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Digest, p. 607.

First Report, paragraph 116.

Digest, p. 597. Ditto, p. 612.

Third Report, p. 258.

Third Report, pp. 270–275.

Ditto,

Ditto,

Ditto,

276, 279.

219-225.

259-270.

Works Armaments

Submarine mines

Barracks

Roads, &c...

£ 119,800 65,040 500 15,000 4,000

men, and also for observing the ports in the Dutch East Indies. Singapore must certainly be placed in a thorough state of defence.

61. The value of the trade passing annually through the Straits of Malacca is as follows:---

With the United Kingdom

With Your Majesty's Indian Possessions Local

£

35,361,000

22,039,000

20,000,000

Owing to an advantageous position, and a fine natural harbour and roadstead, Singapore has become not only a port of call, but a great commercial centre. Extensive wharves, with three docks,* capable of accommodating merchant-vessels of the largest class, and appliances for effecting the heaviest repairs, have been provided. They are frequently used by Dutch ships of war, and are, of course, available for ships of the Royal Navy. The average quantity of coal in the port in 1876 was 93,000 tons, when the number of steamers calling yearly was about 1,000, but this number having now risen to 1,700, from 12,000 to 15,000 tons are required each month. Singapore is also the seat of British government, the centre of influence in the Peninsula, and is growing every year in commercial and political importance. If unprotected, or, as at present, insufficiently protected, Singapore cannot fail to attract the attention of an enemy. A hostile occu- pation would not only deprive your Majesty's ships of the only base from which they can act effectively in this region, but would lead to political difficulties extending far beyond the place itself.

62. The Inner or New Harbour, comprising the docks and coaling wharves, and including that portion of the town south of the Singapore River in which the principal mercantile establishments are situated, is easily defen- sible, being covered on the north by the Island of Singapore, and on the south by the high ground of Blakan Mati Island. The roadstead, Government offices, the native town, and the suburbs north of the Singapore River, are less favourably situated.

63. The protection of the Inner Harbour would satisfy the requirements of the Royal Navy, and would also provide to a large extent for the security of the mercantile marine. These defences, however, would not prevent the disembarkation of a hostile force north of the Singapore River, which would lay the Inner Harbour open to comparatively easy attack. Neither would they protect that portion of the town which contains Government House, the public offices, the private residences of the European settlers, the native port, and the large native population.

64. We have before us a Report on the defences of Singapore drawn up in 1876 by Major-General Sir W. Jervois, R.E.; a Memorandum prepared in the War Office in 1880, and sent to the Colony, where it was considered by a Committee of Naval and Military Officers; and a Report drawn up in November 1881 by Colonel Crossman, R.E., to which we must refer as to the details of the necessary works. All these Reports contemplate attack by a small number of lightly-armoured ships such as France, the Nether- lands, and Russia have now in these seas, accompanied perhaps by unarmoured cruizers. The Reports are in substantial agreement, although they differ in details, chiefly owing to changes lately made in artillery. Colonel Crossman, for instance, recommends a powerful shielded battery on the Tanjong Paggar Dock Wall as preferable to a battery on Mount Palmer; and Colonel Crossman and the local Committee differ from Sir W. Jervois in recom- mending a shielded fort on a shoal for the defence of the roadstead.

65. The estimate of the defences proposed by Colonel Crossman is:- For the Inner or New Harbour, 204,3407.--

204,340

* 415 feet, 450 feet, and 459 feet long. The second of these, in which Her Majesty's ship "Charybdis" was docked in 1874, is 65 feet wide, and has 20 feet of water over sill.

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