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{

■V

DHH

SRAfJCH.

Naval Defence of

Canada

■V

A Paper Read by Mr. H. J. Wickham
before the Toronto Branch of the
Canadian Navy Leagrue

Naval Defence of

Canada

M JP/\F»ER

KBAD BY

MR. H. J. WICKHAM

BEFORE THE TORONTO B^tANCH OF THE
CANADIAN NAVy LEAGUE.

i TORONTO:

MURRAY PRINTING COMPANY, GLOBE BUILDING

1896.

*z\

,v<l

Naval Defence of Canada.

The following address on " Naval Defence for Canada " was delivered recently
before members of the Navy League branch formed in this city : —

Some time has now elapsed since the
formation of the Toronto branch of the
Navy League. The objects for which
the parent league In England is estab-
lished, as» laid down In Its constitution,
are obviously in a large measure ad-
dressed to the people of the United
Kingdom, and thp expression "to
spread information showing the vital
importance to the British Empire of
naval supremacy," although very com-
prehensive, leads at once to the ques-
tion, How is it proposed that the col-
onies shall assist in the work of the
parent league ?

Branches which started In some parts
of the empire began by advocating dir-
ect contributions on the part of the
colonies to the British navy ; the delay
which has taken place in Canada has
been caused by correspondence which
has been going on, between this branch
and the head oflfice, in which It was
pointed out that owing to constitution-
al difficulties which are as yet in the
way of direct contribution on the part
of the colonies, it was necessary that
the parent league should define for
the information of the branches, more
precisely than had heretofore been
done, the lines upon which colonial
branches might work In order to for-
ward the general cause of the league.
In consequence of this correspondence
a circular has been issued in which
suggestions are made by the parent
league as to the manner in which the
colonies may thus assist. This circular
will be referred to hereafter.

One great effort which the Navy
League should make is to impress up-
on the public mind the necessity for
each part of the empire looking be-
yond its own limits, and realizing that
each is only a part of a great oceanic
empire, held together by the command
of the sea, and that should Britain's
naval supremacy be successfully chal-
lenged in any part of the world the dis-
aster will be felt equally by all parts
of the empire, wherever situate. We
live in an age of organization and con-
solidation. We find that In all busi-
ness matters it pays to be methodical.
The man who has his business best or-
ganized is, other things being equal,
the one who succeeds best. We all
recognize these principles in everyday
life, and yet when we come to apply
them to national affairs we are apt
to let what is everyone's business be
no one's business. Events, however, are
crowding upon us, and unless we desire
ourselves to be compared with the pro-
verbial ostrich, we. In common with
our colonial brethren tho world over,
must be up and doing. In view of
recent expressions of public sentiment
there can be no doubt that Canadians
have fully made up their mind to re-
main an integral part of the British
Empire. If we desire to reap the ben-
efit of this wise conclusion, we must
cease to confine our mental vision to
matters purely local and Canadian, and
we must tiake a survey of the entire
empire to which we belong, and shape
our policy in matters of defence, and

generally having regard to our posi-
tion in that empire.

The United Kingdom has in the
transaction of her own business here-
tofore acted upon tolerably well-flxed
principles, one of which is, that to se-
cure her trade, she must be supreme
at pea.

The merchants and financiers of
England are a hard-headed lot, and
they recognize as a business principle,
that money spent upon the British
Navy and everything necessary to
retain the command of the sea, is
money laid out to the best advantage.
In fact they regard it as nothing more
or less than national Insurance, and
therefore as such, is as much essential
to their business requirements, as the
insurance of houses or goods against
risk of fire, they consequently Insist
upon their sea-going Interests being
adequately protested. The financiers
of Great Britain are constantly look-
ing about "-hem for new fields in which
to invest their surplus capital. We
all know that large sums have been
Invested In various enterprises In the
United States ; we also remember the
'•tumble" which these securities took
not long ago. What English capital-
ists want is a field for profitable in-
vestment, having due regard to the
safety of the security. That being the
case, and If we try for a moment to
place ourselves Jn the position of the
money lenders In England, does It not
seem reasonable to suppose, that
granted a desire on the part of the
British people to-day to draw closer
to the colonies in commercial matters,
the financiers of the old country will
be apt to invest, their money more
readily. In the developing of such of
her colonies, as In a practical manner
recognize the soundness of Great Brit-
ain's policy of national Insurance
against risk from war by following
her example In that respect. Thus It
may be demonstrated, that every dol-
lar spent by Canadians in placing

