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Appendix No. 4.
Singapore. Sirangun the most probable place of landing.
Obstacles to an
enemy landing at Passir Panjang.
Proposed line of defence.
Present strength of
troops in Straits Settlements.
All the troops should
be concentrated at Singapore.
Auxiliary forces required,
224
56. Sirangun would be the best place, as it is only eight miles from Singapore, and, as the enemy could not get a day's provisions except in the town of Singapore, he would naturally choose the shortest road and the one nearest his base.
57. If he landed at Kranji he would be 16 miles from Singapore, and might march by the Bukit Timah Road, and might attack either ends of the line of defence.
58. (3.)-Should he land at Passir Panjang, the only road is through a mangrove swamp, and for parts of the way under the fire of Fort Passir Panjang.
Arrangements for Land Defence.
59. As the enemy could advance only along the roads crossing the island, news could be easily obtained by mounted spies of his landing and advance.
60. Strong supports should be stationed along the Kallang Road at the Kallang Bridge, along the Sirangun Road, 21 miles out, where the Kallang River crosses the road; along the Thompson Road, at the Reservoir; on the Bukit Timah Road, where it is joined by the Cluny Road; and, lastly, along the Passir Panjang Road, about 3 miles out.
Line of Defence.
61. The principal line of defence, commencing from the right, should be the stream along the Orchard Road, as far as the Mission Church. From this it should be carried to the north end of Fort Canning. Fort Canning should be remodelled, the north end being made into a separate defensible redoubt, with well flanked ditches, and armed with three 64-pounders, one of which should fire towards the Sirangun Road, and the other two should fire up the valley of the Singapore River.
From Fort Canning the line of entrenchment should be to the Singapore River, and a bridge-head constructed at the A.B.C. bridge.
From thence the entrenchment should be carried up to Pearl's Hill, where a redoubt should be constructed.
side.
The line of defence should now run parallel to the Singapore River.
This river is 250 feet broad, and has impassable mangrove swamps 200 to 300 yards wide on each
The Pearl's Hill Redoubt would command the Kim Seng Road-the river being crossed by a wooden bridge.
Another redoubt on the hill marked B, 126 feet high, would command the point where the River Valley Road and the road from Tanglin cross the river and join the Alexandra road.
Another redoubt on the hill, marked C, 255 feet, would command the redoubt B, and form a link between the redoubt B and the Passir Panjang Battery.
Garrison.
62. The Committee, having completed their recommendations for the alterations and new works which are necessary to complete the defences of Singapore and proposed land defences, beg now to make the following recommendations as to the number of men necessary to carry on the defence:
63. At present the number of combatants stationed in the Straits Settlements amounts to about 100 artillerymen, a few engineers, and between 800 and 900 infantry. The present distribution of these is as follows :-
Artillery at Singapore.
Six companies infantry at Singapore.
Two
"
22
Engineers at Singapore.
Penang.
The field guns in possession of the artillery are as follows
1 12-pounder Howitzer muzzle-loading.
2 43-inch Howitzers.
1 9-pounder.
4 Steel 7-pounders muzzle-loading rifled.
64. With regard to the subject now under consideration, it seems advisable that, in time of war, the whole force should be stationed at Singapore, where there is ample accommodation already existing, leaving the peace of the other Settlements in the hands of the police, aided, if necessary, by some troops dispatched on the emergency from Singapore.
65. It is recommended that another battery of artillery be added to the garrison of regular troops, thus giving in all :—
Two batteries of artillery.
One battalion of infantry.
66. It would be necessary to supplement these with armed police and Sikh artillerymen, while, when the time of danger came, it would be possible to raise an efficient volunteer force, although in peace time it is always difficult to maintain such a body as the latter.
Garrison of the Sea Defences.
67. From Table 2 it will be seen that 186 artillery and 397 infantry are required for the effective working of the sea defences. This is giving 18 men per gun employed in the several duties shown. in columns 3, 4, and 5. Of these 18 men only 6 per gun need be artillerymen, of whom 4 will
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