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level of 198 feet, and that "the destruction of the sluice between the Upper and Lower Chain Lakes would also be easy to effect, seeing that only a feeble fire would be provided by the small isolated work at Chain Lake East." The effect of this would be to reduce the available water supply from these sources to the contents of Lower Chain Lake between the level of 196 feet and 193 feet, probably to 10,000,000 to 15,000,000 gallons, or about three days' ordinary supply of the town." It is pointed out that this amount, at 5 gallons per head, would last for forty days; but that this supply would cease if the line of pipes passing round the head of the North-west Arm could be cut.

The Committee are unaware whether Lower Chain Lake is merely a storage reservoir, or whether it is fed by springs which would add to the amount of water above stated. But in any case, there appears to be a large amount of water available for washing purposes in the town, while additional drinking water could be conveyed across the harbour from Dartmouth. So long as the pipes from Lower Chain Lake could be defended, therefore, a long respite from a water famine could apparently be counted upon.

In their remarks of the 14th July, 1890, the Committee pointed out (paragraph 1) the difficulties which would have to be met even by a force of 1,500 to 2,000 men intended to operate against Halifax by land, and they referred (paragraph 4) to their previous remarks of the 5th April, 1889, to the effect that, in the unlikely event of a land attack, it should be the object of the defence to prevent an advance along the roads by passive obstructions, and also by strong detachments with field-guns, which, in such a country, might be pushed far out to the front, and could operate with great effect in checking an enemy.' While they were unable to concur with the original proposal to occupy an advanced line, including Geiser's Hill, which appeared impracticable except at a large expenditure in permanent works and connecting roads, and even then ineffective in a country where the field of fire is so exceedingly blind, they were strongly of opinion that advanced defences of a field nature barring the roads would prove an extremely formidable obstacle to an advance in this exceptional country. It appears, therefore, that if strong posts were established in time of war (1) at the junction of the roads between Chain Lake and Long Lake, and (2) at the junction near the dam at the south end of Long Lake, great difficulty would be thrown in the way of an enemy's advance. Roads from these positions converge at the end of North-west Arm. Either can be quickly reinforced, and it is to be remembered that, in the unlikely event of a land attack on Halifax by any European Power, it is probable that the available defensive force would be at least equal to that of the assailant.

Under these circumstances, it appears to the Committee that it is not necessary to anticipate being driven at once within the defences of Halifax, and that the water supply of the town would not be seriously threatened till the field positions at the points referred to could be taken, and that the positions roughly intrenched should be capable of offering a formidable resist- ance under the peculiar circumstances with which an enemy would be faced.

5. North-West Arm.-The Committee point out that their remarks above apply to some extent to the defence of the North-west Arm, which could apparently be reached by field-guns only after the field post at the end of Long Lake had been captured, or by a circuitous route passing near to the strong position of the York Redoubt. In any case, it would not be necessary to leave boats on the further side of the North-west Arm for the use of an enemy. All that would be required, therefore, appears to be to select positions from which the movable armament of the fortress could effectively fire across the North-west Arm.

The Colonial Defence Committee recommend that a copy of these remarks should be forwarded to the General Officer Commanding for his consideration, and that he should be asked to embody all alterations in the copy of the scheme of defence which will be forwarded in September next in order that it may be reprinted in a complete form.

G. S. CLARKE, Secretary,

Colonial Defence Committee.

15th January, 1891.

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PRINTED AT THE FOREIGN OFFICE BY T. WARRISON,-19/1/91.

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