The Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1860-06-15 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL DEFENCES.

The report of the commissioners appointed to inquire
into " the present state, condition, and sufficiency of the
fortifications existing for the defence of the United
Kingdom," is a document of so much importance that
we are glad to be able to give further extracts from it,
in addition to the abstract which we submitted yester-
day.

It is laid. down that we cannot fortify the whole
assailable portioq, of the coast—and that fortifications
should be restricted. to vital points. The Royal dock-
yards are vital points.
" Woolwich, which is at present our only great depot
for munitions of war, whether for land or sea service,
and the place in which these stores are produced, must
also be considered a vital point. It is difficult to over-
estimate the conftequences of the loss, or even of a tem-
porary suspension, of . the operations of that great
arsenal, as at present constituted, during a state of war.
It would be felt throughout the empire. Lastly, we
consider the harbour of Portland, from its situation and
capabilities ; that of Dover, from the position which it
occupies ; and that of Cork, the naval station of Ireland ;
to be points requiring more or less special consideration
with respect to fortifications for their protection."

As to the defence of London, the commissioners say :
"The defence of London has not been brought under
our consideration, and it is, therefore, only necessary
to point out' that it does not materially affect the con-
clusions we have arrived at with regard to the 'fortifica-
tion of the dockyards. If London were placed in such
a state of defence as to render an attack on it improbable
by an enemy established on shore, even in such force as
to be able to hold in check any army that could be
brought against him, an invader's attention would then
be turned to the dockyards and arsenals, as by the
destruction of these he might hope to annihilate
the naval power of the country, and deprive it of
further means of resistance. If, on the other hand,
London cannot be rendered capable of resistance after
the defeat of the army in 'the field, the dockyards and
arsenals, if fortified, become places of refuge from which
the defence of the country can be protracted or means
of resistance organised ; and unless these are capable of
resistance, our naval means fall with the capital, and
the whole power of the nation is practically in abeyance.
Indeed, the fortification of the dockyards and arsenals
by land would aid materially in the defence of London
itself ; for whilst by means of the system proposed, the
vital points of the empire would be protected against
either capture or bombardment, the fortifications by
land would set the manceuvering army free to operate
against the enemy."
There are some works of defence now in progress.
" During the last two years, more especially, plans of
fortification, inVolvieg an ultimate expenditure.of about
a million and a half sterling, have been sanctioned by
parliament for works of considerable extent at Ports-
mouth, Plymouth, Pembroke„'and Portland; and con-
tracts have accordingly been' entered into for the con-
struction of those defences, which are now in active
progress, and to which we will more particularly refer
when considering the defence of each of these places."
The commissioners do not recommend stationary
floating batteries, but moveable floating batteries are
approved of.
The following is laid down as the principle on which
the proposed, defensive works should be constructed :
" The nature of the works which we propose for
defence against a naval attack, will of necessity vary
according to the locality. We have proposed open
batteries, secured against a coup-de-main by a tower or
defensible barrack in their rear, wherever they could be
made to answer the object desired; but where the sites
were so circumscribed as not to afford sufficient space for
the requisite amount of fire, and 'in cases where great
expense must be incurred in constructing foundations on
shoals, it is absolutely necessary that sea batteries should
be casemated, so as to obtain by tiers of guns as nearly
as possible the same effect till& is produced by open bat-
teries extended over a considerable length of shore."
"The works should be so designed as to be derended
by a small body of men against a coup-de-main ; but
.they should at the same time have capabilities of resist-
ance that will enable them to withstand any attack
likely to be brought against them. With this view
they should be provided with redoubts at their gorge,
by means of which an enemy would be prevented from
holding • the work if he should succeed in obtaining
Partial possession of it. The main ramparts should be
capable of affording a heavy fire of artillery and mus-
ketry in those directions over which an enemy must make
his approach ; and bomb-proof cover should •be pro-
vided for the garrison. In situations where the ditches
can be filled with water, no revetment need be con-
structed; but wherever this is not the case, they should
either have escarps and counterscarps, or detached walls
of masonry ; and in either case they should be flanked
both by artillery and musketry."
The next question is the cost.
" The' ainount of our special estimate is 40,390,000.
To this must be, added £1,460,000 for works already
sanctioned and in course of execution ; the whole amount-
ing to £11,850,000.
" It is to be observed that the above sum includes the
provision of barrack accommodation, for the most part
bomb-proof, for about 30,000 men, with all the space
and conveniences provided for troops under ordinary
arrangements; and for nearly double that number when
the works are fully garrisoned for defence. This accom-
modation must have been equally provided under any
other system of defence, and is already urgently required
in many of the places it is proposed to fortify.
"Judging from works for which contracts are already
undertaken, those which your committee recommend
may very well be executed in three years ; but it would
be desirable to allow' three years and a quarter for the
completion of the whole, in order that contractors may
have the benefit of the months from April to June
inclusive, in the fourth year. The payments would
therefore extend over font' years ; and the reserves,
which may be taken at 5 per cent. on the entire estimate,
would not be paid until after the completion of the
contracts.

" With respect to works of land defence which
mutually support one another, - such as those with
which it is proposed to surround Portsmouth, Plymouth,
and Chatham, we conceive that the following principles
should be adhered to .:=

1. That each work should have its principal salients
and flanks partially armed, even during peace : a
very few guns will suffice for this purpose.
2. That there should be in reserve in each work, but
not mounted, unless the perishable carriage and
platforms will be under cover, as many more guns
and carriages as will extend the protection of the
flanks and faces to what we would term a war
armament, as distinguished from a siege armament.
3. Lastly, that there be a general reserve, in some
convenient central depot in each position, of a fur-
ther number of guns and carriages sufficient to
complete the armament of any one of the fronts of
attack to its maximum or siege establishment,
together with the proper
,proportion of every
description of store to effect repairs and replace
casualties.