their country in an adequate state of
defence is, from a national point of
view, the very best Investment they
can make. It will draw to this coun-
try, on the best poiisble terms, exact-
ly what we most want, namely, the
means of developing our Immense na-
tural resources. We do not need to be
reminded that In England, as else-
where, politicians are ever apt to prac-
tise economy at the expense of national
security. It Is this tendency, in fact,
which has called the Navy League in-
to existence. It would seem that in
Canada there is ample room for an
Army League as well as a Navy Lea-
gue. In December last upon a well-
defined war scare presenting Itself, It
was found necessary to send our Quar-
ter Master-General scurrying to Eng-
land to bvy rifies, which should have
been on the spot. It has been clearly
shown that there is plenty of work
for the Navy League, both at home
and in the colonies, and that our or-
ganization should serve a useful pur-
pose, but in order to do so we must
recognize that there is a limit to our
sphere of action, and that by over-
stepping that limit, we shall be pro-
bably doing more harm than good.

The Navy League In Canada should
first ascertain what are Canada's re-
quirements from a naval point of
view, and. having made up our mind
on this matter, we must set to work to
impress our views on the public at
large, and particularly on men occupy-
ing public positions. To begin with,
it must be remembered, that Canada
has already, in establishing and main-
taining a militia, acted upon the prin-
ciple that some measures of local de-
fense are necessary.. The circular to
which I shall refer points out that It
is not proposed to establish separate
colonial navies. It is true that in the
case of Australia a local navy has been
established, but it Is thought by many
that the principle is vicious. Involving
as it does, some degree of divided eon-

}

—5-

trol. No doubt It would be best If we
could jump at once Into the position
of maintalninsr an Imperal army and
navy, In which the colonies, as contrl-
butaries, should have a voice In the
control: but although our minds are
open as to the possibility of our ulti-
mately achieving this desideratum, we
think that in the meantime there are
many ways In which Canada, as a col-
ony, may and should strengthen her-
self by the application of naval science
without in any way creating the dif-
ficulties incidental to a divided control
of the forces employed.

It will be necessary, pending the
working out of a complete Imperial
system, for each colony to improvise
such local means as may be useful, so
that, as Indicated in the league's cir-
cular, each may add to the naval
strength of the whole. In devising such
means we must look as far ahead as
possible, so that the means employed
may hereafter be capable of being ex-
panded into a comprehensive Imperial
system. In illustration of what I mean
by this I will say that I believe it will
be found necessary, owing to Inherent
defects, in the near future to completely
reorganize the present system of Royal
naval reserve. The present force will
be employed, but under changed con-
ditions to suit a more Imperial system,
bv which the trade routes of the em-
pire will be directly protected by, as it
were, an auxiliary navy, composed of
naval reserve cruisers (improved
"Teutonics"), manned and officered ex-
clusively by naval reserve men. In or-
ganizing a naval reserve force for Can-
ada regard should be had to such a
contingency. The regulations as to age
and fitness upon entry should be as
stringent and great attention paid to
matters of discipline, so that our re-
serve may be fully able to take its
place in an Imperial system and be an
improvement upon the existing force
of the Royal Naval Resei-ve.

If we look at the frontier and coast
line of Canada, which we should have
to defend in case Great Britain should
become Involved In war, wUh any mar-
itime power capable of detaching raid-
ing cruisers. It does not need the
knowledge of an expert to see that
purely military, as distinguished from
naval science, would be wholly inade-
quate for our protection.

Those who have studied the questloa
at all must realize the danger to which
the seaport towns and coasts of the
colonies generally ^would be exposed to
improvised cruisers, which would no
doubt be sent against us at the first
outbreak of a maritime war, and, not-
withstanding the immense fleet which
Great Britain possesses, it would be
simply impossible for her, having re-
gard to the number of mercantile In-
terests and trade routes which she
would hav'j to guard In different parts
of the world, to spare a sufficient num-
ber of men-of-war to patrol our coasts.
All European countries have realized
the necessity of providing complete
systems of coast defence by means of
torpedo warfare. The knowledge that
Canada possesses such a system would
have a decidedly deterrent effect on
would-be raiders. At this point I will
set out that part of the circular above
referred to which deals directlj with
the duties of the colonial branches.

