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SIERRA LEONE.

In any case it could not be one of surprise, as the natives are notoriously quick in conveying messages, Appendix No. 4- and long before any number of men, unaccustomed to the country, could come within sight of the town, there would be sufficient time to occupy outworks which should be erected at or about the point marked in the Inspector of Fortifications' Memorandum * viz., the high ground to the north of the junction of the Leicester and Gloucester Roads.

The best form for these outworks can only be ascertained after the bush is cleared. They should consist of an irregular ditch and parapet, with emplacements for field guns in salient angles, dominating the Leicester and Gloucester Roads, and commanding the ravines on the flanks. They would be amply defended by field guns.

Jamaica Hill. The approach to the town from Kissy (3) is completely commanded by a spur of Jamaica Hill, running out in a northerly direction a little below the spot marked in the plan attached to the Inspector-General of Fortifications' Memorandum as a likely site for a defensive work. A small work erected on the edge of the crest of this spur, and constructed for field guns, would secure the town from an attack to the eastward.

The expense of such a work would be slightly increased by the necessity of improving the approaches from Freetown to the summit of this range. A road should be made to join this point and Leicester Lines. This latter would be easy, as the land between these two points has lately been con- verted into a military rifle range.

Note as to Field Guns.

The guns for use in the land defences, and to guard against a landing, should be the steel mountain 7-pounders, as the steepness of the gradients and the impossibility of keeping any draft animals for long in the climate of Sierra Leone, will render it necessary to move these guns by manual labour. The experience in the last Ashantee war, and since then on the Gold Coast with the Houssa troops, shows that the natives can easily be taught to handle these guns, and to mount, dismount, and pack them for carriage with rapidity. In case of combined attack two batteries of six guns each would be necessary for the efficient protection of the place, that is, for both the lines of land defence, and for opposing a landing in front of the town. This would allow three for Leicester Lines, three for Jamaica Hill, three for the town, and three spare.

There are in each West India regiment 100 men trained as gunners, and with such a nucleus of men already accustomed to handle guns, there would be no difficulty in quickly forming an efficient field force.

Summary,

The Committee consider the system proposed in the Memorandum* of the Inspector-General of Fortifications, to be well adapted for the defence of the port of Sierra Leone, and they are of opinion that the forts, and the earthworks and lines of land defence should be very nearly in the places marked on the plan accompanying it; but Aberdeen Hill should be substituted for Look-out Point, and Fort Thornton and West Battery should be abandoned. Two batteries of mountain guns should be supplied.

Barracks. With reference to the barrack accommodation now extant, the Committee observe that, allowing each man the space required by regulation, there is not at present room for the number of men mentioned in the earlier part of the Memorandum-358.

The force estimated for the new forts, &c., is 1,600, and it will be necessary, therefore, to provide new quarters.

The plateau of Leicester Heights, Havelock Plateau, affords an admirable site for these. Lying at a height of about 1,250 feet above the sea, the houses erected on it have long been used as health resorts, and there is ample space for a large cantonment, and the water supply is good and plentiful.

If a track be cut from here to Wilberforce, keeping at about the same level, men stationed in these barracks would be in the central point of the lines of land defence, and could be rapidly moved to any threatened locality.

Sierra Leone, February 21, 1882.

(Signed)

FRED. B. P. WHITE, Major, 1st West India Regiment,

Military Member, President.

JNO. N. COMPTON, Navigating Lieutenant R.N. (Retired),

Commanding Colonial Steamer, Naval Member.

H. JACKSON, Captain, R.A., Inspector-General of Police,

Colonial Member.

No. 5.

War Office to Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad.

War Office, April 14, 1882.

Sir,

I AM directed by the Secretary of State for War to transmit, for the information of the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad, the accompanying Report, dated 20th March, 1882, by Colonel G. Philips, R.E., on the defences of the port of Sierra Leone.

I am to request that the Report may be returned to this Office when done with.

[1103]

* No. 7.

I have, &c. (Signed)

T. L. GALLWEY, Inspector-General of Fortifications.

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