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ward. Protection should, however, also be afforded from attack by a body of men which might land at some point on the Island of Singapore, and march upon the harbour, with the object of burning the coals and stores and destroying the wharves, &c.
Appendix No. 4.
SINGAPORE.
With this view, I would place two redoubts on Mount Faber range, designed so that their fire would Mount Faber command the country in their front, as well as the roads of approach to New Harbour. One of these redoubts. redoubts should be placed on the north-western extremity of the range, at a height of 357 feet above the level of the sea; the other on the south-eastern spur above the site of the present Mount Faber Battery, at a height of about 270 feet. These two works, in conjunction with the guns on the south- western front of Fort Canning (which is about 4,000 yards distant), and with those in the gorge of the battery to be constructed on Mount Palmer (which is about 2,000 yards distant), would command the approaches by which access to New Harbour could be obtained by an enemy, who had landed for the purpose
of attacking the ships and establishments therein.
The works which I have proposed would complete the project of the defence of the New Harbour, with its coal depôts, &c.
This project, however, would not provide for the protection of a large portion of the shipping Defence of roadstead, which lie in the roadstead. The guns on Mount Serapong and the battery on Mount Palmer would &c. command a considerable portion of the roadstead, but there would be nothing to prevent a hostile vessel from taking up a position in the north-eastern part of the anchorage, and, with her guns, setting fire to or sinking all the shipping in the roads. I, therefore, propose that a battery, armed
with five 11-inch muzzle-loading rifled guns, should be constructed near Tanjong Katong to prevent Work at Tanjong the approach of such hostile vessel in this direction.
Katong.
In considering the degree of defence that would be afforded by the artillery fire from the works, Clearness of it should be observed that, in the clear atmosphere of this climate, the distances appear to be much atmosphere. shorter, and the chances of hitting a vessel at long range are much greater than in the hazy atmosphere of England.
shoal.
As regards the defence of the roadstead, it should further be observed that the zone to be commanded by artillery fire only would be diminished by the presence of a shoal, about 2,500 yards in length, situated at a distance of some 2,000 yards in advance of the centre of the line between Tanjong Katong and Mount Serapong. This shoal could be further defended by a system of electro- Torpedoes on outer contact torpedoes, the torpedoes themselves being protected by the concentrated fire of the works at Tanjong Katong, Mount Serapong, and Mount Palmer. The electric cables from the torpedoes could be laid to observation stations at Tanjong Katong and Blakang Mati without danger of their being dragged or broken by the anchors of friendly vessels. The weather is especially favourable at Singapore to admit of torpedoes being laid with exactness and without delay.
The proposals which I have made will, if carried out, provide for the defence of the New Future defence as Harbour and roadstead.* If, at any future time, it be thought desirable, a work might be con- strategical centre. structed on St. John's Island which, as before stated, would close the Straits of Malacca against non-armour-clad vessels.
As I have previously stated, the works which I have recommended are proposed for defence Conditions deter- against three or four vessels, one or two of which would probably be iron-clad. The low, free-board mining the armament turret vessels, carrying great thickness of armour, would be useless for service in these waters, if for of the works. no other reason than that the conditions of climate are such as to render it out of the question to live in them. It is, therefore, only necessary to provide against broadside vessels of a type similar to those now belonging to the maritime Powers of Europe on the Eastern Seas.
The greatest thickness of armour is that carried by our own iron-clad, the "Audacious," the battery of which is protected by 6 inches of armour, and the armament which I have proposed has reference to this
condition.
Owing to the height and position of the proposed works, I consider that the type of battery Nature of proposed that meets the requirements of the case is that adopted for the upper battery at Drake's Island, works. Plymouth. This is an open battery, in which the guns have each a wide lateral range.
Shell rooms and expense magazines, together with lifts, are provided for the service of the guns.
Store rooms, bombproof accommodation for troops, and tanks will also be constructed. The works should be rendered secure against assault by scarping the slopes in front or by excavating ditches, according to the conditions of the respective sites. The ditches will be flanked by caponiers for musketry.
To assist the regular forces in working the guns, I would propose, in the event of this project Garrison. being adopted, to raise and train a body of 200 artillery volunteers or gun lascars. A few trained men would also be required to work the torpedoes. With this assistance one battery of artillery, in addition to that now stationed in the Straits, together with a strong wing of infantry, would suffice for the garrison of the works. It is to be observed that there is a body of 400 armed police at Singapore. Thus the increased establishment which would have to be maintained by the Imperial Government at Singapore, as an Imperial coaling station, would be that of one battery only.
I estimate the cost of the proposed works and armaments approximately as follows:-
Cost.
Works Armaments Torpedoes, say
Total
Singapore, August 31, 1876.
Or less than the cost of one iron-clad turret vessel.
(Signed)
£
60,000
60,000
10,000
130,000
WM. F. DRUMMOND JERVOIS.
In my Memorandum of the 7th January, 1875, it was stated that it would be necessary to supplement by gun-boats the fixed defences at Singapore. By adopting the plan proposed in this Memorandum the harbour and roadstead will be protected without such supplementary aid.
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