CAB9-1_PT2 — Page 82

SECRET.

No. 164 R.

STRAITS SETTLEMENTS.

C.O. No. 5472.

Defence Scheme revised to December, 1896.

Remarks by the Colonial Defence Committee.

Covering Letters.

THE Governor in his covering despatch requests that copies of the Defence Scheme should, in future, be sent out for the non-military members of the Local Committee, viz.: the Senior Naval Officer, Master Attendant, and Colonial Engineer.

The Committee observe that nine copies of the Scheme are, under the present approved arrangements, sent to the Station exclusive of one furnished to the Naval Commander-in-chief. While recommending that the three additional copies asked for by the Governor should be sent on this occasion, they suggest that his attention should be called to the very secret nature of the information contained in the Scheme, and to the serious personal responsibility which rests on every officer to whom a copy of it is issued.

2. Page 2.-In paragraph 2 of the report by the Local Committee the question of the abandonment of Tanjong Katong Fort is again referred to.

The Committee observe with regret that no advance appears to have been made towards the settlement of this question since they dealt with it at length in the 2nd paragraph of their Remarks (No. 145 R) dated the 13th July, 1896, on the Defence Scheme revised to September 1895. They again recommend that the Colony be asked to decide with as little delay as possible once and for all on the abandonment or retention of Tanjong Katong. If the work is retained, the ground for at least 400 yards round the fort must be completely cleared, otherwise the position would have serious military disadvantages, and the General Officer Commanding would not be justified in occupying it with troops.

3. Page 2, paragraph 5, and page 4, Sub-Inclosure 4.-The sectional organization of the fortress suggested by the Colonial Defence Committee in their Remarks No. 145 R, for the consideration of the General Officer Commanding, has been adopted in the present revision of the Defence Scheme, though an important part of this organization is, in the opinion of the O.C.R.A. and C.R.E., not sound while it is only supported by the G.O.C. and the Local Defence Committee under the conditions now actually obtaining. The arrangements proposed by the Colonial Defence Committee were based on a territorial division corresponding to possible attacks from the sea side, either on

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