CAB7-4 — Page 478

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Appendix No. 4.

VANCOUVER ISLAND.

Land defences.

Mill Hill.

Plan No. 1.*

Esquimalt Peninsula,

Plan No. 1.*

450

Macaulay Point.-5 10-inch M.L.R. guns; 2 64-pounder M.L.R. guns, casemated and shielded. Sangster's Knoll-Should the Naval Yard be retained in its present position, it will be necessary, as stated before, to have, in addition to the above-mentioned batteries, a strong inclosed work on Sangster's Knoll.

If the Yard be removed, and the land on which it stands be disposed of, a site should be reserved at Duntze Head, near the present saluting battery, on which guns could be placed flanking the approach to the harbour, and commanding the anchorage in Royal Roads.

It would in this case perhaps be preferable to place there two guns in casemates, removing two from Rodd Point, in which the space is somewhat cramped.

From this battery also the submarine mines could be worked, and more securely than from Brothers Island.

In any case, it would be preferable to have the submarine mining establishment on the mainland, where a secure position can be found for it on Duntze Head.

The mine fields have been laid down in the office of the Inspector of Submarine Defences, and I have no remarks to offer thereon.

Land Defences.

As regards the land defences, any work on Mill Hill is out of the question at present.

It is a steep rocky cone, 650 feet high, more or less wooded, up which, in the absence of any road, it would only be possible, and that with great difficulty, to carry up a mountain-gun.

The top is confined and rugged, and from it a fine panoramic view of the Esquimalt Peninsula and Victoria is obtained, but towards the west and south-west nothing can be seen but ridge after ridge of thickly-wooded hills, no roads being visible.

It would be preferable to place a work somewhere on the high ground at A (see sketch attached*); if the ground was cleared it would command the country in front, and it could easily be defiladed from Mill Hill.

The latter should, however, be occupied, in case of an anticipated attack, by a small body of men in an intrenchment or blockhouse.

To protect the Esquimalt Peninsula from a sudden incursion from the land, a field position can be found running from Thete's Cove to the Portage Inlet, a distance of not more than 500 yards.

Although the mode of defence proposed by the late Colonel Lovell, R.E. for the defence of the peninsula seems to be the best that could be devised, it is impossible to determine the exact position of the main works required till an accurate contoured survey has been made of the ground.

Owing to its being locked up in the hands of the Puget Sound Land Company (an offshoot of the Hudson's Bay Company), who will not part with it, the ground is, with the exception of a few acres here and there, thickly covered with woods, and even from the highest points it is not possible to obtain a clear view of the country round, so that before any of the inland works could be of any service whatever, a great part of it would have to be cleared.

These remarks apply equally to the country on the western side.

In addition to the two main works shown on the sketch accompanying the Memorandum of the 28th December, 1880,† it would be advisable to place another at B, on a knoll at the extreme east of the peninsula.

It would command the bridges across the inlet, and deny the occupation of Victoria Harbour to an enemy.

Works at present Erected.

I inspected the works that were thrown up by the local authorities described in Colonel Lovell's Report.

Nothing is being done to keep them in repair; the platforms--from the want of the expenditure of a few dollars annually-will soon become unserviceable.

It would be much better to have them removed back to the Naval Yard, where they would be properly looked after.

It is hardly worth while expending any money in inclosing or repairing these batteries, as, if the place is fortified at all, it ought to be done properly.

Garrison.

As regards the garrison required, Colonel Lovell, R.E. entered so fully into this subject that I have nothing to add, and I heartily concur in his opinion that if Esquimalt is fortified, the troops should, as is the case at Halifax, be furnished for the present by the Imperial Government.

In time of war there ought to be at least two batteries of artillery, one company of engineers, and one battalion of the line, in addition to the local forces, as it is improbable that at the present time a larger force than about 500 men could be raised on the spot.

Barracks.

One of the two depressions mentioned by Colonel Nugent as the site for the barracks is occupied by the village of Esquimalt, and the other by the new dry dock; the best place available for this purpose would appear to be on the ground attached to the Naval Hospital, where buildings of ordinary construction would suffice.

Estimates.

I have not attempted to make any detailed estimate of the cost of the proposed works, but I inclose a Memorandum showing the rates paid on the contract for the dry dock, given to me by the Resident Engineer, and also a statement of the price of labour on the Canada Pacific Railway. This will enable a tolerably correct estimate to be formed in London.

Approximately, judging from the estimates given in the Memorandum of the 8th October,† the cost of the scheme now proposed will be as follows;—

* Not printed.

+ No. 130.

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