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REPORT OF COMMITTEE.

(A.)—Examination Anchorages and Regulation of Traffic.

5. The Colonial Defence Committee concur in the proposal that both entrances to the harbour shall be kept open for traffic in time of war both by day and night.

6. They do not consider that practical effect could be given to the proposal that all vessels passing through the main strait should keep south of a line drawn from Raffles Light to Peak Island. It is not shown how arriving vessels are to be informed of this rule, or how they can be compelled to act in accordance with it. It is therefore suggested that it should be omitted.

7. It is observed that the ends of the proposed "examination lines" do not rest on shore batteries, and it is not explained how the Regulations as to not passing the lines without being examined could be practically enforced.

8. It is considered that the proposal to have a "receiving ship" in the roads to facilitate the work of the examining launches is open to the objec- tion that she would be liable to capture by an enemy or to destruction from the gun-fire of either side.

9. With reference to the recommendation that Singapore should be placed in telegraphic communication with the Horsburgh, Raffles, and Ajax Lights, the Colonial Defence Committee consider that the expense of carrying out the proposal would be great in comparison with the probable advantages to be gained. If commercial cables were established in peace-time between Singapore and the lighthouses, an enemy would most probably attempt to cut them in war. The advantage of their use would, however, remain until they were cut, and the interruption of communication would be an indication of an enemy's presence. If they were laid as a military cable in peace, or at the outbreak of war, it might be expected that the enemy would destroy the lighthouses.

(B.)-Mine-fields and Friendly Channels.

10. The proposals of the Local Committee under this heading are concurred in.

(C.)—Defence against Torpedo Craft.

11. The proposals of the Local Committee as regards booms to close the Middle and South Channels, Eastern Entrance, and Sinki Straits, as regards the Tanjong Pagar Spit sunken breakwater, and as regards crinolines for the protection of the dock entrances, are concurred in.

12. With regard to the quick-firing and machine-gun armaments pro- posed for the defence of the Eastern and Western Entrances to the harbour, the Colonial Defence Committee are informed that this question has recently been under the consideration of the War Office in connection with the general revision of the armament of Singapore, and that a new armament was approved on 40,263/26, dated 3.8.95. In deciding on this armament the War Office had before them the views of the Officer Commanding Royal Artillery, concurred in by the General Officer Commanding. The Committee do not propose to reopen the question; firstly, because it is undesirable to discuss again a matter which has so lately been decided; and, secondly, because it does not appear that the Report now before them embodies any artillery opinion on so essentially an artillery matter as proposals for additional guns. They would observe, however, that the additional quick-firing and machine- gun armament that has been approved is somewhat less than that recom- mended in their remarks dated 9th May, 1894, for the close defence of the friendly channels, and than that proposed in the Report of the Local Joint Naval and Military Committee now under consideration.

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