SECRET.
30-R.
Printed for the use of the Colonial Office. February 4, 1889.
Report of Local Committee.
STRAITS SETTLEMENTS.
Page 64
STRAITS.
Secret. 426.
Remarks by Colonial Defence Committee.
THE Colonial Defence Committee have had under consideration the Report of the Local Committee of Singapore.
The Royal Commission have pointed out that Singapore "is a position of great military and commercial importance, guarding the southern end of the Straits of Malacca-the main entrance to the Indian Ocean from the eastward -and in some manner controlling the Straits of Sunda 450 miles distant. It is a base for your Majesty's ships employed in the protection of trade, and is favourably placed for observing the French port of Saigon, distant 600 miles." In these views the Colonial Defence Committee entirely concur, and they consider that Singapore, as a strategic point and coaling station, is second in importance only to the Cape of Good Hope.
In accordance with the recommendation of the Royal Commission, Singa- pore has been strongly fortified. The works are now practically complete, and the armament is in process of manufacture.
•
All the Reports laid before the Commission agree in contemplating an attack "by a small number of lightly armoured vessels accompanied perhaps by unarmoured cruizers," and this appears to have been the view of the Commission itself.
The powerful armament which is being provided for Singapore ought, in the opinion of the Colonial Defence Committee, to be fully able to deal with a naval attack of this nature, and there is no present indication of any increase in the fleets of other Powers in these waters sufficient to justify a change in the opinions above referred to. France at the present time maintains only one small iron-clad on the China Station, and Russia one belted cruizer, vessels not adapted for an attack on coast defences armed with modern guns.
As regards defence against purely naval attack of the character above contemplated, the Colonial Defence Committee consider that as soon as the new armament is provided Singapore may be regarded as secure. No other Power possesses a safe and satisfactory base of operations in these waters, and such an attack would be an extremely dangerous operation. Meanwhile, pending the completion of the armament, Her Majesty's ship "Orion" has been allotted to the station, and in the event of a sudden outbreak of war her co-operation can be relied on.
In view of the possibilities of a land attack, which have presented themselves in a serious aspect to the Local Committee, it is to be remembered that, even if a sufficient number of Russian troops is available on the eastern sea-board of the Pacific for the purposes of an expeditionary force, the distance is more than 3,000 miles, and the difficulties of transporting such a force to Singapore in face of the opposition which would be afforded by Her Majesty's squadron are very great. The French, operating from Saigon, 600 miles
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