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Appendix No. 4..

SINGAPORE.

Blakang Mati South Battery.

8 7-in. guns.

Cost --

Battery

Armament (on the spot).

Gun detachments, 50 men.

20,000

262

I cannot think that a* rifled Howitzer in Blakang Mati East Battery would have the effect of keeping down musketry fire from Mount Serapong should the red ubt be taken; there is good cover in the bush round and below the redoubt, in which men could take up positions quite unseen from the battery.

Although the batteries at Mount Siloso and Blakang Mati East bring a powerful fire to bear upon the entrances to the harbour, they do not sufficiently command the water to the

south of the island.

There is at present a space to the south and east of Blakang Mati Island, which is swept by one 64-pounder gun only in Mount Siloso.

Although the addition of a 10-inch gun on the left of that battery, and the rearrange- ment of the guns on the right of Blakang Mati East so as to have a 10-inch gun firing towards the south will to a certain extent remedy this defect, it would be well to provide. more fire on the water to the south of the island.

For this purpose the Committee propose to lengthen the right flank of the eastern battery, while, on the other hand, Captain McCallum proposes the construction of a new battery on a knoll on the south coast of the island, about 900 yards from Mount Serapong.

The reasons for and against these separate proposals are given in Inclosure 2. After carefully examining the ground and viewing the batteries from sea and land, I have come to the conclusion, though somewhat reluctantly (as the fewer batteries there are the better), that the best course to adopt will be to provide the extra battery.

There is no room for the two guns in Blakang Mati East, as proposed by the Com- mittee, without raising the emplacements for them to the height of the parados, which must be formed by raising the gorge parapet to protect the battery from reverse fire, a work which would entail very great expense.

The special duty, too, of the present battery, is to direct a heavy fire on the entrance to the harbour, and the extra guns, if mounted as proposed, could not be brought to bear upon the deep water immediately off the south-west coast of the island, in which ships could manœuvre at present with the view of throwing shells over the island into the docks and other establishments in the harbour.

The new battery, for which an armament of three 7-inch guns would be sufficient, would prevent them doing this. The guns at present in Tanjong Katong would be available for this battery.

It should be made secure against a coup de main, and roads of communication between it and Mount Serapong redoubt and Blakang Mati East Battery should be made. Proper landing-places and approaches are required at the two existing batteries. At 20,000 Blakang Mati East the landing-place should be in Sinki Straits, and not in the exposed

position it is at present.

North side of eastern entrance.

Tanjong Paggar Dock-wall Battery.

310-in. guns.

1 64-pr.

Cost-

Work

Armament

Gun detachments, 68 men.

Mount Palmer.

£

40,000 10,795

Perhaps it would be well to have this landing-place in the Serapong River (see chart), with roads branching off to all the batteries.

The battery at Mount Palmer is so far retired from the channel that it does not afford that close defence which is desirable, and when the Tanjong Paggar docks are extended, as they are soon likely to be, as far as is shown in the accompanying chart, any buildings erected there would render this battery of still less value than it is at present, and, in fact, necessitate the construction of a shielded work at the point marked (A).

In any case a work at this point would be much preferable to the present arrangement, and would add greatly to the strength of the harbour.

For the defence of the new harbour only it should mount three 10-inch guns, bearing on the approaches, and one 64-pounder firing over the mine-field.

The cost of such a work may be approximately put down at 40,000%.

More definite information regarding the nature of the foundations required must, 50,795 however, be obtained before a reliable estimate can be framed, and this the Acting Colonial

Engineer has promised to procure.

4 10-in. guns. 2 64-prs.

£

Cost-

Battery

Armament

Gun detachments, 100 men.

armament.

If this work be decided upon, it will not be necessary to do anything more to Mount Palmer; but if not, the present battery should be altered to enable it to receive a heavier

The Committee propose three 7-inch guns, one 64-pounder, and two armour-piercing

In the War Office Memorandum two 10-inch guns and two 64-pounders are recom- mended.

guns.

I would suggest that a still larger number of heavy guns should be supplied to this battery, if retained, and that four 10-inch guns and two 64-pounders be mounted, the lighter guns to fire over the head of the bay and towards Fort Canning, the heavier guns 3,000 to bear upon the entrance of the harbour, and at least one in the direction of the 11,200 roads."

14.200

N.B.-This battery will be dis- mantled if the Dock wall battery is approved.

* See (g) par. 35 of Singapore Local Defence Committee's Report (Inclosure 2 in No 74).

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