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Of infantry there would be required :-
For Mount Serapong
Mount Imbeah
To assist in defence of batteries
Fort Canning
•
Intermediate redoubts and Fort Fullerton
Fort Faber
Passir Panjang
267
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罪
Men.
100
50
Blakang Mati.
100
200
200
250
100
豪
1,000
In addition, there should be a moveable force of 800 men held in reserve, making a total of 1,800, or, to allow of the extra men required for artillery service, say, 2,000 infantry in all, or one strong native Indian regiment, in addition to the European regiment, which should be kept up at war strength.
The strength of the garrison required in time of war is therefore
Artillery-
2 garrison batteries
3 companies Indians
Engineers-
20 men for submarine mines
Detachment for general service
Cavalry-
•
Men.
208
255
20
15
100
•
1,000
•
1,000
Sikh police
Infantry
1 native regiment
1 European regiment
Or, say, 2,600 men, besides the mounted Sikhs and coolies enrolled for submarine mining and
departmental services.
These men are required for the defence of the new harbour.
If it is intended to protect the "roads" as well 250 more artillery and 100 more infantry would be required, making the total garrison, say, 3,000 men.
As regards the assistance to be obtained from local levies, it would be, no doubt, possible to recruit many Indian gunners on the spot, and it would not be difficult to raise fron among the Malays a regiment similar to the late Ceylon Rifles.
No dependence could be placed, I fear, on any assistance from a local volunteer
corps.
There is a small body consisting of 1 officer and 76 men, but containing only 40 efficient members, as stated in the Colonial Blue Book.
As the officer commanding the troops, however, refused last year to certify for their capitation grant, that efficiency is doubtful.
They principally, if not altogether, consist of Eurasians, the same class as the so-called Portuguese at Hong Kong, a body of men totally unsuited for military service.
The adult males of the British population number 456; these are engaged on public duty, or in business the whole day, and in this country where there is very little time after working hours in which drill can be carried on, it would be very difficult to raise any corps that would devote such little spare time as would be at their disposal to military duty.
An energetic and popular commandant might do much towards raising a certain number, but anything that depends upon the personal exertions of one man is, in a matter of this sort, of little value.
Such being the case, the contribution of the European residents to the defence must be made in money, as it cannot be given by personal service.
Barracks.
Exclusive of the barracks at Tanglin,* which are outside the line of land defences, and so may be left out of consideration in time of war, the only accommodation for troops at present is at Fort Canning, where there are barracks for 219 men only.
Those at the Sepoy lines are occupied by police, or turned into civil hospitals, and are not now available.
There, therefore, remains to be provided in time of war accommodation within the line of land defences for 2,400 men.
On Blakang Mati Island there would be:-
At western end of Island, Barracks for
At eastern end
At Passir Panjang
Mount Faber
Fort Canning
·
•
Men.
220
250
200
200
219
1,089
Leaving upwards of 1,200 men unprovided for.
There is little or no vacant space within the line of defences where barracks could be built; it would be possible to encamp a certain number on the esplanade, or on the proposed "people's park" below the ordnance store buildings, or it might be found more economical to hire godowns or other buildings for their accommodation.
It would appear to be only necessary at present to provide extra buildings at Tanglin
* The barracks are stated to hold 1,000 men, but it would be desirable to provide quarters for 200 more.
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Appendix No. 4.
Mag
SINGAPORE,
Infantry.
Local levies.
Barracks.
150
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