The Sun. — 1868-06-15 (London, England)

NAVAL AND MILITARY INTELLIGENCE.  Major-Gen. Frome, R.E., the newly-appointed Inspector-General of Works, has just completed his  tour of inspection of the extensive lines of defence  around Portsmouth. In making this inspection his attention was called to what is considered the weak point in the general plan of the defences encircling the port and arsenal—the absence of any work at the entrance of Chichester harbour; and is understood to have been much impressed with the necessity for remedying this omission by the commencement of the fort on the west sid) of the harbour's entrance, as has been for some time contemplated by the War Department and recommended by Royal Engineer authorities. Lord Clarence Paget on one occasion, during a debate in the Tiousa of Commons on the fortifications, from his place in the house as Secretary to the Admiralty, called the attention of the House to the fact that from the base of Portsdown-hill and the cast flank of the Hilsea Lines to the entrance from sea into Chichester harbour there was not a single gun or foot of constructed defence to bar the march of an enemy upon Portsmouth Dockyard and Arsenal. This grave defect in the general scheme was understood by the Royal Engineer officers at the time the works now in course of construction were adopted, and they recommended the erection of a work on the west side of the en trance of Chichester harbour, but, strangely enough, this recommendation has been, for some unexplained reason, allowed to fall through, although discussed by the Royal Commission on the National Defences. His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge has long been aware that the unguarded entrance to Chichester harbour affords an enemy the means of taking the whole of the Portsdown and Hilsea positions in reverse, and, as already observed, of marching upon Portsmouth without a single foot of constructe I defence to bar his progress. Elle visit of General Frome in his official capacity as Inspector-General is now, however, likely to hurry )a the commencement of the fort contemplated by the War Department, as the negotiations for the purchase of the necessary land on the southeastern extremity of Hayling bland, which have been before the Secretary of State for War for some time, are, it is understood, now being brought to a conclusion. The absence of any defensive work at the entrance of Chichester harbour would be, in the opinion of military men, fatal to an attempted defence of Portsmouth. What is required is simply a work of such moderate strength as draughttaswo dbevaebssleeltso check the the advance of such light enemy would attempt to force the passage in, and, above all, to act as a protecting fort to the submarine mines with which we should undoubtedly line the shoals and approaches to the Channel's entrance.  The iron fort constructei at Shoeburyness, representing a section of the Plymouth breakwater fort, will undergo an experiment on Tuesday next, the 16th inst., to test its capabilities of resisting shot aced from the 12-inc'i, 10-inch, 9-inch, and 7-inch Woolwich rifle gun, and 15-inch Rodman's gun, at a distance of 200 yard 3.  Staff-Sergeant APCutcheon, 21st Brigade Royal Artillery, was found dead in his quarters yesterday at the barracks,Woolwich, and is supposed to have committed suicide by taking poison. He returned from India about three months ago, and family matters are sail to b 3 the cause of his committing suicide. He leaves six children.  A grand ball will be given by the Commandant of the Woolwich Garrison, Major-General E. C. Warde, C. 8., in the Royal Artillery Theatre, at the barracks, on Wednesday, when his Royal Highness Prince Arthur is expected to be preseet. A competitive examination for appointments in the R)yal Navy was held on board the flagship Victory in Portsmouth harbour on Wednesday and Thursday last. Thirteen candidates presented themselves. On Friday the following names were made known as those of the four successful aspirants for the vacant appointments: 1. Mr. Wm. Maclean (passed from Eastman's Royal Naval Academy, Sluthsea) ; 2, Mr. F. B. Pritchard ; 3, Mr. J. G. Matthews ; 4, Mr. B. G. L. Evans.  The following appointments have been made at the Admiralty :—Lieutenant Mather Byles, to the Hibernia; Lieutenant Thomas S. Jackson, to the Lord Warden ; Lieutenant Malcolm M'Neile, to the Cambridge ; Commander W. L. Partridge, to the Hibernia, vice Commander Norcock, whose period of service has expired ; Commander L. IL Versturme, to the Vixen, commissioned ; Henry M. Harrison, assistant-paymaster, to the Royal Adelaide, as supernumerary ; and John R. Childs, nominated a naval cadet.