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Appendix No. 4.
SINGAPORE.
proposed by Captain McCallum, means for inundating the valley, and so making it quite impassable along the greater part of the front, should be provided.
Field redoubts on the intermediate points shown on plan for fifty men, and to contain
Field redoubts to be thrown up in each two 40-pounder guns of position, would be thrown up in time of war.
time of war.
Garrison, 50 men.
2 40-pr. guns.
Fort Fullerton.
2 field guns.
In addition to the proposed line of defence on the extreme right of the line in rear of the stream by the old prison, I would recommend that additional defence be provided on this flank by placing two field-guns and a body of infantry in the inclosure on the site of the old Fort Fullerton, a space which has, I think, unfortunately for defensive purposes; been too much covered with buildings.
The buildings, including the Hotel de l'Europe, on the ground coloured yellow on the plan, should be prepared for immediate destruction by the troops, if forced out of the front line, when the guns of Fort Canning with those proposed at Fort Fullerton would have a cross fire over the ground.
The public offices should be placed in a state of defence, and means provided for the destruction of the Cavanagh Bridge, if necessary.
A road of communication should be made in rear of the central position. Telegraphic or telephonic communication should be established between the various batteries and redoubts, all being connected with Fort Canning.
Garrison Required.
Peace establishment.
War Garrison. Artillery.
Engineers.
Cavalry.
The
peace establishment consists of one garrison battery of artillery, and one regiment of British infantry, less two companies stationed at Penang.
I have, in my Report on the defences of that Settlement, No. 50 of the 23rd instant,* recommended that the whole of the infantry be concentrated at Singapore, and in that view the Committee coincide.†
The total number of guns proposed for the defences of the new harbour are―
In coast batteries
Mount Serapong
Mount Faber
Intermediate redoubts
Fort Canning
Fort Fullerton
:::
**
{
16 10-in. guns.
3 7-in.
7 64-prs. 3 40-prs.
4 64-prs.
13
6 field-guns or guns
of position.
4 64-prs.
4 other guns.
2 field-guns.
Making, in all, 16 heavy guns; 19 medium; and 15 lighter pieces of ordnance. In all, 50.
There would, therefore, be required for the service of the guns (exclusive of any required for the defence of the "roads") at least 600 men; but these need not be all trained gunners. If another garrison battery of artillery is added to the peace establish- ment, as recommended in the War Office Memorandum, there would still remain 400 men to be provided for artillery service alone.
Three companies of Indian gunners, similar to the company of gun lascars last formed at Hong Kong, and composed of Sikhs, should be raised, numbering 255 men.
Of these it would be well to raise one company at once, and retain it on the peace establishment, as the services of the men would be found most useful in outpost duty at the various batteries, to keep the guns and buildings in order.
The remaining 145 men required for artillery service would have to be provided from the infantry.
But I would point out that here, as at Hong Kong, it would be of little use to enrol Indians for artillery service unless more officers, Royal Artillery, are sent out to instruct the men, and these officers possess a knowledge of Hindustani.
At least two officers and twenty men instructed in submarine mining should form part of the war garrison.
It would be very desirable to have half a company of engineers for general service, but they are not indispensable; it would suffice if, say, fifteen intelligent and well-conducted non-commissioned officers and men were sent out to oversee native labour.
A corps of natives, thirty strong (see Memorandum of Lieutenant Rhodes), should be raised to assist the engineers in submarine mining, and in time of war coolies should be enrolled for pioneer and transport service.
As at Hong Kong, but here owing to the close and impassable nature of the country when once the roads are left, mounted men would be of little use, except for patrol and escort duty.
*
These might be supplied from the police force; horses would, however, have to be procured for them, none being provided for the force at present.
A corps of 100 men would be sufficient, and I am informed that there would be no difficulty in procuring them when required; the supply of horses to carry men so large as the Sikhs are generally would be the difficulty: the ponies of the country are extremely small.
* Inclosure 2 in No. 79.
† Far. 64, Singapore Local Defence Committee's Report.
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