CAB7-4 — Page 253

Page 253

225

Page 253

129

Page 253

be for duty with the gun, while the remaining two are told off for magazine and reserve duties. Appendix No. 4. The men required to supplement the regular artillerymen should be enlisted from amongst the Sikhs who are found to make excellent gunners.

Garrison for Land Defences.

68. Regarding the garrison for land defence, it is advisable to have available:-

Infantry Artillery

Armed Police

Total..

400

150

150

•

700

SINGAPORE.

which, added to 583 for the sea defences, gives us a grand total of 1,283 men.

69. It is estimated that the police force could supply 150 armed men, which are accounted for above.

70. The Committee recommend that 500 stands of arms and accoutrements should be provided and kept in store for arming a local force raised in time of emergency.

71. In addition to the force proposed, a detachment of Royal Engineers should be provided, Engineers. including a section of submarine miners, to whom may be attached a native force as boatmen, and for the simpler work generally connected with submarine mining.

72. Certain papers laid before the Committee are annexed.

(Signed)

H. PARNELL.

CECIL C. SMITH.

H. E. MCCALLUM.* CHARLES JOHNSTONE.*

G. G. HANNEN.

E. F. RHODES.

Singapore, April 9, 1881.

1. I agree with the Report, except that I do not concur with the other members of the Committee that a battery is not necessary at Blakang Mati South. (Vide Report annexed, dated Penang, 15th January, 1881.)†

2. If the nature of the enemy's attack will admit of successive operations, I consider it extremely advisable to connect the eastern with the western defences by the new battery proposed by me at Blakang Mati South, so as to neutralize a weak point which I do not think sufficiently provided for by the alterations in the existing batteries suggested by the Committee.

3. If the attack will not be of this description, then I consider that no expense should be incurred, such as that contemplated, to bring any additional fire at all to bear in this direction, but that the gorge and right flank of battery Blakang Mati East should alone be raised, so as to act as a pavados to prevent the armament being taken in reverse by any vessel or vessels standing off Blakang Mati South for the purpose of making a diversion and assisting in the general attack.

(Signed)

H. E. MCCALLUM, Captain, R.E.

April 12, 1881.

I consider that the eastern entrance of the New Harbour is not made as secure as is desirable. The distance of Fort Palmer and Blakang Mati East would, I consider, prevent them properly defending the torpedo field; and I am of opinion that a determined man, with proper appliances for counter-mining, would, under cover of night or otherwise, easily clear the channel. An iron-clad would then enter the harbour, and, with nothing but the distant fire of two or three guns to disturb her, she could destroy the coal stores at leisure.

The difficulty would be most efficiently met by a fort on Pagar Point, but I believe the expense of this would be very great. A small battery on the north part of Pulo Brani would seriously incommode a vessel which had entered, but no other fort, except one on Pagar Point, would properly defend the torpedo field. A couple of gun-boats (carrying great guns) are the only alternative means I can see of resisting a torpedo counter-mining attack. I am still of opinion that small gun-boats, carrying heavy guns (the "Staunch" class), would be a most valuable auxiliary to the defence generally, and they would serve the purpose of defending the torpedo field mentioned.

(Signed)

CHARLES JOHNSTONE,

April 16, 1881.

Commander, H.M.S. "Egeria."

* Subject to annexed Minute.

Inclosure 6 in No. 74.

[1103]

3 M

Page 253

Page 253