Mutiny records : Correspondence

· 1911 · Public domain (published pre-1930) · archive.org ↗

1MUTINY RECORDS.

3These two measures would not be very expensive, and in a

4•As soon as it has been decided military point of view might be

5that the city is to be held. . 1 .

6v at once* carried out with advan¬

7tage. The further measures that might be at present taken

8are—-

9(8) Opening roads from the heart of the city leading to

10the guns on the palace walls and to the bastions,

11(4) Building a wall on the inner side of the ramparts so

12as to give between the bastions a passage covered

13from musketry from the houses.

14As regards an attack from the outside Must be met on

15the city line of defences, no matter what the strength of the

16garrison. Should these be forced, the palace, if fortified, would

17enable the garrison to prolong the defence, and if it cover¬

18ed the bridge-of-boats, eventually to withdraw when further

19defence became impracticable. The defences round the city are

20weak—

21(1) The bastions are so confined that a powerful Artillery

22fire cannot be brought on the besieger’s works.

23(2) The glacis is not high enough. Prom breaching

24batteries the wall could be seen to within four feet

25of its base.

26(8) Cover exists much too close to the walls.

27The best remedy for No. (1) would probably be to widen at

28intervals the terrejolein of the curtain ramparts to about 50

29feet. This would admit of guns being quickly mounted if re¬

30quired. The remedy for No. (2) and for No. (8) is obvious.

31No cover for a besieger should be left within 700 yards. The

32palace evidently, no matter to what extent fortified, could not

33aid very materially in the defence of the city walls.

34Should we ever be driven from the city works, it would

35necessarily be by an enemy very superior in point of numbers.

36Against such an enemy any very prolonged defence of the city

37would not be practicable. To admit of the fort being held

38against him even for a limited time, it is necessary —

39(1) To clear a space all round the place 800 yards wide.

40Memorandum

41by Captain

42A. M. Taylor,

43Chief Engi¬

44neer, regard¬

45ing the de¬

46fences of Del¬

47hi.