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steps taken by me for the temporary defence of Singapore, pending the arrival of the 6-ton guns alluded to in your telegram of the 7th ultimo.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
WILLIAM C. F. ROBINSON.
Inclosure 1 in No. 224.
Sir,
Government House, Singapore, April 2, 1878. THE menacing aspect of European affairs raises the important question here as to what should be done for the defence of Singapore and its coal depôts in the event of a war. Against the attack of two or more iron-clad ships, I presume it is admitted that the Colony could do little or nothing, and that in any such case the defence of Singapore must form part of a general plan of naval and military operations designed and carried out by the Imperial authorities. But the Colony, it appears to me, should not be unprepared to repel the attack of say a single vessel coming here for the purpose of levying contributions on. the town; and I shall be obliged if you will confer with the Senior Naval Officer and Major McNair, Colonial Engineer, to whom similar letters have been written, and advise me what measures it would in your opinion be wise for the Colony to adopt with the above object in view, either by hastily defending the entrances to the harbour, so far as we have the means of defending them, or otherwise.
The Commandant,
Straits Settlements.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
WILLIAM C. F. ROBINSON.
[A similar letter to Captain Hotham, R.N., Senior Naval Officer, and the Honourable Major McNair, Colonial Engineer.]
Sir,
Inclosure 2 in No. 224.
Singapore, April 13, 1878.
I HAVE the honour to inclose the Report on the defence of Singapore, as requested in his Excellency the Governor's letter of the 2nd instant, and to request that you will be good enough to lay it before him on his arrival from Penang.
The Colonial Secretary,
Straits Settlements.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
C. A. S. DICKINS, Colonel,
Commanding 28th Regiment.
(Confidential.)
Inclosure 3 in No. 224.
Report of Committee.
THE Committee having assembled at the request of his Excellency the Governor, as per correspondence noted in the margin,* proceed to consider what would be the most suitable and expeditious means of defending the new harbour entrances and roadstead of Singapore against the attack of one or two unarmoured vessels which, in the event of war, might escape the vigilance of our squadrons, and under threat of bombardment demand an indemnity, or proceed to destroy the coal depôts by which our ships are supplied.
The Committee has examined the present shore batteries and other available sites for placing guns in commanding positions, and they have, moreover, taken note of the number and condition of the guns and the state and quantity of war material now in the Settle- ments, and have also read the Report of his Excellency Sir W. Jervois, R.E., dated the 31st August, 1876, on the defences of the island.
The Committee is able to report as follows:-
1. That the armament now in store and in position in Singapore is practically useless against any war vessel that may be likely to approach the roadstead, in consequence of there being no rifled gun of sufficient calibre and range to keep off a vessel armed with the modern ordnance. Moreover, the only guns of any useful calibre, with one exception, are, with their carriages, quite unserviceable.
* The Governor to the Commandant, April 2; the Governor to the Senior Naval Officer, April 2; the Colonial Secretary to the Colonial Engineer, April 2, 1878.
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