CAB7-4 — Page 286

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Appendix No. 4.

SINGAPORE.

Page 286

258

mation given in similar Reports already received from Esquimault, the Cape of Good Hope, and Hong Kong was not considered sufficiently complete.

I have, &c.

(Signed)

RALPH THOMPSON.

Inclosure 19 in No. 74.

(Secret.) Sir,

The Earl of Kimberley to Sir F. A. Weld.

Downing Street, July 1, 1881. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Secret despatch of the 29th April,* inclosing the Report of the Committee appointed to consider the question of the defences of Singapore.

2. I now transmit to you, for your information and guidance, a copy of the correspondence, noted in the margin,† from which you will perceive that the further Report called for in my Circular despatch of the 8th June, which you will receive by this mail, will not be required, but that it is proposed that Colonel Crossman while at Singapore should be afforded an opportunity of considering the Report of the Local Committee.

3. A copy of your despatch, and of the Report and the correspondence which has since passed on the subject, will now be transmitted to the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad.

4. You will learn from my Circular despatch of the 22nd June, which you will also receive by this mail, that Colonel Crossman, R.E., C.M.G., has been instructed to proceed to the Straits Settlements and other Colonies to report on their defences.

No. 75.

I have, &c.

(Signed)

KIMBERLEY.

Sir,

Admiralty to Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad.

Admiralty, July 29, 1881.

I AM commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Adiniralty to transmit to you, to be laid before the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad, copy of a letter from Vice-Admiral Willes, Commander-in-chief on the China station, dated the 2nd May last, No. 130, on the defence of Singapore.

Inclosure in No. 75.

I am, &c.

(Signed)

E. N. SWAINSON.

(Extract.)

Vice-Admiral Willes to the Secretary to the Admiralty.

Vigilant," at Shanghae, May 2, 1881. I HAVE the honour to request that you will lay before the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty the following remarks which I have made on the defences of Singapore, to which subject I turned my attention on assuming command of this station.

2. The Island of Singapore is, from its position, one of the most important coaling stations in the world, and the arrangements for coaling are excellent.

3. Ships of any size or draft of water can enter and quit the New Harbour by daylight, from either side, at any time of tide and be placed alongside jetties, receiving on board during the same period an immense quantity of coals.

There are also valuable docks and building slips.

4. The defence of this harbour in time of war is therefore a necessity.

I placed myself in communication with Major McCallum, R.E., who holds the position of Deputy Surveyor-General of the Straits Settlements, and who has given much time and attention to the impor- tant questions of the defences of Singapore.

5. The proposed fixed forts for the defending of the New Harbour, and, indeed, of Singapore gene- rally, are ample.

By removing the buoys on the approach from the west, placing torpedoes between Riman and Berlayer Points, leaving the eastern entrance open (buoys and beacons being temporarily removed) with torpedo-boats ready to act when the occasion may arise, I confidently believe the valuable property in the New Harbour might be deemed secure.

6. I do not attach much importance to the defence of the town of Singapore. Odessa was spared a bombardment even in 1854, and should Singapore meet with different treatment at the hands of an enemy, the inhabitants could easily retire beyond the range of guns from ships, which, from want of water, could not approach the beach within 3,000 to 4,000 yards. Indeed, an enemy far removed from a base could not spare the projectiles for such an undertaking.

CAB7-4 — Page 286

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