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Appendix No. 4.
LABUAN.
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292
on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad, copy of the remarks attached by Vice- Admiral Willes to the Joint Report* of Colonel Crossman, R.E., and Commander Carey, of Her Majesty's slip "Lily," on the defences of Labuan.
The Report, my Lords are given to understand, has been received at the War Office and commu- nicated to your Department for the information of the Royal Commission, and it is, therefore, not now inclosed.
I am, &c.
(Signed)
E. N. SWAINSON.
Labuan. Joint Report of Colonel Crossman, R.E., and Commander Carey, of Her Majesty's Ship
Lily," on its Defences, &c.
(Confidential.)
“Iron Duke,” at Hong Kong, January 9, 1882. Submitted:-As merchant-steamers, however inferior in horse-power, now make the passage from Singapore to China by the direct route, there is no probability whatever, in my opinion, of the coal mines of Labuan being again worked.
2. A depôt of English coal must, however, always be maintained either in Labuan or its immediate neighbourhood, as ships of war of the present type cannot as a rule carry sufficient quantity to make the direct passage against a strong monsoon; but I am not prepared to recommend such a large expenditure as 100,000l., and a garrison of 160 men to protect the depôt.
GEORGE WILLES, Vice-Admiral.
(Signed)
The Secretary to the Admiralty.
No. 83.
Koubong Battery.
3 10-in. M.L.R. guns.
2 64-prs.
Works Armament
Total
•
Barracks
Ramsay Point Battery.
7 8-in. B.L.R. guns.
2 64-prs.
Works
Armament
Total
Barracks
War Office Memorandum on the Defence of Labuan.
LABUAN is the chief of a group of small islands situated at a distance of about 5 miles from the north-west coast of Borneo. It is from 5 to 10 miles long, from 1 to 5 miles broad, and has a total population of less than 5,000, of whom 50 only are whites.
The southern part of the island is described as marshy or intersected by streams, but the northern as firm ground, hilly in places, and more or less wooded.
On its south-east coast lies Victoria Harbour, a spacious, deep, and well-sheltered inlet, at the head of which stands a limited collection of buildings called the town.
About 7 miles to the north of the harbour, and near the northern extremity of the island, are the coal measures, which give to the island whatever importance it may possess, so far as Imperial interests are concerned. Off this point is the Raffles Anchorage, where vessels lie when in want of coal.
there.
There are no defences nor barracks on the island, neither are any troops maintained
As matters are now situated, Imperial interests are more concerned with the Coal Jetty and Raffles Anchorage than with the harbour and town, consequently those are the points the use of which should be denied to an enemy. The high ground over Koubong 26,160 Bluff appears to offer a suitable position for a battery to carry this into effect.
£
11,855
A work constructed for three 10-inch rifled muzzle-loading guns en barbette and two 38,015 medium guns should suffice for the purpose, for which a garrison of ninety men would be required, thirty of whom should be artillery. Fifty men would be accommodated in the battery; barracks for the remaining forty would have to be provided.
£
4,000
On account, however, of the exposure of this anchorage to the north-east monsoon, it has been proposed to construct a railway from the mines to Victoria Harbour, where the coal store would be maintained; but it had not been commenced in December 1879. Should this scheme ever be carried out, probably the best course would be to remove the present facilities for coaling at the Raffles Anchorage, and to take steps to defend the harbour, as by so doing the harbour, town, and coal depôt would all be included in the one
scheme of defence.
The harbour cannot be thoroughly protected from bombardment. It might be partially so secured, but only by the occupation of Pappan Island and some of the outlying reefs or shoals, a project which would entail a cost so evidently out of proportion to the importance of the station that it is not further considered here.
The use of the harbour may be denied to an enemy by a work erected at Ramsay Point. The site is but slightly elevated above the water-level, and the water being deep close in shore, it would be necessary to shield the guns, consequently a battery of about 66,000 seven heavy guns would be requisite to insure an adequate fire over the somewhat wide 18,600
arc through which it would be exposed to attack; 8-inch rifled breech-loading guns would, 84,600 it is considered, be sufficiently powerful for the purpose, and with them should be associated
two 64-pounder rifled muzzle-loading guns mounted en barbette.
£
A garrison of 160 men would be required for this work, of whom 50 should be 14,000 artillery. Twenty men would be accommodated in the battery, provision for 140 would
therefore have to be made elsewhere.
With regard to the necessity for guarding against attacks by land, sufficient information is not available to enable an opinion to be formed upon the subject.
* Inclosure 2 in No. 81.
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