Saphroneth
Lt. Colonel
- Joined
- Feb 18, 2017
I suspect that Rhea has seen part of Milne's note of 24 Jan:
"War has no doubt its horrors and its evils, but to make war felt it must be carried out against the Enemy with Energy, and Every place made to feel what war really is. In a former letter I mentioned to your Grace my intention in the first instance and as the best security to our Commerce, to cut off or capture the American blockading squadrons... The question of Coaling the Blockading Ships would of course be a matter of some difficulty, and the daily use of Steam would be a measure of necessity. I have been looking round into the resources of the States in regard to Coal, and at which places or Ports I might be able to seize on Depots but as yet I am somewhat in the dark.
The defence of St Johns, Halifax, Newfoundland, the Sydney and Pictou Coal Mines, [and] the West India Islands made me anxious, for I have not sufficient Ships for extensive demands, nor do I consider that fortified Military Stations should look to Naval Squadrons for defence... of course I would not neglect sending ships when absolutely necessary.'
Now, Milne is the naval commander. He is outlining a cohesive strategy for the use of the Navy, not the integrated defence:
- Firstly, cut off or capture the American blockading squadrons.
- Secondly, blockade the American coastline.
- He does not want to send ships to defend British possessions unless necessary, because that will diminish his striking power.
Halifax in particular has significant defences - eight batteries of modern garrison artillery, which means rifles, firing from a citadel 150 feet above the water.
"War has no doubt its horrors and its evils, but to make war felt it must be carried out against the Enemy with Energy, and Every place made to feel what war really is. In a former letter I mentioned to your Grace my intention in the first instance and as the best security to our Commerce, to cut off or capture the American blockading squadrons... The question of Coaling the Blockading Ships would of course be a matter of some difficulty, and the daily use of Steam would be a measure of necessity. I have been looking round into the resources of the States in regard to Coal, and at which places or Ports I might be able to seize on Depots but as yet I am somewhat in the dark.
The defence of St Johns, Halifax, Newfoundland, the Sydney and Pictou Coal Mines, [and] the West India Islands made me anxious, for I have not sufficient Ships for extensive demands, nor do I consider that fortified Military Stations should look to Naval Squadrons for defence... of course I would not neglect sending ships when absolutely necessary.'
Now, Milne is the naval commander. He is outlining a cohesive strategy for the use of the Navy, not the integrated defence:
- Firstly, cut off or capture the American blockading squadrons.
- Secondly, blockade the American coastline.
- He does not want to send ships to defend British possessions unless necessary, because that will diminish his striking power.
Halifax in particular has significant defences - eight batteries of modern garrison artillery, which means rifles, firing from a citadel 150 feet above the water.