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Appendix No. 4. and fort J, with a single firing-station 03, in fort, for perfect security, and the narrow passages between the adjacent rocks and islands and the mainland should be defended by one or two ground mines, with single firing-stations, 04 and 0, on William Islet, and, for greater security, a double line of electro-contact mines should be laid down in the narrowest part of the channel between Charles Point and William Islets.

FALKLAND ISLANDS.

Mechanical mines.

Boom.

Port Harriett.

Hooker's Cove.

Outside radius of 3 miles.

Frovisions.

Water.

Garrison.

Torpedo launches.

Signal stations.

Naval depôt and coal atore.

Reservation on Navy Point.

5)

Mechanical mines should be distributed pretty closely in the anchorage between William Islets and the mainland, also in York Bay, Sparrow Cove, Hernden Water, and the anchorage off the Rabbit Ground, and perhaps in Kidney Cove.

A strong boom, capable of being easily removed to allow boats and ships to pass, should be moored between Engineer and Navy Points.

Port Harriett, situated to the south, is the next most likely place for an enterprising enemy to endeavour to effect a landing, as there is good shelter from the prevailing south and south-west gales in the outer roads; the bar, however, would prevent any ship of more than 18 feet draught entering. The harbour and outer roads should, therefore, be well sown with mechanical mines, and protected by a strong fort on Sapper's Hill, and flanked by earthworks on the adjacent heights; the guns in these forts should be capable of a range of at least 4,500 yards; the kelp, hidden dangers, and heavy swells setting in would make landing at any other point (one only excepted, of which more hereafter) between Pembroke Lighthouse and Port Harriett very difficult and dangerous.

The important fort on Sapper's Hill, and its flanking earthworks, would make Port Harriett quite untenable, and secure the town from a coup de main on this side.

The place excepted above is called Hooker's Cove, and situated between Port Harriett and Cape Pembroke, exactly at the eastern extremity of Stanley Harbour, from which it is separated by a neck of land of less than two cables; if the weather were exceptionally favourable this would offer the casiest and shortest road to the town and arsenal of Stanley, and it would be necessary to make this place very secure by constructing strong works at 4 and 5; at 4 an entrenchment should be cut com- pletely across from sea to sea, and the bay outside sown with mechanical mines; this, with the assis- tance of a gun-boat, in the event of an attack, would make this approach secure,

Should northerly or north-westerly winds prevail, this is unquestionably the point most likely to be threatened.

If it were thought possible that an enemy could effect a landing elsewhere, and so turn the defences by an advance across country from Port Fitzroy on the south, or Uranie Bay, Berkley Sound on the north, it would be necessary to have an outer line of defence across the valley from Mount William to the Murrell River, in which case I should consider that earthworks 3 and 4 com- manded as the whole valley is by Sapper's Hill and supplemented by the guns of any vessels moored at the upper end of the harbour, would make this a hazardous enterprise, and the boggy nature of the country, and more particularly in the neighbourhood of the town, would add very materially to the difficulty the attacking force would experience in transport, more especially of guns which in most places, there being no roads, would be impracticable.

An attacking force would probably be able to sweep the surrounding country of cattle and sheep, and as grazing or forage is not procurable to any extent within the prescribed radius of 3 miles, even should herds of cattle be driven in, a large reserve of salt provisions for the garrison and population would be necessary as a stand by.

The water supply of Stanley is dependent upon that retained by the bog at the back of the town. These defences would at least require 1,000 men, manning only such portions as are immediately threatened, and keeping a large reserve of 300 or 400 men, to throw into any of the works where it might be required. This force should be well supplied by field artillery, the wheels of which should be more than ordinary broad and the carriages light, to prevent their sinking into the boggy soil; this force might be augmented by a militia formed of the inhabitants of the settlement of, say, 200 or 300 men.

Two powerful steam torpedo launches, fitted for carrying outrigger torpedoes and discharging Whiteheads from side cradles, and capable of transporting a considerable number of men from point to point, should be attached to the port, and an ample supply of torpedo gear would be required to replace that which may have been injured or drifted away by the prevalent stormy weather in these

islands.

Mount Low or Sapper's Hill are good positions for look-out and signal stations.

The present dockyard, with additional space acquired as found necessary, is suitable for a naval depôt; if the space is considered too contracted, it would have to be removed to East Stanley, where there is any quantity of ground that might be required, though the water near the shore is not so deep, and piers and wharves would have to be longer in consequence.

I consider that Navy Point is not suitable for a naval depôt, as more exposed and away from the town.

(Signed)

LOFTUS F. JONES, Captain and Senior Officer, South-East Coast of America.

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Garnet," at Monte Video, December 14, 1881.

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