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mask a portion of the fire of Teregeh Battery. The proposal to cut a trench across the neck of low-lying ground which connects the Point with the rest of the island" would lead only to the tying-up of a force whose services, in view of the small total strength available, would be far more useful elsewhere.
5. Alexandra Position. -The Local Committee allude (p. 2) to the Alexandra Position, but do not state what work it is proposed to carry out, or the time, labour, and tools required. These matters should find place in the scheme of defence.
6. Electric Lights.-The whole question of the employment of electric lights is still under consideration, and further experiments are to be carried out this year.
Until the general principles of the employment of this adjunct of defence have been arrived at, it is premature to lay down the requirements.
7. Submarine Mines.-The scheme of defence should state the measures which would be taken to lay down the mines in the event of war, and give an estimate of the time and labour required.
8. Ordnance Stores.-The question of the removal of stores from Pearl's
Straits 12 Hill has been dealt with by the Colonial Defence Committee in 13 Pending the provision of an arsenal in a more convenient position, they deprecate the removal of the stores at a time when their distribution would be in progress, and when their rearrangement in buildings not specially fitted for their reception would probably give rise to injury and confusion.
10. Food Supply.-The Local Committee recommend "that the civil authorities should provide entirely for the wants of the civil population, and that one month's supply of provisions should be forthcoming for the use of the garrison." The Colonial Defence Committee are of opinion that further consideration should be given to the question of the supply of the civil population, and they point out that the Inter-Departmental "Conference on Food Supply" laid down two months as the requirement.
11. Distant Patrolling.-The Colonial Defence Committee consider that the proposed employment of five steamers for patrolling would lead to great expense not commensurate with the probable advantages. The South and Middle Channels are about 35 miles from Singapore, the entrance of the Rhio Straits about 25 miles. In waters so broad the probability of detecting an enemy's vessels, except on light nights, would not be great, and by day sufficient warning would be obtained by ordinary look-out. While, as stated in their Memorandum of the 1st February, 1889 (p. 3), they consider that "the distant patrolling of the waters of attack is of great importance," they do not regard the extensive measures which appear to be contemplated as necessary. The Local Committee should, therefore, consider whether these measures might not be curtailed. In any case, provided that the cost did not prove excessive, it might be advantageous that a fast steamer should be held in readiness to go to sea with a view to obtain information.
12. Immediate Patrolling.-The Colonial Defence Committee do not con- sider the proposed system of establishing a cordon of tongkangs at half-mile intervals either necessary or desirable. The number of men required to maintain this cordon would be considerable. The field of view from a boat at night is extremely restricted, and an enemy's vessels would probably not be discovered unless they actually struck or passed close to the tongkangs, which would be run down and sunk if there was any intention to force a passage through them. The crews would have apparently no means of defence, and outposts thus circumstanced would be in a false position, while their presence would tend to hamper the fire of the works. The Colonial Defence Committee, therefore, consider that this proposal should be abandoned. On the other hand, as already pointed out, it may be advisable to maintain a patrol of one steam-launch outside each mine-field, with orders to retire on a given line after giving warning, and thus leave the field of fire clear, and the provision of three launches in reserve, for purposes of communication, appears advisable.
13. Co-operation with Navy.-The paragraph (xiii, p. 10) of the Local Committee's Report appears to have been written under a misconception. It must not be expected that Her Majesty's ships usually stationed in the waters of Singapore in time of peace will necessarily be retained there in the event of hostilities to co-operate in the defence of the place against an attack which may not be delivered. The proper place of such ships is evidently at sea.
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