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To deny the harbour to an enemy it is necessary to occupy its north-eastern and south- western extremities with inclosed batteries of heavy guns, and to place a smaller battery of heavy guns on an eminence to the south of the town of Singapore, which, while affording a direct fire on the waters swept by the two batteries, closes the eastern entrance of the inner harbour.

The points proposed to be occupied by these batteries are the points already occupied by the temporary defences erected upon the recommendations of the Colonial Defence Committee, viz. :—

1. Mount Serapong, near which a temporary battery, mounting four 7-inch muzzle- loading rifled and two 64-pounder muzzle-loading rifled guns has been constructed, an eminence 140 feet high on the eastern extremity of Blakan Mati, a projecting island separated from the main island by the deep but narrow channel which forms the inner harbour.

Appendix No. 4.

SINGAPORE.

Blakan Mati East.

Mount Serapong-

5 10-in. M.L.R. guns, 18 tons. I 64-pr. M.L.R. gun.

Armament

£

21,692

17,925

4,000*

Battery This battery should be converted to receive five 10-inch muzzle-loading rifled guns of Submarine mines 18 tons, and one 64-pounder muzzle-loading rifled gun, to flank the line of submarine *In addition to 5,0007. already mines, which, extending from the island to Paggar Spit, blocks the eastern entrance to the on the spot. inner harbour.

The summit of Mount Serapong, which completely commands this battery at a distance of about 760 yards, has been denied to an enemy by a small infantry post; this should be strengthened and armed with three medium guns, as from it a command can be obtained over the whole island of Blakan, the submarine mining field, and the inner anchorage.

2. Mount Palmer, an eminence 110 feet high, at the south-western extremity of the town.

The temporary battery constructed here mounts three 7-inch muzzle-loading rifled and two 64-pounder muzzle-loading rifled guns. This battery should be reconstructed to receive two 10-inch muzzle-loading rifled guns of 18 tons, and two 64-pounder muzzle- loading rifled guns to sweep the entrance to the inner harbour, and to prevent a boat landing at the head of the bay.

This battery, though much retired, gives a direct fire upon waters of the roadstead which the batteries at Mount Serapong and Tanjong Katong do not lay hold of except at long range.

Mount Serapong—

Battery Armament

Mount Palmer-

2 10-in. M.L.R. guns. 2 64-prs.

Battery Armament

Total.

£

5,000

1,800

£

9,625

7,170

•

16,795

Tanjong Katong.

Tanjong Katong.-The temporary work here is an inclosed battery for three 7-inch guns upon a low slightly projecting spit 14 miles to the eastward of the town. This 5 10-in. M.L.R. guns, 18-tons. battery should be reconstructed to mount five 10-inch muzzle-loading rifled guns of Battery

18 tons.

The soil is sandy, and water is found at a very little distance below the surface, so that there will be some difficulty and considerable cost in obtaining foundations suitable

guns of this nature.

for

But other measures must be taken for the security of the inner harbour and its naval establishments.

The work proposed for Mount Serapong projects considerably in advance of the eastern portion of the inner harbour, but does not bear upon its western entrance or the waters in front of this entrance.

To command these positions the temporary battery at Mount Siloso, which mounts three 7-inch muzzle-loading rifled and two 64-pounder muzzle-loading rifled guns, must be re- modelled to receive three 10-inch muzzle-loading rifled guns of 18 tons, and two 64-pounder muzzle-loading rifled guns; the site is too small to take a great number of guns.

near

A new battery of two 10-inch muzzle-loading rifled guns of 18 tons must be built Berlayer Point, on the opposite side of the entrance to the inner harbour.

This battery, which must be self-defensible, should also mount two 64-pounders to sweep the shore on its right as well as the entrance to the inner harbour, and to flank the line of submarine mines which closes it.

Armament

Blakan Mati.

Mount Siloso-

3 10-in. M.L.R.

2 64-pr. M.L.R. guns.

Battery Armament

Berlayer Battery—

29,260

17,925

guns, 18-tons.

£ 18,590 10,755

2 10-in. M.L.R. guns, 18.tons.

2 64-pr. M.L.R. guns.

Battery Armament

The battery at Mount Siloso is slightly commanded from the adjacent summit of Mount Imbeah, distant about 700 yards. It may be advisable to occupy this summit by a Works small infantry post.

But though the works enumerated will prevent an enemy from getting hold of the roadstead, and will protect the inner harbour, they still leave the town and the naval establishments open to capture from the land, and means must be devised to protect them on this side.

The strait which divides the island from the mainland is not accessible at its western entrance to vessels of size, but at its eastern entrance there is ample depth of water, and when once entered the water is deep, and there are two good landings at the mouths of rivers. However, this eastern entrance may be protected by submarine mines, or closed by obstruction; and the strait itself offers an excellent field for the operations of gun- Gun-boats (2) boats, of which two of the "Comet".class should be provided.

Three torpedo-boats should be provided for service here and for general purposes. Fortunately the island is not very favourable for the movement of troops, so that, if a landing were effected, an enemy would still have considerable difficulty to overcome before reaching the town. The country between the roads is a succession of small hills, from whence the roads are commanded, and which are separated by marshes, so that he must keep to the roads; good positions for checking his advance occur at all the points where the rivers are bridged by the roads, and, finally, a strong defensive position is found from Fort Canning by Pearls Hill and Mount Farquhar to Mount Faber on the west. The fault

4 B

[1103]

£

17,600

7,670

£

1,000

•

£ 26,000

13,500

Captain Mayne, R.E.

Torpedo-boats (3)

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