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It might be desirable to erect a small blockhouse or defensible barrack on some favourable point Appendix No. 4. near the engine-houses to secure them against destruction by a coup de main, but until it is determined
where the new workings are to be, nothing definite could be settled on the subject.
There is a road running from the mines to the town, but it is little more than a track made
through the jungle; it could, however, be easily made available for artillery.
There are one or two roads in the vicinity of the town, but as regards the rest of the island only
a few foot-paths run to various padi-fields and cleared ground.
The country, however, on the east of the island is pretty open, and away from the swamps would offer no serious obstacle to the advance of an enemy.
To cover Victoria on the land side a position could be taken up, extending from some moderately high ground, abont a mile up the small river which runs into the head of the harbour to a point in front of the old barracks, and thence across the ridge to a level space near the gaol, as shown on the chart.
The length of this is not more than 2 miles, and on the left at least 1,000 yards would be covered by a swamp.
Three small redoubts would be sufficient to secure this line, and it would be well to provide the flanks with one or two light or medium guns.
The line might be advanced by bringing the right flank to rest above the Sangarra Creek, but the country there is not so open as the more retired one.
These works, however, need only be thrown up in event of anticipated war, and detailed surveys would enable the officer in command to decide on the line most suitable, which would have to be laid out with reference to the possibility of its being enfiladed from seaward.
LABUAN.
To man the battery, whether placed on Pappan Island or at Ramsey Point, 160 men would be Garrison. required.
If half a garrison battery, Royal Artillery, were supplied (50 men), it would be well to raise one company of Indian gunners (84 men), leaving the remainder (26 men) to be provided from the infantry.
For the land position, say 300 men, making for the whole island a war garrison of, say, 500 men, of whom 134 would be artillery-men; and if submarine mines are supplied, six trained men (Royal Engineers) should be sent out, who could obtain assistance, when required, from the Malay fishermen.
It might be possible to raise a sufficient force of infantry, either from amongst the Malays on the island, or amongst the more warlike tribes on the mainland; but before doing so it would be well to enrol Malays for military service as an experiment at Singapore.
The whole question of native troops required for Hong Kong and Singapore, and for Penang and Labuan (should it be determined to establish garrisons at the two last-named places), is one which should be taken up as a whole, and arrangements made for providing a depôt at Singapore in time of peace with a proper staff of officers and non-commissioned officers.
This is a subject, however, which must be one for separate consideration.
As regards barracks, the same nature of buildings as proposed for Singapore would do equally Barracks. well for Labuan.
The battery should contain within itself accommodation for fifty men, and the remainder should be placed in barracks.
There would be room for barracks on Pappan Island, to be occupied in time of war, and a good site on the main island can be obtained where the barracks for the sepoy troops formerly stood.
Only one or two of the buildings of the old barracks now remain, and they are occupied by the
police.
The cost of barracks for 450 men may be put down at 4,5007.
The total cost of the defences would therefore be:-
Battery..
Armament
Barracks
Submarine mines.
:
£
80,000
20,000
4,500
In conclusion, we would point out that indications of coal have been discovered in several places in Borneo on the territory lately ceded to the North Borneo Company (which, it is presumed, is now under British protection), near Gaya Bay, and Koudat Harbour in Malludu Bay.
The latter place would afford great facilities as a coaling station for Her Majesty's fleet, and owing to its being nearly half-way between Hong Kong and Singapore is, perhaps, better situated than Labuan for that purpose.
[1103]
(Signed)
W. CROSSMAN, Colonel, R.E. W. M. CAREY, Commander, R.N.
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