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available could not save it from distant bombardment. By the plan, however, of providing a self- Appendix No. 4. defensible battery at Tanjong Katong, means of offence were provided against cruizers taking up a position on the eastern side of the roadstead, out of range of Mount Palmer and Blakang Mati East batteries, and bombarding the town with impunity at a comparatively close range.

SINGAPORE.

22. Coming in by the eastern channel between the Outer Shoal and the shore, a vessel is, in the Fire of Tanjong first place, exposed to the fire of the three 7-inch guns at Tanjong Katong. On arriving at the eastern Katong Battery. part of the anchorage the left 7-inch gun of Mount Palmer comes into play, and by the time she reaches the position shown in the chart by the western anchor, its 64-pounders will be firing at her. Just past this position, the Tanjong Katong end-on fire will be ineffective, but its place will have been taken by Blakang Mati East Battery, whose 7-inch guns will be bearing on her.

23. At length, at a point between the 6 and 8-fathom marks at the extreme point of concen- Focus of maximum tration of the effective fire of batteries Mount Palmer and Blakang Mati East, she would be exposed fire. to the fire of all the guns in those batteries, viz., to that of seven 7-inch guns and four 64-pounders. By the time she arrives at the submarine mining field, she would be out of fire of the left 64-pounder and left 7-inch gun of Mount Palmer Battery, and have arrived at the extreme lateral range of the three right hand guns of Blakang Mati East Battery, after which she would be still exposed to the fire of four 7-inch guns and two 64-pounders.

A

Fire from Mount

24. At the western entrance of the harbour, the position is of a much simpler character. narrow entrance is defended by a single battery and a few submarine mines. The channel of approach Sileso Battery. from the Cyrene Shoal is swept by the fire of two 7-inch guns and the two 64-pounders, and, in a certain position, the third 7-inch gun on the left of the battery comes into play. The 64-pounders being mounted on C" racers in emplacements of suitable design, they can be brought to flank the front of Blakang Mati (from which Mount Siloso stands out as a sort of natural bastion), and can also bring a reverse fire to bear on the harbour itself.

25. The Committee, having carefully considered the condition of the existing defences of Singa- pore, and having visited each of the forts, observing the efficiency of each both from sea and land, are of opinion: (1) that the present defences are insufficient to beat off a squadron as detailed in para- graph 5 of this Report; (2) that guns capable of piercing 8 inches of armour at 3,000 yards should be provided.

26. To render the present system complete, the Committee, in the first place, recommend the following alterations in the batteries already constructed.

Opinion of the Com- mittee that present cient, and that heavier guns are

defences are insuffi-

required.

Fort Mount Siloso.

27. The Committee are of opinion that the following alterations should be made in the above Fort Mount Siloso fort:-

(a.) No. 2 gun, which is at present a 7-inch 61-ton gun firing through 70 degrees, should be replaced by an armour-piercing gun mounted on a land service dwarf traversing platform D pivot, so as to fire through an angle of 168 degrees from Berlayer beacon on the extreme right round the Boelang Peak on the extreme left.

(b.) No. 3 gun should be removed altogether.

(c.) No. 4 gun, at present a 64-pounder with an all-round fire, should be replaced by a 7-inch 6-ton gun, mounted on a land service dwarf traversing platform D pivot, so that it would fire through an angle of 143 degrees from the Cyrene Shoal on the extreme right to the beach on Blakang Mati on the extreme left.

(d.) No. 5 gun, at present a 7-inch 6-ton gun firing through 120 degrees, should be replaced by an armour-piercing gun on a land service dwarf traversing platform D pivot. It would then fire through an angle of 189 degrees from its present right extreme range over the Cyrene Shoal, round over Blakang Mati, up the New Harbour, and as far as the Peninsular and Oriental Wharf on the left.

(e.) A new gun, a 64-pounder mounted on a D pivot, should be placed on the right of the present entrance in the Horn-work, so as to fire through 180 degrees from the coral beach south of Blakang Mati on the extreme right, over Blakang Mati, up the New Harbour, and round to and over the western entrance.

(f) No. 1 gun to remain unaltered.

28. The fort would be so strong in itself as to be unlikely to require much support in an ordinary attack.

29. The number of guns in the battery would therefore remain the same. The following Table will show the substitutions proposed :-

At present

Proposed

64.pr.

7-in.

Armour Piercing.

21

3

0

2

2

Mount Palmer Battery.

30. The Committee are of opinion that the following alterations should be made in the above battery:

(a.) No. 1 gun, at present a 64-pounder firing through 180 degrees, should be replaced by an armour-piercing gun mounted on a land service dwarf traversing platform D pivot, with the same angle of fire as at present.

(b.) No. 2 gun should have its angle of fire increased 10 degrees on each side.

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