Evansville weekly journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 184?-18??, 1848-03-02
THE JOURNAL.
DEFENCES IN ENGLAND AGAINST FOR
EIGN INVASION.

n AbOU UtuA Qi USCuSSAOfi iidS dlfoSu HI LII
gland on the suficiency of the preparations of
defence of the country against any invasion
from the coast Of France, in case it should be
attempted BY concentration of the power OF
the latter country. aided by steam vessels
these latter being regarded as a new element
IN the principles ofattackand defence. A great
.er interest has been given to the discussion by
the appearance of a letter from the Duke of
WELLixeroN, in which he expresses a decided
opinion that the present condition of the coun-
try. in regard to defence, is unsatisfactory. The
letter is as follows:
SrRATHFIELDs4YE, Jan, g, 1913.
To 1faj. Gen. Sir John J. Burgoyne. K. C. B..
My DzAR GENERAL; Some DAYS have elapsed
indeed a fortnight has-since received your
note. with a copy of your observations on the
posSIbleresHits ola war with France, under our
present system Of military preparation.
You are aware that | have for years been SEN
sible of the alteration produced in maritime
warfare and operations bY the application Of
steam to the ~propelling of ships at sea.
This discovery Immediately exposed all parts
of the coasts of these islands, which a vessel
could approach atall. to be approached, at all
times o. the tide. and in all seasons, by YES
sells so propelled. from all quarters. We are,
in fact, assailable, and at least liable TO insult,
and to have contributions levied upon us on all
parts of our coast; that Is, the coast of these.
including the Channel Islands, which, to this
time from the period of the Norman conquest,
have never been successfully invaded.
have IN vain endeavored TO awaken the at
tentiono of different Administration to this state
OF things, as well known TO our neighbOrs (riv-
ais IN power, at least former adyersaries and
enemies) as it is TO ourselves.
l hope that your paper may be attended
with more success than my representations
have been.
| have above, in few words, represented our
danger. We have no defence, or hope obedience
excepting in our fleet.
We hear a great deal of the spirit of the peo-
Pile of England, for which no man entertains a
higher respect than do. But, unorganized, UNI
disciplined, without systematic subordination
established and we'll understood, this spirit,
opposed to the fire of m~uSketry and cannon,
and to sabres and ~bayonets ofdisciplined troops
would only expose those animated by such
spirit to confusion and destruction. Let any
man make the attempt 10 turn to some use
this spirit in acase of partial local disturbance;
the want OF systematic organization and sub
ordination will prevent him even from COM
municating with more than his own menlaI
nNtf0AAto anu tNp anu. l uUOUS dEG
IN movement through the country, the most
powerful will find that he can scarcely move
from his own door.
1t is perfectly true that, as we stand at pres
ent, with our a~rsenals and dockyards not half
garFisOned, 5000 men of all arms could not be
put under arms, if required, for any service
whatever, without leaving standing without re-
lief all employed on any duty, not excepting
even the guards over the palace and the person
of ..the sovereign.
| calculate That a declaration of war should
probably find our own g~arrisons of the strength
as follows, particularly considering that one of
the most common accusations against this
country is, that the practice has been to COM
rnence r~eprisals at sea simultaneously with a
declaration of war, the order for the first of
which must have been issued before the last
can have been published.
We ought to be with garrisons as follows,
at the moment war is declared:
Channel Islands. besides the MALTA of each well or
gaRlzed, trained, and disciplined. 10000 men,
plymouth 0,000 do
Clifford 5000 do
1000 do
Portsmouth 10 600 do
s5heerness; ChathaII and theThames- 10 900 do
/ suppose that one-half Of the whole regular
force of the country would be stationed in Ire
land which half would give the garrison for
Cork. The remainder must be supplied from
the half of the whole force at home stationed
in Great Britain.
The whQlef force employed at home in Great
Britain and Ireland would not afford a sufi-
Gent number of men for the mere defence and
occupation, on the breaking out of war, of the
works constructed for the defence of the dock
yards and naval a%rsenals, without leaving a sin
gle man disposable.
The measure upon which have earnestly
entreated different administrations to decide,
which is constitutional, and has been invaria-
bly, adopted in time of peace forthe last eigh-
~ years. is to raise, embody, organize. and dis
cipline the MALTA, OF the same numbers for
each of the three kingdoms united as during
the late war. This would give a mass of or
ganized force amounting to about $50, 900 men,
which we might Immediately set to work TO
discipline. This alone would enable us to es-
tablish the strength of our army. This, with
an augmentation of the force of the regular ar
my, which would not cost G400, 900, would
put the country on its legs in respect to per-
sonal force, and I would engage forts defence,
old as | am.
But. as we stand now, and if it be true tina
the e~xertlons of the fleet alone are not sufficient
10 provide for our defence, we are not safe fol
a week after the declaration of war.
am accustomed to the consideration O
GACOC AA(CNlClAos aAAAA AIAfO "a 0ANN ACCOIl
noitere9 over and over again the whole coas
from the North Foreland, by Dover. Folkes
tone. Beachy, Head, Brithton, Arundel, 10 Sci
sey-biIl, near Portsmouth; and | say that, ex
cepting under the fire of Dover Castle, there i
not a spot on the coast of which infantry nigh
not be thrown on shore at any time of tide
with any wind and any weather, and from
which such body of infantry, so thrown OF
shore, would not find within the distance o
five miles a road into the interior of the coun
try through the cliffs practicable for the marcel
ola body of troops.
That in that space of coast Chat is, between
the North Foreland and Selsey-bil) there ar
no. less than seven small harbors or mouths 0
rivers, each without defence, of which ain en-
envy, having landed his infantry on the coast
might take possession, and therein land hi
cavalry and artillery Of all caliber, and estab
fish himself and his communication wit
France.
The nearest part Of the coast to the metrop
oils is undoubtedly the coast of Sussex. fror