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Tanjong Katong Battery.
39. The Committee recommend that the three 7-inch guns of 7 tons which at present are provided for this battery be replaced by three armour-piercing guns.
IV.-New Works proposed.
40. In addition to the proposed alterations in existing defences, the Committee recommend that the following new works be constructed :-
(1.) A sea fort on the 24 fathom patch in front of the roadstead. (2.) A fort at Passir Panjang.
The New Sca Fort.
41. The Committee had under consideration a proposal that a turret-ship should be provided, to cover the dead angle in front of the town. It was, however, carried by a majority that, instead of such ship, it would be preferable to construct a fort on the 2 fathom patch (vide annexed chart) in front of the roadstead.
42. It is proposed that the fort be provided with three armour-piercing guns.
Appendix No. 4.
MOVIE 27 JA
SINGAPORE. Proposed alteration in the armament of Tanjong Katong
Battery.
Armament.
43. Such a fort would fill up the dead angle in front of the town, which it would protect, and also Advantages. would do away with the necessity of extending the present works at Tanjong Katong.
Passir Panjang Battery.
44. It is recommended that a fort be constructed at Passir Panjang to assist in the defence of the western entrance.
45. For this fort, five guns will be required. Three of these should be armour-piercing guns Armament. placed in the centre, while the two flank guns should be 64-pounders.
46. This fort would very effectually assist in the defence seawards, as well as enabling additional Advantages. fire to be brought to bear on a ship entering the harbour heads.
Submarine Mining Defence.
Scheme of Submarine Mining Defence proposed by Lieutenant Rhodes, R.E.
47. The Committee, having considered the scheme of submarine mining defence laid down in the attached paper by Lieutenant Rhodes,* agree with the general scheme therein defined. They further recommend that a couple of Whitehead torpedo boats be supplied; that four local launches be fitted, at the proper time, with spar torpedoes to harass the enemy; and that four guard boats should be extemporised to support the lines of submarine mines. Out-rigger torpedo gear and machine guns should be kept in store for these launches and guard boats.
Land Defences.
48. The town of Singapore and the coal stores are so situated, that they are easily defended on the land side by a small force against considerably larger numbers, provided the attack does not come from the roads, which we must suppose sufficiently defended by the coast defences.
49. The maximum force likely to be available for a dash, which is the only land attack against which the Committee think it necessary to provide, may be assumed as 600 men.
50. These will have been brought down by the attacking squadron, landed, and the ships them- selves will be prepared to make a simultaneous attack, while probably a diversion seawards will be made at the same time.
Facility of defence of the town and coal stores by a small force.
Probable strength of attacking force.
attack by enemy.
Probable nature of
Places where an
51. There are three places where a force might be landed out of range of fire of the forts :---- (1.) Eastwards of the roads along the sandy beach that extends from Tanjong Katong to Tanah enemy might land a Merah Besar.
(2.) At the back of the island, at either Changi, Sirangun, Seletar, or Kranji, where the four main roads crossing the island terminate at the small villages of these names on the Johor Strait.
(3.) To the west of the new harbour along the beach at Passir Panjang.
52. (1.)-Should the attacking force choose the first place, it would either try and adxance into Singapore by the Kallang Road, or, taking the cross roads, hit the Sirangun Road at the third mile- stone, and come down by that route.
53. The advance along the Kallang Road would be next to impossible for the adversary, as a small body of men could hold the Kallang Bridge, which is 250 feet long, and the bridge once blown up would take days to restore.
In rear of the Kallang River is the Rochor River, which could be similarly treated, while between the two rivers there is a mangrove swamp, impassable except by the roads.
54. Should the enemy, on the other hand, advance by the Sirangun Road, he would have his flank exposed to an attack along the Kallang Road, assisted by the garrison of Tanjong Katong in his
rear.
55. (2.)-Should the enemy choose to land on the north of the island, he would, if landed at Changi or Sirangun, have to use the Sirangun Road; if at Seletar, the Thompson Road.
* Inclosure 3 in No. 74.
force.
Obstacles to enemy's advance from Tanjong Katong.
Obstacles to an enemy advancing from Changi, Siranguu, or Seletar.
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