and their progress would be much slower than the rate above given; they must be dragged by men.

If once an enemy were established on Mount William (800 feet high), light guns might be dragged up for attacking Sapper's Hill. In the same way guns landed in Sparrow Cove might be mounted on Hamblin Down, where there is a partial view of Stanley Settlement and Harbour, and command of all the intervening space. The most likely form of attack by land would be an attack by surprise with one force, or with two separate forces of 500 men, and their object would be to destroy what they could not carry away from dockyard or settlement, and then to retire.

Dip of strata.

Sapper's Hill.

Miner's Hill.

Ledges of rock.

Yorke Point.

The probable attack,

Land attack, by "surprise" or by "open force."

Landing-places-

1. Berkeley Sound. 2. Fitzroy Harbour. 3. Sparrow Cove.

4. Pembroke Peninsula.

5. Hooker's Point; Horse

Point Bay.

6. Port Harriet.

Artillery impracticable on the

march.

Position on Mount William.

Position on Hamblin Down (alti- tude 155 feet).

SCHEME I.

To defend the Port and Settlement of Stanley.

To deny the entrance of Stanley Harbour, under Condition (3), with the naval depôt at the present dockyard—

I would construct on Ordnance Point a heavily-armed battery, viz., en barbelte, four heavy guns; in casemates, three medium guns-the former at an elevation of 80 feet.

[1103]

5 M

Principal batteries-

Ordnance Point-

En barbette, 4 heavy guns. In casemates, 3 medium guns.

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