The fort now is practically completed as far as alteration and improvements go.
The parapet, on which stood the two brass l2-pounder Howitzers which have been
transfered to the Pippo have been raised by about a foot, so as to afford more cover for
the infantry firing over it, and the whole has been neatly sodded over.
The infantry have also continued the work of narrowing the embrasures of the 6-inch guns and the
defence and mounting of these guns may now be considered complete on the right of
Nol 6-inch gun, that is to say, on the extreme right of the fort and nearest to an
attacking force from the Bay, a large mound has been constructed to a height of 4 ft.
6 ins. on the interior crest. This mound, which will afford further protection against
an enemy's fire has been sloped down to nothing at a distance of between 30 ft. and
40 ft. from the base. The concrete facings around the gun have been entirely concealed
by l ft. of earth covered with sods. This new earth is also sloped down to nothing at
a distance of 30 ft. from the concrete in front of the muzzle of the gun.
The thickness or rather the depth of this additional earth is considered to be an effectual
safeguard against shell fire. As regards No2 6-inch gun, a parapet of earth 4ft. 6ins. high,
and about l8ft. thick at the top, has been raised to protect the gun in a similar manner, and
to diminish the size of the embrasure; which also in the case of Nol 6-inch gun, was
before in the opinion of the authorities unnecessarily large.
The ground in front of each gun, which has sunk a little has been filled in, and this is
also in course of being sodded over. The embrasures are now sufficiently narrow,
and the glaring concrete facings completely concealed...The earth has been filled
up in front of the two 64-pounders, but the embrasures of these latter will not be narrowed,
as they do not point in direction of the Bay, and are protected from the fire of an
advancing foe by the earthworks on the right.
In fact, they would hardly be able to come into action until the enemy was close on to the fort.
The l0-barrel Nordenfelt machine-gun, Martini-Henry bore, is being placed in a large
concrete-lined bed of a great depth, and fixed so that it can deliver a sweeping fire in every direction.
The situation of this pit is between the two 6-inch guns over the principal magazine.
This work is being done by the Engineers.
A sunk gallery is being cut from the Nordenfelt gun to the rear, with a ladder down to the fort,
so that ammunition can be supplied to the gun in action by men who will all the time be under cover.
The Adjutant: 