Printed for the use of the Colonial Office. May 1893.
CONFIDENTIAL.
56-R
STRAITS SETTLEMENTS.
Scheme of Defence revised to September 1892.
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Page 130
Remarks by Colonial Defence Committee.
THE Colonial Defence Committee have considered the Scheme of Defence of Singapore as revised to September 1892, and offer the following remarks:-
1. The Local Defence Committee have made certain alterations and additions to their Report of 1891, which much increase the value of the Scheme, but state that otherwise their Report of 1891 requires no revision. In this the Colonial Defence Committee cannot quite concur. The Scheme still contains a number of suggestions and recommendations, and these are to a certain extent mixed up with the action to be taken in case of emergency. These should be kept entirely separate. The Scheme itself should form a record of the steps to be taken on the outbreak of war, and if the Local Committee are of opinion that any additions to the defensive resources of the place are necessary, or that measures should be taken which are not within the competence of the local authorities to carry out, these matters should be dealt with in a communication distinct from the Scheme.
2. Apart from the question of rearrangement, which is subsequently referred to, it is observed that several of the points specially dealt with by the Colonial Defence Committee in their remarks of the 25th February, 1892, appear to have escaped notice and still remain unaltered. For example, at p. 3, the Scheme still retains the suggestion that two additional steam-launches should be provided for use of the garrison in time of peace. It was pointed out by the Colonial Defence Committee that the number of small local steamers is considerable, and that at any time of emergency there would be no difficulty in procuring their services. If these extra steam-launches are necessary for the peace requirements of the station, the matter is one upon which the General Officer Commanding can put forward representations to the proper quarters in the ordinary course without the intervention of a Local Committee.
Again, at pp. 4, 5, and 10, the Scheme still retains the suggestions as to acquisition of new sites. This was dealt with by the Colonial Defence Committee in their remarks above quoted. They agreed with the Colonial Engineer that, with the exception of such points as may be required for P. F. stations, it was not necessary to acquire these new sites.
Again, at pp. 6 and 15, the suggestions with regard to torpedo-boats remain unaltered. This subject also has been dealt with by the Colonial Defence Committee in previous remarks, when it was pointed out that the Admiralty have consistently declined to tie down vessels of any class to co- operate in the local defence of any port against attack which, the chances are, may never be delivered. These points, having been already dealt with by the Colonial Defence Committee, might have been considered as settled, and the requisite revision of the Scheme might have been made.
Page 10. The Local Committee do not appear to have given the further
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