SINGAPORE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 October 1940, Page 6

SINGAPORE

THE MARCH OF EVENTS RECENT ACTIVITY STRONG LINK IN EMPIRE. As the march of events brings public attention more and more on the Far East, British thoughts are naturally directed to Singapore, where so much British effort and capital have been devoted in the last two decades to the development of a strong point of the Empire, states “The Times” (London) on August 8. Singapore is not itself in the Far East, but as far as Britain is concerned is the gateway to it. That indeed was one of the considerations which impelled Sir Stamford Raffles to the foundation of the colony. Singapore is situated at the junction oQthree great areas important both economically and strategically to the British Commonwealth: the Far East, where Britain has little territory but great trade interests, the Indian Ocean, and the route to Australia. Thus it was the natural place at which when modern warships had outgrown the resources of existing naval establishments in the East, to establish a naval base fob all three. The creation of such a base, allowing for political interruptions of the work, took 15 years from its start in 1923, and called for modernisation of the defences of the colony. Development of the fortifications consequently went on at the same time as that of the dockyard, together with the provision of ample resources for the Royal Air Force and for civil aviation. GUNS AND GARRISON. The details of the defences have, of course, never been made public, but it is no secret that they are on a scale sufficient to repel attack of any magnitude. Some reports have mentioned guns of 18in calibre having been mounted, though 15in seems to be the size more generally favoured by writers claiming knowledge. Whatever the fact, there is no doubt that any seaborne attack would meet with an exceedingly hot reception. The mounting of guns, heavy and light, pointing to seaward, however, is not the only measure necessary to defence. Provision has to be made for a garrison of stehgth adequate to the scale of attack against which the defences are designed, and the garrison must contain its proportion of infantry as well as the artillery and engineers needed for the fixed defences. This means the provision of barracks, and also, since European troops cannot live and thrive in a tropical swamp, elaborate sanitary works were necessary for the garrison’s welfare. The transformation of the tropical swamp into a healthy and comfortable, almost sought after, station was no less remarkable a feat than the transformation of another part of the same tropical swamp into a fully equipped and highly efficient naval dockyard. Besides a professional garrison, local foces for mine-sweeping, for local patrols, foi’ the examination service, and for many similar duties essential to an island base were established and their training inaugurated in periodical exercises. All these preparations progressed step by step with the growth of the base itself. TROOP TRAINING. Year by year defence exercises have been held each spring at Singapore. The garrison has shared with military and R.A.F. and naval forces from the China and East Indian Fleet in tests of the defences and in determining the directions in which they needed extension or modification. On the outbreak of war, and, indeed, during the August month which preceded it steps were taken at Singapore, as throughout the Empire, to put all measures in to a state of complete readiness. These steps included, in the words of a communique issued there in July, “the erection of additional defences and the training of troops in defence tasks.” Preparations eased off at the end of October when it appeared that the Far East was comparatively tranquil. They were resumed in July, when the tranquillity looked like deteriorating, and the same communique spoke of the necessity for the demolition of several of the shark-proof bathing enclosures on the south coast of the island and their replacement by barbed wire entanglements. Guns and barbed wire have not been the sole preoccupation of the authorities. The food supplies of the populous colony, which has not been selfsupporting for some years, have received careful attention. An efficient Department of Agriculture has greatly increased the productiveness of the island, where inferior rubber plantations have in recent years been largely replaced by productive market gardens. AH these preparations do not indicate that Singapore is in any immediate danger of attack. They do indicate, however, that if attack should come it can be confidently met by this fortress colony so fortunately placed in this respect. An attack on such a position is no attractive task for any aggressor, even at short range. And Singapore has not an enemy within several thousand miles.