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Appendix No. 4. PENANG.
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ments commenting on the Report, and I am to request that when the papers have been printed, the Royal Commissioners will be good enough to supply twelve copies for the use of this Department and for communication to the War Office and Admiralty.
I am, &c.
(Signed)
JOHN BRAMSTON.
Inclosure 1 in No. 79.
Governor Sir F. A. Weld to the Earl of Kimberley.
SINGAPORE.
PENANG.
(Secret.) My Lord,
Government House, Singapore, December 12, 1881. COLONEL CROSSMAN, R.E., having completed his Report upon the defences of Singapore, has communicated it to me in order to enable me to make any observations upon it that I might see fit to lay before your Lordship.
2. The Report meets all the points that on my arrival in this Colony I called attention to: it does full justice to the labours of the Local Committee and of Captain McCallum, and appears to my unprofessional mind to be most complete in essentials and conclusive. I have not, therefore, many observations to offer.
3. It is right and reasonable that a portion of the expense should fall upon the Colony, but should the principle laid down by Colonel Crossman be adopted as a basis for adjustment of burthens, I shall be prepared to offer reasons worthy of favourable consideration why on those principles the Colony should be relieved of some portion of the cost he allots to its share. But that question will more properly be considered when the works are decided upon, as it will entirely depend upon what works are to be carried ont.
4. I strongly urge that the whole scheme of works be carried out in its entirety.
5. From the first moment of my arrival in the Colony I represented the necessity of a central sea fort, and my recommendation was supported by the Committee. I now find that this is considered by Colonel Cross'nau so essential for the protection of the roadstead and east and north part of the town, that he recommends that the new fort at Tanjong Katong should be dismantled if the central. sea fort be not constructed.
6. It is, as Colonel Crossman points out, most desirable that the eastern and northern part of the town, and the roadstead which is constantly crowded with shipping of all sorts, should be protected. The destruction or occupation of the northern and eastern part of the town, which contains many of our most important buildings and a very large population, and that of the shipping and coasting craft (which might not be able all hurriedly to crowd into New Harbour), would be a terrible blow to our influence amongst the native races, and extend far beyond the limits of these Settlements and the Peninsula, a disaster to our commerce, and an immense loss which years could not repair, to the Colony, and to individuals; moreover, it would give command of many points of vantage ground to press the attack upon the southern part of the town which contains the coal-sheds, the magazines, and the shipping in New Harbour. Moreover, in the absence of a central battery and Tanjong Katong fort an anchorage for the enemy's fleet would be left open, affording every facility for descents and embarkations, and for obtaining supplies of all kinds. It must also be borne in mind that the fire of the central fort would strongly support that of Blakang Mati East and Tanjong Paggar Point, and help by flanking fire to defeat an enemy's approach to the mine-field which covers New Harbour on that side.
7. In regard to Penang-making Singapore a perfectly safe coaling depôt and station and base of operations for a British squadron or British cruizers would be its truest defence, but as I do not think it at all safe to rely on Conventions, and believe that in any naval struggle privateering would be largely resorted to by any weaker naval Power opposed to us, either openly or by evasion of the letter of the Convention, I submit that Penang should not be so far set aside as not to be provided ́ against any small cruizer that might threaten her. My own opinion is, that floating and moveable defence, if such could be devised within a reasonable cost, would best avail. Probably this has not been proposed on account of the expense.
8. With regard to the removal of the companies of British infantry from Penang, I have only to say that, however advisable such a step may be on purely military grounds, it is most unadvisable on political ones, viewing the character of our Chinese population there, and our relations with the adjoining native States. If British soldiers were removed, at least an equal force of Sikh military police should be substituted, and even then the moral effect would not be so great.
9. In reference to Colonel Crossman's recommendation regarding barracks, stores, and transfer of land and buildings, I have only to say that I entirely concur with them, not doubting but that the interests of the Colony will be considered fairly in the details of the arrangements.
10. I do not concur with Colonel Crossman in thinking that the erection of the Fort Cornwallis harbour light shows any indifference to the requirements of the military point of view; it was inexpensive and could be at once removed, and it was only placed there after a well-considered conviction had been arrived at by military as well as by civilian authorities, that Fort Cornwallis was unfitted for the purpose of resisting even a weak attack from sea, obsolete and calculated not to repel, but to provoke an enemy and draw fire on the town.
11. I can hardly agree with Colonel Crossman's suggestion, that Sikh police should on emergency be mounted and used for patrol and messenger purposes: our ponies could hardly carry a Sikh's length and weight; the Sikhs would, however, be useful in other ways. Malays, or better European volunteers, would, in my opinion, be preferable, the latter of whom, who are good riders, intelligant, understand a map, and would undertake this service with little training, would doubtless readily come
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