Singapore Island
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The following extracts from the report of the commitive. Par. 5-1 to 60. point out the various landing places
obstacles to the adver
and the
of a
an enemy before he has arrived in front of the main position to be
occupied.
Places where an Buemy might land a Force,
51. There are three places where a force might be landed out of range of fire of the forts :---
1st.-Eastwards of the roads along the sandy beach that extends from Tanjong Katong to Tanah Merah Besar.
2nd.--At the back of the island, at either Changi, Siranguu, Seletar, or Kranji, where the four main roads crossing the island terminate at the small villages of these names on the Johor Strait.
3rd. To the West of the New Harbour along the beach at Passir Panjang.
Obstacles to Enemy's Advance from Tanjong Katong,
52.1st. Should the attacking force choose the first place, it would either try and advance into Singa- pore by the Kallang Road, or taking the cross roads hit the Sirangun Road at the 3rd mile stone and come down by that route.
58. The advance along the Kallang Road would be next to impossible for the adversary, as a small body of men could hold the Kallang Bridge, which is 250 feet long, and the bridge once blown up would take days to restore.
In rear of the Kallang River is the Rochor River, which could be similarly treated, while between the. two rivers there is a inangrove swamp impassable except by the roads,
54. Should the enemy, on the other hand, advance by the Sirangun Road, he would have his flank exposed to an attack along the Kallang Road assisted by the garrison of Tanjong Katong in lis rear.
Obstacles to an Enemy advancing from Clangi,
Sirangan, or Seletar.
55.--2nd.-Should the enemy choose to land on the North of the island, he would, if landed at Changi or Sirangun, have to use the Sirangun Road; if at Seletar, the Thompson Road.
Sirangun the most probably Place of Landing.
56. Sirangun would be the best place, as it is only 8 miles from Singapore, and, as the enemy could not get a day's provisions except in the town of Singa- pore, he would naturally choose the shortest road and the one nearest his base.
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