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8
along the centre of the bottom of the ditch, and that flank defence be provided therein. I would also recommend that the southern part of this work should be cut off from the long straggling main work by a flanked ditch and wall. This interior retrenchment would not only serve as a redoubt for the whole work, from which an artillery fire could still be maintained on the town, but would provide for the probable con- tingency of its having to be defended by a small garrison only.
This
Fort Fullerton, a weak battery à fleur d'eau, For Fullerton. has been partially dismantled to make for the
way Government Post Offico, but it still has an arma- ment of ine 68-pdrs, of 95 ewt., six of which are mounted. Eight of these guns, however, re- quire re-venting and one is unserviceable. work was formerly intended to assist in the de- fence of the roadstead, but its retired position and wout of command render it very unsuitable for this object. Like Fort Canning, moreover, a fire from this work would draw the enemy's fire on the town. Fort Fullerton would, however, owing to its position, be a useful post in case of a rising of the native population, and I would recommend that it should be retained with refer- ence to this contingency. With this view, the guns mounted on the sea-face should be removed, the embrasures filled up, and the parapet pro- vided with a banquette. The gorge of the work should also be closed by a loopholed wall, in connection with the Post Office.
tery.
This battery is constructed in the shape of an alount Painter Hat- clongated horse-shoe, 100 feet in length by 10 feet in mean width, and is armed with five 56- pdrs., S. B. guns of 98 cwt.. three of which only are now in position and these require re-venting; the remaining two are dismounted and unser- viceable. There is no bombproof accommodation, and its magazine which is situated in the gorge of the work close to the guus, is weak and much exposed. This battery occupies a commanding position, however, aud was constructed with a view of bringing a cross fire to bear on the road- stead in connection with Forts Canning and Fullerton. Owing to its small extent, the guns are placed very close together, and but one 4 foot traverse is provided. This circumstance, taken in connection with its position on a nar- row ledge on the face of the cliff. would always have rendered the service of the guns dangerons. The site is quite unsuited for the requirements of modern warfare, and I recommend that the armament should be removed, and the battery entirely dismantled. The summit of the bill. upon the slope of which it stands, presents, how- ever, a very advantageous and commanding site for a work to aid in the defence of the roadstend and the New Harbour. I shall refer to this point hereafter.
This battery was constructed for two 56-pdrs., Mount Faber Bit- S. B. guns of 95 ewi,, and designed to hear
tery,
upon
Mount Faber Mortar
Battery.
Nature of attack to
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the eastern and western entrances of the New Harbour, which are distant 2,300 yards and 2,400 yards respectively, as well as to play upon any vessel that had succeeded in entering the harbour, in which the navigation is somewhat difficult. The armament of this work has, how- ever, been removed and the work itself has not been kept in repair.
The two 13-inch mortars are still in position, but the work itself en scarcely he said to exist. The mortars were intended to play upon the deck of any vessel that may have entered the New Harbour, but it need scarcely be added that so small an amount of vertical fire would scarcely afford such protection.
It will be seen that the existing defences scar- cely provide in any degree for the protection of New Harbour, and that there is nothing to pre- vent a hostile cruizer from entering, and destroy- ing the shipping, wharves, couls, and establish- ments therein.
I will now consider what defences are neces- sary to afford the required protection.
Proposed defences.
Distaut as Singapore is from any great foreign
ke provided against. paval centre of operations, from whence a pos- sibly hostile maritime power could despatch an expedition in any great force, it is only necessary to defend it against the attack of a squadron which might consist of three or four vessels, one or two of which would probably be ironclad. If it were considered necessary to provide for defence against non-armourclad vessels only, of course a large saving would be effected in the cost of armaments. It is, however, to be observed that France and Holland each have, at the present time, at least one ironclad in the Eastern Seas. A few months ago, there were three ironclad vessels, two French and one Dutch, in Harbour here.
lence.
General plan of de- In order to provide effectively for the pro- rection of New Harbour, I would propose to place two works on the island of Blakan Mati--one on Mount Serpong, the other on Mount Siloso ; also a new battery on Mount Palmer. I further propose to occupy Mount Faber for defence on the land side. The positions of these works are shown on plan I herewith.
Work on Mount Sc-
impong
The work on Mount Serapong would bring a fire to hear seaward upon the wide zone which extends from the western cutrance of the New Harbour to Tanjong Paggar spit; flank the front of Blakan Matis and of the proposed work on Monut Silose; command the New Harbour from end to end, and, though at long range,-the Singapore Straits to the southward. junction with the work on Mount Palmer, it would also maintain a cross-fire on the channels leading into the Now Harbour from the East- ward. Its commanding situation, on the cul-
In con-