" How can our colonies best assist
the attainment of a condition essential
to the existence of the British Empire?
The Navy League does not presi'me to
more than suggest what can be done
by them. It does not urge direct con-
tributions towards the cost of the Im-
perial navy, nor the creation of inde-
pendent colonial fleets. The direction
of naval affairs, and the control of our
fleets must be under one authority. A
number of separate organizations
would, have *'^e weakness which has
ever been observed in the tem.porary
alliance of foreign powers at sea. There
are, however, other ways In which our

MMMMMMMMHM

-6—

colonies may sensibly augment the na-
val ttrength of the empire, and sup-
port the objects of th" Navy League.
The operations of modern fleets are
much facilitated by the possession of
good harbors, with moderate local de-
fences, and the necessary appliances
for rapidly coaling and refitting ships
of war. Adequate docks are an Import-
ant adjunct to all ports used as naval
bases. When ships of war put Into
port during hostilities to replenish and
refit, perhaps disabled after an ac-
tion, It Is essential that the completion
of what Is necessary should be carried
out in the shortest possible lime, with-
out a great demand upon the crew,
probably much In need of rest, and per-
haps seriously diminished m numbers.

" The question of how to replace men
killed and wounded in ahlps on a for-
eign station at short notice has not yet
been considered. It might be feasible
for our colonies to train the seafaring
population on that coast, and so afford
a valuable navrl reserve of this na-
ture.

" A training ship, with staff and
boats for such a purpose, at the prin-
cipal ports, would be a useful contri-
bution to Imperial defence. Men might
be enrolled as a nava' reserve under
conditions appropriate to each colony,
with a liability to serve in the fleet
on the station when required. Such a
body could also provide for local de-
fence

" For this to be efficient, the various
weapons which it comprises — guns,
mines, and torpedo boats— should form
one organization under a single head.
To meet an attack from the sea, such
weapons as are best served by seamen
who can discern the character of ap-
proaching vessels.

" These are only a few indications
of the methods iby which the colonies
can contribute to our maritime
strength. The first thing is to form
branches of the Navy League, wnich
should devote themselves to spreading

and maintaining sound opinions on de-
fence and its real source, a preponder-
ating navy. The more active meas-
ures would follow, and, acting in con-
cert with the Imperial Government,
our colonies wou.d thus become a valu-
able source of naval strength, and be
more closely connected with the great
work of Imperial defence."

I now propose shortly to discuss these
suggestions, bringing to bear some In-
formation which I have been able to
collect, as affecting the questions we
now have under consideration, and I
shall also submit certain propositions
which I hope to hear discussed, so
that we may be in a position to baje
anpropriatc resolutions defining the ob-
jects sought to be attained by this
branch of the Navy League.

In considering /hat steps should be
taken to supplement our present mili-
tary organization, with appropiiate
naval forces, we may profitably take
into account the experience which
olher countries have had in providing
and maintaining naval reserve forces.
Our main object should be, as busi-
ness people, to see that for any money
we may expend In this direction, we
get the best possible results, and that
any force which we may provide shall
be, so far as it is possible to make it
so, an efllclent force. For the sake
of conven'ence I will set out under
separate heads the proposals which it
has occurred to me should be made,
so that these proposals may be dis-
cussed clause by clause :

(1) The appointment of a naval of-
ficer (preferably a torpedo officer) to
a position analogous to that of the
Major-Greneral commanding the forces
in Canada, to consult and co-operate
with the latter.

(2) Providing necessary material for
coast defence, such a.s torpedo boats,
systems of mines and a few gun boats
for coast and lake defence to be used
by the reserve men for target prac-
tice.

-7—

of-
to
the
•ces
■ate

for
Its.
ats
sed
ac-

(3) """he establishment of torpedo
schools on both coasts with a limited
number of duly qualified instructors.
These establishments to train a force
limited In point of number, to be used
for the torpedo defence of the coast
and water frontier, and to be analoo
ous to our Royal Schools of Cavalry,
Infantry and Artillery.

(4) The establishment of a naval
reserve force analogous to our mili-
tia, and the means whereby the "lame
may be trained to a state of effi-
ciency.

(6) Adapting our present system of
coast signal service and our present
fisheries protective service to the re-
quirements of coast defence.

