CAB7-4 — Page 281

253

143

Page 281

from the native Settlement should be each swept by a field-gun firing shrapnel. A line of entrench- ments preceded by a strong abatis will run from the road across the glacis to Fort Canning, which will flank the line.

Appendix No. 4.

SINGAPORE.

111. This work could be much improved by convict labour from the adjoining gaol. The ditches Fort Canning. should be provided with good flank defence, and made of a more formidable character. A stout palis- sade should be constructed throughout its length, the glacis levelled off, and many existing impediments of view removed, so that it may be swept by the fire from the parapets; the south battery and the adjoining part of the work should be cut off from the rest of the fort to form a small compact interior retrenchment, and the honeycombed worn out smooth-bore armament (left by the Indian Government) should be exchanged for rifled 64-pounders, which should be distributed to command the Sirangun, Orchard, River Valley, and Kim Seng Roads, and to sweep the front of the lines towards Mount Faber,

112. Three guns at least should bear on Institution Hill, an artillery position which an enemy might occupy, and on which an advance work could not be constructed without an increase to the garrison not commensurable with the slight advantage gained to the defence by its occupation.

113. Besides the normal garrison of Fort Canning, it would be desirable that there should be a detachment of about 100 men, with two field pieces, encamped on the glacis, ready to assume offensive operations by the lateral roads against an enemy's exposed flank.

bridge-head.

114. Entrenchments and abatis on the left flank, similar to those on the right flank, will connect Inundation and the fort with the river, at a point where there is a convenient bridge, in a military point of view, at a re-entering angle. Fort Canning really acts as a bridge-head, but will be supplemented by entrench- ments across the bend. Field-guns will also be stationed on the right bank of the river to flank the approaches and to defend a dam (which I would propose to construct just below the bridge), and by which could be inundated the flat country along the front of the line to the Mount Echo Road.

115. Nearly the whole of that part of the Kim Seng Road between the River Valley Road and Mount Carey is constructed over a mangrove swamp, and could be easily broken up. The bridges over the river marked on the tracing* by a red cross should be destroyed.

116. An inner line of defence will be afforded by the river, from its mouth to the dam. The Inner line of defence. godowns along the right bank should, consequently, be put in a state of defence, and arrangement

made to blow a gap in the two iron bridges across the river.

117. The inundation proposed will be so valuable to the defence, that the dam should be a perma- Permanent dam. nent structure with large sluices to carry off the floods in time of peace.

118. The gap of 350 yards between the river and Pearl's Hill Redoubt should be closed by entrench- Pearl's Hill section. ments, which need not be strong, as their front will be covered by the inundation. Pearl's Hill is an extremely good position for a redoubt, and its guns will command the country to the westward watered by the Singapore River.

119. On its immediate left, the new Criminal Gaol has just been commenced, and its enclosure New gaol.

wall should be so designed as to form a strong feature of the proposed entrenched line.

advance battery.

120. From the gaol, the line should run to the high ground of Mount Farquhar, in front of which, Mount Farquhar on one of the knolls, I would propose to place a small self-defensible battery, as a shooting position to enfilade the road south the inundation, and to cross fire with one of the redoubts of the Mount Faber section over the ground between the inundation and that range.

121. There is a hill shown to the front of the Cemetery Hill in the tracing which I have not been Left flank of section. on, and which I do not remember. It must be left therefore to the officer on the spot to report whether the left redoubt should be on that hill or on the Cemetery Hill as shown. The main road westward of this point is (as before stated, p. 252) constructed over a mangrove swamp, and can be easily made impas- sable. It has been long proposed to make a direct road from Fort Fullerton past Mount Palmer and the Borneo Company's Wharf to join the present main road near the P. and O. Wharf, and as that portion from the town to Tanjong Pagar is now being carried out, the proposed road will eventually form the communication between the east and west sections of the land defences, in lieu of the present road, which it is proposed to make impassable when an attack is threatened. In the meantime an improvised floating bridge would be constructed in the intervals between the wharves.

122. The portion of the line from the gaol to the main road should be well covered with obstacles of approach, the mangrove swamps affording an abundant supply of abatis material which a Malay contractor would soon cut and fix.

lines of defence.

123. The western section of the lines of defence is very simple. It consists of the establishment Western section of of three redoubts (Nos. I, II, and III on tracing*) connected by entrenchments, and also the occupation of Mount Chermin by a small detachment. No. I redoubt is constructed on some moderately high ground which stands at the bend of the road, as a bastion from Mount Faber, the front of which range it will flank with its fire, and also support the eastern section of the lines of defence at a range of 1,200 yards. No. II redoubt occupies a salient position, from which it can, in conjunction with Mount Farquhar advanced battery, sweep the country in front. No. III will enfilade the New Harbour Road along which an enemy may advance, whilst the 64-pounders at the proposed Passir Panjang Battery will also bring a fire to bear on the road, which will be broken up over the Berlayer River and obstructed with obstacles.

124. The Mount Faber range is very steep towards the north, and may be easily scarped and made inaccessible along a great portion of its front.

125. Electric lights may, with advantage, be provided at Fort Canning, Mount Farquhar and No. 2 Faber redoubt.

126. Thus we see that the whole line of defence on the land side consists of Fort Canning, five redoubts, and an advance battery, these artillery centres being connected by lines of entrenchments which in many parts, however (to be determined on the spot), may be replaced by obstacles of approach * Not printed.

General aspect of the defence.

Page 281

[1103]

Page 281

3 T

Page 281