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All the ammunition is stored in a small brick arched magazine (not bomb-proof) about half a-mile from the town (vide plan*). There are no range finders, platforms, traverses, magazines, or even the semblance of a battery, and no sand bags or intrenching tools for making one, except a few spades that form part of the equipment of the guns, hence, if suddenly required the guns would have to fight at a disadvantage in a heavy clay soil that would render rapid working very difficult.

11. The position at the south point is an admirable one for defending the beach, and a battery of some kind would have to be constructed here, the guns being retired some 20 to 25 yards from the edge of the cliff, and the ground cut away to enable the guns to depress. If, to avoid exciting the military susceptibilities of the Germans-on whose visits during the summer season this island so much depends-the construction of the battery is to be postponed, then there would seem to be strong reasons for having in store a good supply of platform and magazine timbers, sand bags, and intrenching tools.

12. I would also suggest that if nothing can be done in the way of a gate or drawbridge for the steps, the War Department stores should include some lengths of iron chevaux de frise, which could quickly be chained to the iron stanchions of the hand rails, and act as an efficient obstacle.

It would, however, in my opinion, be better to construct concrete emplacements for the guns, similar in size and general arrangement to those approved for the 6-ton naval gun (coaling- station pattern), but differing, inasmuch as no "pivots" or " racers" would be required at present.

Then, if at anyf uture time heavier guns were wanted, only the interior of the battery would require alteration.

13. There is a small extent of beach to the north-east of the town, close under the cliffs, which is not seen from any of the positions of the guns, and where, consequently, a landing might be made, unless a flanking parapet is made at (C) on plan,* from which this beach can be seen.

14. Owing to there being no local police force here, the one officer and five men of the coast- guard are the only Englishmen to rely on in an emergency, and as they have both police and revenue work to do, it is evident that the force is too weak if any emergency occurred, or if the population were disaffected or troublesome.

As matters stand now, if forty or fifty men were to land here, armed with revolvers, from some emigrant ship returning from America (not an impossible contingency in these days of Fenian outrages), they would be quite sufficient force to wrest the Colony from English rule and lay it under contribution, its guns serving as trophies gained without the possibility of resistance.

The population are unarmed, and could do nothing.

There is a so-called volunteer coastguard force here, consisting of thirty-four able-bodied Heligo- landers, forming the boats' crews employed at wrecks, but as they never drill, and are quite ignorant of the service of the guns, they could not be of much use; moreover, although I believe loyal enough towards England, it is a question whether, under the threat of bombardment, or even the burning of their fishing-boats, they could be relied on, unless they saw a chance of the English being able to hold the place.

15. I therefore submit that in peace time the British force here should never be less than twenty- five men, viz., enough to man a couple of guns and to guard the steps. In time of war, for the present armament, one battery of garrison artillery, and fifty sailors, marines, or infantry, would be ample to hold the place until provisions were exhausted.

16. The defence would be greatly strengthened by the addition of submarine mines (vide plan*), for working which a small detachment of sappers would be wanted.

17. As regards the question of supplies, I am informed that the inhabitants usually have several weeks' supply of salt provisions, flour, &c., in their houses during the winter months; in summer, the communications with the continent being more frequent, the stock of supplies is less.

It appears that a few years ago this island was blockaded for six weeks with an accumula- tion of ice from the mouths of the rivers, when no communication with the mainland was possible, yet no distress was felt in consequence.

18. In ordinary seasons there would seem to be no danger of insufficiency of water. Each house has a large tank, and in the lower town there are wells, the water from which is quite drinkable, if slightly brackish.

moment.

19. The question of bombardment is a very serious one, and one that would fully tax the energy and resources of the garrison to meet without leaving the defences to construct at the last A bombardment of the town could not be prevented, but, by employing submarine mines, the space between the two islands and any near approach to Sandy Island may be denied to the enemy, and by mounting a few heavy guns in circular emplacements, for all-round fire (as are those at Inchkeith Battery, Edinburgh), as shown in green on plan,* viz., on Sandy Island and near the north point of Heligoland, the attacking ships would be kept at a considerable distance off.

20. The population is about 2,000, of whom no less than 1,357 are women and children under 14 years of age; add to this 100 for sick and infirm old people, and we get 1,450 people who must, if possible, be sheltered from bombardment, and 450 men who would be available for work.

In the lower town, for boat-building and other purposes, a good deal of timber could be got; also, by demolishing some store-sheds and houses, much more might be quickly obtained; yet the supply would fall far short of what would be required for the foundation of blindages and shell-proof

cover.

21. The only suggestions on this head I can offer are in case of necessity :-

(1.) In all those houses that have habitable basements (as is the case in most of the lodging- houses), the floors above should be stoutly shored up and strengthened, so as to bear the weight of a

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* Not printed.

0

Appendix No. 4.

HELIGOLAND.

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