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Appendix No. 4.
SINGAPORE.
228
Guard Boats.
17. As regards guard boats, I cannot do better than quote from the new Manual: "That the pro- tection of mines must be further supplemented by steam guard boats on the water, armed with light or machine guns, whose chief duty would be, assisted by artificial light from shore, to watch the water in front of the mines at night; in addition to these boats a few swift torpedo launches, armed with Whitehead or outrigger torpedoes, would much add to the strength of the place, as the knowledge of their presence would most probably oblige an enemy to keep his large vessels well off the shore at night."
The local steam-launches could be fitted up with spar torpedoes and used as guard boats, with machine guns in the bows. Ten good launches could always be obtained in Singapore for this purpose if required.
Two gun-boats, armed with heavy guns, would also add greatly to the support to the mine field at the eastern entrance, which is 1,500 yards distant, as before stated, from the batteries firing over it.
I have merely dealt slightly with this question of guard boats, as it is laid down that it is a naval question, and therefore more especially the business of the Senior Naval Officer, and he will, I dare say, point out how far local means can be made use of, and where they fail to supply the want felt.
Present defence-
Eastern entrance
Western entrance Roads
Total
:::
:
:::
:
:::
500-lb.
E. C. Mines.
Mines.
Electric Lights.
00 00
8
32
8
6
16
38
Proposed defence-
Eastern entrance
Or, with third line of E. C. mines, 56 E. C. mines. Western entrance
::
8
40
1
14*
8
1
14
Roads
16
Total
Or
22* 16
64
3
70
Commanding Royal Engineer, Straits Settlements.
(Signed)
E. F. RHODES, Lieutenant, R.E.,
Singapore, February 14, 1881.
Inclosure 4 in No. 74.
•
Number of men
Special Report on the Employment of Natives in Connection with the Submarine Mining Defence of
(Secret.)
Singapore.
1. During the practice which has been carried on for the last four months at Singapore, the carrying on the work. detachment consisted of 3 officers and 14 trained non-commissioned officers and men of the Royal
Engineers and 17 natives.
Boats and crews.
Number of natives used in raising and lowering mines.
Divers.
Qualifications.
Willingness to come again.
Auxiliary corps.
2. The boats were local boats hired from the Tanjong Pagar Dock Company, and fitted for the work by the Dock Company, and answered the purpose admirably. They consisted of a steam-launch manned by a native crew of 2 stokers, 1 engine-driver, 2 deck hands and 1 coxswain; one pinnace manned by 1 coxswain and 6 men; two dinghies manned by 2 men each. Total 17 natives. These were all Malays, except the engine-driver of the launch, who was a Chinaman.
3. Although there were 17 men, the men available for work in raising and lowering mines were only 11, viz., the 2 deck-hands of the launch and the crews of the three other boats. The men were found to be throughout most willing and capital boatmen, and of great assistance to the Royal Engineers. Nearly all the men spoke a little English.
4. Two men were very good divers, being able to go down in 5 or 6 fathoms, and clear any foul that might arise. This was often found very useful, especially as they could put on stoppers, bow- lines, and other knots under water.
5. Most of them had sailed in ships, and knew all the common knots and splices, and the twe divers had been on the telegraph ship which is stationed here, and were very handy in paying out and picking up cables.
On the other hand, one or two men were found willing, but were not of much use beyond working the crab and rowing the boats.
These men could be avoided in another practice.
6. The men at the end of the practice were all willing to undertake the work another year, although, unless special arrangements be made, some of them would very likely be away from the port when wanted.
7. The other officers-Lieutenants Friend and Hannay--were very pleased with the men, and were of the opinion that, if formed into a militia, they would be very valuable as an auxiliary
corps.
* If defended by 500 lb. only,
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