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wharves, fitting-shops, and coal-sheds, containing 70,000 tons, with two docks 415 and 459 feet long respectively. They will not, however, afford any security to the outer harbour and roadstead opposite the town, nor to the town itself, with its public buildings and ware- houses, in connection with which a very considerable local trade is carried on.
The Committee are of opinion that, although the works recommended above providing for the defence of the new harbour should be constructed without delay, an additional self- defensible battery, mounting three 7-ton guns, should be erected at Tanjong Katong, to the eastward of the town.
Such a work, by crossing its fire with that of the other batteries, would afford a fair amount of protection to the roadstead and town. The Committee are also of opinion that submarine mines would add materially to the defence of the outer harbour.
Although these measures will provide sufficiently for the defence of Singapore itself, still, looking to the importance of the line of communication through the Straits, it might be well to provide in addition a ship of war, or two gun-vessels of the "Comet" class, which, operating among the islets with a protected port to fall back upon, would be very effectual in closing the passage. They would also be available to afford some protection to Malacca and Penang.
The garrison of regular troops necessary for the defence of Singapore is one battery of artillery and a battalion of infantry 1,000 strong, but these will require to be supple- mented by the volunteers, whose numbers should, if possible, be increased, and a sufficient body of men raised locally to enable the artillery to work the guns.
The cost of the proposed works is estimated as follows:-
Ten 7-ton guns, complete
Six 64-pounder guns, complete
Batteries, magazines, &c.
Submarine mines
Total
:
£
10,000
3,600
17,600
5,000
36,200
Or, adopting the full proposal-
Three additional 7-ton guns Battery at Tanjong Katong Two gun-boats..
Total
:
:::
:
:::
:
::::
£
3,000
4,200
26,000
69,400
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