(6) Providing training ships for boys
in different parts of Canada, so that
Canadian youths may be trained and
qualified to take positions in the Brit-
ish Navy and in the British Mercan-
tile Marint,

(1) In reference t' the first sug
gestlon, that a na' ai cfflcer should
be appointed to act with the Major-
General commanding the forcefi,I would
couple It with the remark that it
would be well if the Canadian Gov-
ernment should in the first place ap-
point a commission consisting of duly
qualified naval and military offlcers,
who, In conjunction with offlcers of
our own departments, should inquire
into the whole subject of naval de-
fence for Canada and make a report
thereon with recommendations based
on the results of their inquiries. It
is impossible for a country in Canada's
position to prosecute experiments
in naval science necessary to keep
abreast of the times. Happily it is
not necessary for her to do so ; the
appointment oi a naval orflcei to oe
replaced every three of four years,
would ensure our naval requirement*
being looked after by an officer with
the most recent technical knowledge.

(2) With regard to material neces-
sary for coast defence, we may pro-

bably follow with advantage In our
general arrangements the examples
of France and Germany by supplyiiig
ourselves with a sufficient number of
(a) torpedo boats for operation on both
coasts. To this I would add a limited
number of (b) torpedo gun vessels of
great speed, capable of choosing their
own distance In attacking by daylight
any war vessels of the enemy In our
own waters, (c) The buildings, etc.,
necessary for a torpedo school on each
coast, (d) Naval barracks and batter-
ies at St. John, Halifax, Vancouver,
Victoria, Quebec, Montreal and To-
ronto, in which Canadian Naval Re-
servemen may be drilled, (e) Such
fixed defences in addition to those al-
ready in existence as may be neces-
sary to command the eutrances to
our principal harbors.

(3) It has been found that only picked
men, trained to a high state of efficien-
cy, can be usee' for torpedo warfare to
man torpedo boai.3. I would, therefore,
recommend that In the first place a
limited number of properly qualified
torpedo instructors should be engaged
by the Canadian Govemmt^nt for ser-
vice at the torpedo schools to be dstab-
lished on each copst. Great care
should be exercised in selecting candi-
dates for the torpedo service ; they
should be engaged as continuous ser-
vice men for a term of years after hav-
ing qualified. In order to secure the
best results it will be necessary that
these men receive the same pay and
benefit as those who occupy similar
positions In the British navy.

Canadians should be encouraged
more and more than they arc at pre-
sent to enter the royal navy as offl-
cers, and in this way they would be
able to fill the positions of command
which would be created by such a
force. In the meantime we should have
to rely upon obtaining the services of
retired torpedo offlcers of t^ie royal
navy.

(4) In approaching the q'aestion of a

■ipp

.^-

naval reserve force for Canada, I may
say that it is hi possible wlJ'.hln tho
limit of this paper to fully describe
the various syssLems which are adopt-
ed by tlie different European countries.
I cannot more than briefly g'^'e the re-
sult of my investigations. Great Brit-
ain is the only power who relies ex-
clusively on volunteers, France and
Germany demand the services of ev-
ery able-bodied man between certain
agef, to serve the country, either In
the army or in the navy. For this rea-
son both France and Germany have a
reserve force of men largely in excess
(proportionally with their require-
ments) of those of Great Britain, I
shall, however, deal with the subject
of the Royal Naval Reserve, r.o at pre-
sent existing in England, because in
any system vhich we may adopt for
Canada we should have to see that it
harmonizes with existing conditions
within the empire.

In a paper which I read before the
Canadian Militpry Institute about
eight months ago, I drew attention to
the fact that colonial seamen were ex-
clr.ded from enrolment in the Royal
Naval Reserve. Through the press I
have also agitated for an extension of
the privileges to colonial seamen,
pointing out the abundance of good
material we have to draw from. It may
be a coincldenoe, but I have recently
received a copy of an act now before
the British Parliament permitting th.i
Admiralty to enroll men for the Royal
Naval Reserve outside of the British
Isles.

The present system of Royal Naval
Reserve came into being in 1859. Until
1870 it was composed exclusively of
men who had ii^rved in the mercantile
nmrine, but since that time there has
existed a second class, composed of
men who are engaged in fishing, coast-
ing, and other seafaring pursuits. Still
later a third class, composed of boys
of the mercantile training ships, has
been allowed : also a clacs of firemen.

