CAB9-1_PT1 — Page 212

Printed for the use of the Colonial Office. May 1894.

CONFIDENTIAL.

So R

SINGAPORE.

Page 212

8027

STRAITS.

772.

Report of Local Joint Naval and Military Committee of

October 1893.

Remarks by Colonial Defence Committee.

THIS very brief Report is divided into two sections: one professing to deal with naval points, and signed by the naval members; the other professing to deal with military points, and signed by the military members.

It is difficult to understand why this line of division should have been adopted, as in the particular portion of the defence of Singapore under consideration both branches of the Service are jointly interested.

For example, the disposition of mine-fields, friendly channels, and electric defence lights of such an important harbour as Singapore are matters in which the navy is very intimately concerned, and the opinion of the naval members on these points would have been of great value.

The chief importance of Singapore as regards war is to serve as a base for our squadron, and a port of refuge and coaling station for our merchant- ships in the neighbouring waters, and it is of vital importance that no measures should be adopted in connection with its defence which would interfere with its full use for these objects, or which would tend to alarm our trade or deter it from frequenting the port in war-time. On such points the opinion of naval officers must of necessity be ascertained, and the express object of assembling the Joint Committee is to insure that the arrangements of this portion of the defence shall be only such as are jointly approved by both Services.

1. For the purposes of this Report Singapore is assumed to be only liable to attack-

(i.) By a small force of lightly armoured cruisers or gun-boats;

(ii.) By the minor class of torpedo-boats or launches that are carried on board of cruisers as in (i). Such a raid most likely would only be made at night or under favourable atmospheric conditions.

Singapore is not, at present, liable to attack by torpedo-boats of the autonomous class.

2. The second paragraph of section II (B) of the Report reopens the question of closing the Western Entrance of the harbour in war-time.

The importance of the principle of not hampering our trade in war-time is now more widely accepted and appreciated than perhaps was the case at the time when approval was given to the proposal to close this entrance, and so to oblige all vessels from the west to pass round Raffles Lighthouse, and, as it would be an undoubted addition to the convenience of the port if this

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