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Appendix No. 4.

PENANG.

Armament available.

Defence by smooth- bore armament.

Defence of north channel.

Defence by riffed artillery.

Defence of south channel.

Work to be done at Fort Cornwallis.

what extraneous means of defence could be obtained to secure more advantageous scheme of defence than the available armament would provide.

This armament would consist of seven 68-pounders, of 95 cwt., from Singapore (three of these would be temporarily employed at Mount Palmer). Two 56-pounders, of 98 cwt., from Singapore, say, five 32-pounders, now mounted in the fort.

Now it is a question for consideration whether, with this small amount of metal, it would be advisable to offer opposition to an enemy's cruizer or cruizers armed with rifled artillery, possessing far greater accuracy and range than the smooth-bore armament in question. In the first place, such cruizer or cruizers could stand out of range of the smooth-bores, and bombard the town over the fort: by drawing a radius of 2,000 yards from the fort it will be perceived that a vessel could even enter the roadstead (by hugging Province Wellesley side) without coming within the zone of effective firing, and could then pour a direct, instead of an indirect, fire upon the town. If such an ineffectual attempt to defend the town were made, we might certainly expect an enemy to make heavier requisi- tion than he would demand were the town quite undefended.

The presence of new guns and the construction of new works would have given the banks and inhabitants a feeling of false security, and no precautions would probably have been adopted to have deposited bullion and valuables in a place of safety.

The quantity of coal in store in Penang is comparatively small, and could be easily destroyed upon the approach of a hostile cruizer, the merchants being hereafter indemnified for the loss sustained. I am of opinion, therefore, that if a smooth-bore armament be alone available, that it would be advisable not to mount this armament, but that the banks and firms should be warned to deposit treasure and valuables with their branches or agents in Singapore, and that the coal should be deposited in such a place that it could be fired with safety, petroleum being used, if necessary, to

accelerate the combustion.

It must be remembered that the whole of the fourteen guns available could not be mounted for the defence of the north channel alone. The south channel, though narrow and difficult, must be defended by four guns at least, for although the buoys would be taken up and the navigation thus rendered difficult, a hostile cruizer could feel its way in-

-an operation which would be very dangerous were the channel enfiladed by the fire of artillery. Pulo Jerajah would offer a very advantageous site for mounting the smooth-bores, as here they would be in a position to engage an enemy's rifled artillery on more equal terms, as the cruizer would have enough to do to avoid Great Kra and Batumon Flats (see Chart 1366) on either bow without attempting to engage the smooth-bores from a distance; an exchange of fire (except from the cruizers bow-guns) would therefore be confined to when the cruizer was attempting to run past Pulo Jerajah at comparatively slight range, and when thus the smooth-bores would have every chance of sinking her.

For the same reason, were Tanjong Toking (on the northern side of the island) 4,000 yards nearer Province Wellesley, I would not hesitate to recommend that a battery for smooth-bores should be constructed here. George Town would be then in the position of a town on a river, the reaches above and below the town being swept by artillery. But considering the actual topography of the island, I cannot consider of good policy to mount guns which will bark, but not bite.

I would suggest, however, that an opportunity presents itself for the Government of the Straits Settlements to obtain on loan such a number of the muzzle-loading rifled guns that an effectual defence could be made. Thirty-four rifled guns have already been mounted at Hong Kong, including six 7-inch muzzle-loading rifled guns, of 61⁄2 tons, on naval slides, and nine 64-pounders muzzle-loading rifled guns.

A further supply of these guns are on their way from England to Hong Kong, and, as they will not all be required there, I would suggest that his Excellency the Governor should telegraph to the Major-General Commanding requesting authority to detain here three 7-inch muzzle-loading rifled guns and two 64-pounders, and these guns I would mount in Fort Cornwallis, the heavy guns firing through embrasures to sweep the north channel, the 64-pounders firing en barbette, and provided with central pivot, so as to sweep either the north or south channel, as the case may be.

By drawing a radius of 4,000 yards from the fort, in direction of the north channel, it will be seen that an enemy's cruizer will not be able to approach with impunity.

To defend the south channel the smooth-bore armament would be available and sufficient, and I would recommend that six 68-pounders should be placed in battery on Pulo Jerajah, the battery being made secure against a coup de main by boats' crews.

That portion of the fort which will be occupied by the new guns should be renovated, and every precaution taken that splinters of masonry should not be the means of causing heavy loss to the detachments.

The masonry cheeks and soles of the embrasures should be taken down well back, and made up in earth and sand-bags; an interior lining 6 feet thick of earth and concrete should be provided, traverses should be thrown up between the guns, existing embrasures not required filled up, shell and powder recesses built under the parapets for the service of the guns, temporary wooden racers buried în concrete and fitted with iron, sweep plates laid down, and the magazine and shell filling rooms strengthened.

(Signed)

H. E. McCALLUM, Lieutenant, R.E.,

Superintending Defence Works.

May 29, 1878.

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