DEFENCES OF LONDON.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 270, 15 March 1877, Page 4

DEFENCES OF LONDON.

f» London Daily ttewmUr 1&) London is rarely regarded as a fortified city, but still when the new forts on the Thames, now on the eve of completion, are fully armed and provided with stores, our capital may fairly be considered to l lave some claims to such a name. The heaviest guns that Woolwich could supply have been transported to these reccntlycrectad defences; and Tilbury Fort, which has for years past been the laughingstock of military engineers, has now mounted formidable 23-ton guns. Opposite, on the Kentish shore, is New Tavern Fert, which ia to aid Tilbury in beatiog off the enemy if he ever get so far, and the fire of these two works is so contrived that it can sweep the whole of the Gravesend Beach. Bat the hostile vessels would have to pass through a great deal before they reached these, the last points of defence, on the way to London. Our gunnery establishment at Shoeburyness* at the very month of the Thames, though well supplied with cannon of. every calibre, might perhaps be dexterously avoided by an enemy, but he would have to deal with the batteries at Garrison Fort, at Sheerness, and the Isle of Grain. These successfully passed, he would next find the middle forts opposed to htm—those at Shommeade and Coal-house Point, both of which are armed with 600-pouncler guns. These forts not only deliver a sweeping cross fire, but by reason of their position, facing a long reach in the river, can bring their guns to bear upon an approaching vesasl miles before the latter comes abreast of the battery. Supplemented by an efficient system of torpe. does, the Thames, therefore, would be most thoroughly defended, and there need be no fear of any hostile frigate or ironclad forcing its way up as far as the Government stores and factories at Woolwich and Purfleet, much less of entering our docks, or, as some alarmists think, of coming to anchor under the walls of the Tower. Very probably a heavily-armed turret vessel, carrying 200-ton guns, would be able to make short work of the best of our defences as they exist; but let the Channel be well planted with torpedoes and submarine obstructions, and the bravest sailor would never dare to trust himself a dozen miles up our river.