PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
TPITTI
Reference :-
C.O. 885
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
Position.
Approaches.
Existing defences.
Proposed scheme
of defence.
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to whether, in view of the expected arrival of the guns from England, it would be now necessary to complete the arrangement recommended by the Defence Committee in the Report of the 17th April last.
The Governor further communicated to the Committee a letter which his Excellency had addressed to General Donovan of the 28th May (yesterday). Lientenant McCallum, R.E., being in attendance (the General having left for Hong Kong), stated that he had considered the question raised, in conjunction with General Donovan, and that the General was of opinion that the three 68-pounders should be mounted at Mount Palmer, but that the remainder of the temporary defence measures might properly be abandoned. The Defence Committee concur in this opinion, but they consider that it would be advisable to leave two 56-pounders on Mount Palmer in addition to the three 68-pounders proposed to be mounted there.
The question of the defence of Penang to stand over until after the receipt of a report which his Excellency the Governor has requested Lieutenant McCallum, R.E., to furnish on this subject.
Sir,
(Signed)
C. A. S. DICKINS, Colonel Commanding,
28th Regiment.
J. F. A. MCNAIR, Major, R.A., Colonial Engineer and Surveyor-General, Straits Settlements.
WILLIAM C. F. ROBINSON.
Approved, (Signed) May 29, 1878.
Inclosure 5 in No. 243.
Singapore, May 29, 1878. AT his Excellency the Governor's request I have prepared a Memorandum on the defence of Penang, and I have now the honour to inclose the same.
As my time is very much occupied at present, I am compelled to present the Memorandum in somewhat a crude form, and I shall be happy to consider any point not contained therein to which his Excellency may wish me to direct my attention. I have, &c. (Signed) H. E. McCALLUM, Lieutenant, R.E.,
Superintendent, Defence Works.
The Hou. the Colonial Secretary,
&c.
&c.
&c.
Inclosure 6 in No. 243.
Memorandum on the Defence of Penang.
GEORGETOWN, the capital of Penang, is situated on the southern side of 1 projecting promontory, at the north-east corner of the island. The roadstead is a mod
It is approached by t convenient one, deep water being found close to the town. channels, the northern and the southern, the latter of which is seldom used by ships heavy tonnage. The north channel is broad and deep, though the water shoals consider ably on either side along the shores of Penang and Province Wellesley respectively. Th breadth of the navigable channel immediately opposite the town is 2,400 yards, whilst a distance of 3,000 yards due north of Fort Cornwallis (which stands at the extremity of the promontory referred to) the breadth is 4,300 yards. The south channel is very narrow, the greatest breadth navigable for vessels drawing 18 feet of water being litt over 2,000 yards.
Practically nil. To the best of my recollection, Fort Cornwallis is a quadrilater bastioned masonry work, with stone scarp and counterscarp and wet ditch.
The bastio are narrow and confined, and the faces and curtains are much exposed to enfilade reverse fire. The armament is light, and, for purposes of defence against rifled artiller almost useless, and in its present condition I consider the fort untenable if exposed accurate firing.
In considering what should be done to prevent an enemy's cruizer requisitioning town, it will be desirable to discuss the subject under two heads: first, whether available armament in the Straits Settlements can be employed with advantage defensive purposes at Penang; and, second, what extraneous means of defence could
th
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obtained to secure a more advantageous scheme of defence than the available armament would provide.
This armament would consist of seven 68-pounders of 95 cwt. from Singapore. (Three Armament of these would be temporarily employed at Mount Palmer.) Two 56-pounders of 98 cwt. available. from Singapore Say five 32-pounders now mounted in the fort.
Now it is a question for consideration whether, with this small amount of metal, it Defence by smooth- would be advisable to offer opposition to an enemy's cruizer or cruizers armed with rifled bore armament. artillery, possessing far greater accuracy and range than the smooth-bore armament in question. In the first place, such cruizer or cruizers could stand out of range of the smooth-bores, and bombard the town over the fort. By drawing a radius of 2,000 yards from the fort, it will be perceived that a vessel could even enter the roadstead (by hugging the Province Wellesley side) without coining within the zone of effective firing, and could then pour a direct instead of an indirect fire upon the town.
If such an ineffectual attempt to defend the town were made, we might certainly expect an enemy to make a heavier requisition than he would demand were the town quite undefended. The presence of new guis, and the construction of new works, would have given the banks and inhabitants a feeling of false security, and no precautions would probably have been adopted to have deposited bullion and valuables in a place of safety. The quantity of coal in store in Penang is comparatively small, and could be easily destroyed upon the approach of a hostile cruizer, the merchants being hereafter indem- nified for the loss sustained. I ant of opinion, therefore, that if a smooth-bore armament he alone available, that it would be advisable not to mount this armament, but that the banks and firms should be warned to deposit treasure and valuables with their branches or agents in Singapore, and that the coal should be deposited in such a place that it could be fired with safety, petroleum being used, if necessary, to accelerate the combustion.
It must be remembered that the whole of the fourteen guns available could not be Defence of south mounted for the defence of the north channel alone. The south channel, though narrow channel. and difficult, must be defended by four guns at least, for although the buoys would be taken up and the navigation thus rendered difficult, a hostile cruizer could feel its way in, an operation which would be very dangerous were the channel enfiladed by the fire of artillery. Pulo Jerajah would offer a very advantageous site for mounting the smooth- hores, as here they would be in a position to engage an enemy's rifled artillery on more equal terms, as the cruizer would have enough to do to avoid the great Kra and Batennon Flats (see Chart 1366) on either bow, without attempting to engage the smooth-bores from a distance. An exchange of fire (except from the cruizer's bow gun) would, therefore, be confined to when the cruizer was attempting to run past Pulo Jerajah at comparatively short range, and when thus the smooth-bores would have every chance of sinking her.
For the same reason, were Tanjong Joking (on the northern side of the island) 4,000 yards nearer Province Wellesley I would not hesitate to recommend that a battery for smooth-bores should be constructed here. Georgetown would then be in the position of a town on a river, the reaches above and below the town being swept by artillery.
But, considering the actual topography of the island, 1 cannot consider it good policy
to mount guns which will bark but not bite.
I would suggest, however, that an opportunity presents itself for the Government of Defence by rided the Straits Settlements to obtain on loan such a number of muzzle-loading rifled guns that artillery. an effectual defence could be made.
Thirty-four rifled guns have already been mounted at Hong Kong, including six 7-inch muzzle-loading rifled guns of
tons on naval slides, and nine 64-pounder muzzle-loading rifled guns. Å further supply of these guns are on their way from England to Hong Kong, and, as they will not all be required there, I would suggest that bis Excellency the Governor should telegraph to the Major-General commanding, requesting anthority to detain here three muzzle-loading rifled guns and two 64-pounders, and these guns I would mount in Fort Cornwallis, the heavy guns firing through embrasures to sweep the north channel, the 64-pounders firing en barbette, and provided with central pivots so as to sweep either the north or south channel as the case may be. By drawing a radius of 4,000 yards from the fort in the direction of the north channel, it will be seen that an enemy's cruizer will not be able to approach with impunity.
To defend the south channel, the smooth-bore armament would be available and Defence of south sufficient, and I would recommend that six 68-pounders should be placed in battery on channel. Pulo Jerajah, the battery being made secure against a coup de main by boats' crews.
That portion of the fort which will be occupied by the new guns should be renovated, Work to be done and every precaution taken that splinters of masonry should not be the means of causing heavy loss to the detachments.
The masonry checks and soles of the embrasures should be taken down weil back and
at Fort Cornwallis.
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