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Forts Palmer, Canning, and Tanjong Katong, if retained, and the town. No. III (northern) would include Mount Faber, and the defence of the Docks and the Alexandra position.

The head-quarters of No. I Section would probably most conveniently be situated at Blakan Mati Redoubt, those of No. II at Pearl's Hill or Fort Canning, and No. III, as at present, at Mount Faber.

The present artillery dispositions and chain of command would require little alteration. No. I Section would include two Fire Commanders for the defence of the western and eastern entrances respectively, with Fire Commanders at Forts Siloso and Serapong. No. II Section would comprise one fire-command over the Singapore Roads, with Fire Commander at Fort Canning or Fort Palmer.

The Submarine Mine-fields would both be included in No. I Section.

With regard to the British infantry, three companies in No. I Section would provide the necessary men to aid in the working of the guns, and a central force in Blakan Mati Island of about a company and a-half. Two companies in No. II Section would enable a landing in the vicinity of the town to be opposed, and would furnish an outpost at Tanjong Katong. Three companies in No. III Section would be a slightly stronger garrison than that now told off to it on first mobilization, and this section as well as No. II would be rein- forced as might be considered necessary on the arrival of the Perak Sikhs.

No. I Section Commander would have under him two Fire Commanders, an Officer Commanding R.E., the Officer Commanding Singapore Company R.E. in charge of the Submarine Mine Defences, and an officer to command the infantry force. No. II Section Commander would have under him one Fire Commander, an Officer Commanding R.E., and the Officer Commanding his infantry force. No. III Section Commander would have similar officers under him with the exception of a Fire Commander. The artillery and infantry acting as artillery in each coast fort would be under the Battery Commander, and the Fort Commanders would no longer be required.

11. Tables B (1) and B (2).—It is observed that, in distributing the garrison, no provision has been made for manning the quick-firing and machine- guns at Berlayer Point, though, on p. 41 (D), paragraph 6, it is stated that the R.A. at Berlayer will be quartered in tents. It is probably intended that the detachments for these guns should be taken from Passir Panjang when required. As the guns there are not likely to be fought at night when the services of the light armament at Berlayer Point would most likely be called into requisition, there is no objection to this arrangement, which, however, should be explained in the Report.

The Committee would also point out that full advantage is not taken of the artillery training of the Singapore Volunteer Artillery by allotting only thirty-five of their number to purely artillery duties.

No artillery officers or men are told off to the movable armament of 9-pr. and 7-pr. R.M.L. guns, which is entirely manned by infantry and (when mobilization is complete) Perak Sikhs. It is not likely that the best effect could be got out of these guns, which form an important part of the land defence force, under these circumstances; and it is for the consideration of the General Officer Commanding whether it would not be advisable to utilize for the field guns the Singapore Artillery Volunteers, or to increase the number of infantry told off to the manning details of the forts, withdrawing some gunners to assist with the movable armament.

It is also for his consideration whether, if the organization that has been suggested above is adopted and Blakan Mati Island all included in one section of the defence, the four 9-pr. guns of that section should not be combined in one movable battery, instead of being divided between Fort Siloso and Blakan Mati Redoubt.

12. Page 24 (4), 7th line from bottom.-The allusion to the withdrawal of eighty infantry from Tanjong Katong is not understood, as from Table B (1) it does not appear that it is proposed to station any infantry in that work.

13. Pages 27 and 28. Under the heading of measures to be taken on the first day of mobilization, it is stated that the Traffic Regulations will be put

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