In order to secure the services of Roy-
al Naval Reservemen the Britisl. ad-
miralty pay a premium to such officers
and men who come uo to the stand-
ard of qualifications laid down in the
legulations, which will be found in the
navy list. Both ofllcers and men put in
about a month's drill each year at
whatever battery or naval reserve drill
ship may happen to be convenient. Jt
is impossible, within the limits of this
paper, to give full details, but a care-
ful consideration of the system leaves
no room for doubt that it has many
and grave defects.

Naval officers hav> stated to me that
when naval reservemen come on board
a man-of-war they have to be ^^ut
among the idlersj. Their qurvliflcationa
ap able seamen find no scope, for the
modern fighting ship is mastless, and
requires, in addition to the engine room
force, only the men to direct the ship
and operate the gun torpedo and elec-
tric r.rmament. Their training is of
little vai for they have no perma-
nent or. ^Ization, no permanent of-
flcerc whom they know and 1o whom
they are accustomed. No uniform sys-
tem of instruction has oeen given them,
and the weapons with which they have
been in the habit of going through
their annual drill are mostly obsolete.
The short r^eiiods of training with
strange comrades, strange officers, var-
ied weapons and unfamiliar surround-
ings, owing to their constantly charg-
ing the place at which they take tiieir
drill, cannot possibly give them the
discipline and systematic way of per-
forming their duties so necessary to the
fighting efficieiio of that complicated
machine, the warchip of the present
day. The full strength of the corps can
never be available on short notice, for
it is much scattered, not only over the
United Kingdom, but over ihe face of
tho world, and it would be a liberal es-
timate to state that within a fortnight
after being called out not more than
one-third of the enrolled strength could

i » i» »j j|f

iTi

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present themselves at the rendezvous,
and these might find themselves drafted
to a class of .essel with which they
were totally unfamiliar and stationed
at a type of gun they had never seen.

In case I should be misunderstood
I desire to emphasize che fact that
it Is ..le system, and not the ma-
terial, which is at fault. It must be
obvious that there is no opportunity
for the creation of that esprit de corps
which goes so far towards making ef-
ficient a fighting force, whether naval
ji" military. This esprit de corps can
only exist where men are banded to-
prether, and the circumstances under
which the British Naval Reserve men
acquire what little training ihey now
get prevent them from being associ-
ated with each other to any extant
In outliring a scheme for Canada 1
have sought to correct this defect by
havinr *he force localized. In this
way i-ii? reserve belonging to each
seaport town or city would have its
separate existence and entity. The
other defect in the R. N. R., which is
caused by the men being detached all
over the world, and the impossibility
of their being collected in a short
space of time at one rendezvous. I
have sought to obviate by drawing
upon the fisherman rather than the
sailors ot the Mercantile Marine. It
may be said that l have not indicated
In any way th»^ number of men I
would propose to have in such a force
as I have outUned. The only answer
which can be made to this is that It
muet be dependent upon the fundc ap-
propriated for the purpose, and in any
dytem which may be adopted care
should be taken to have a force small
In number, but efficient, rather than
large In number and correspondingly
inefficient.

I shall briefly notice another force
which ha-s (1st April, 1892) been dis-
banded. The "Royal Naval Artillery
Volunteers." This force w^as composed
of men not professionally seafaring.

but with a taste for and a certain fa-
miliarity with nautical pursuits. In
1888 it numbered 1,477 men and 65 of-
ficers. The late Sir George Tryon was
the chairman of a commission appoint-
ed to Inquire whether this force could
be relied upon to fulfil duties in con-
nection with naval defence. And alter
a careful and exhaustive inquiry in
which all the commanding ofllcers
were examined, the commission re-
ported that whilst they appreciated
the zeal which ran through the ent're
force they were forced reluctantly to
come to the conclusion that their con-
tinued existence did not warrant the
expenditure of public money. It may
here be remarked that the United
States, in organizing their present
force of local naval militia, have
largely adopted the Royal Naval Ar-
tillery Volunteers as a pattern.

Looking, then, at the matter of a Ca-
nadian naval reserve as a practical
questicTi, we should seek to steer clear,
as far as possible, of the defects which
have been found to exist in other sys-
tems.

A force chiefly drawn from our fish-
ing population would have the advan-
tage of being always close at hand. It
has been shown that seamanship, ir.
the sense of a practical knowledge of
handling sails and spars, is no longer
essential to the fighting sailor. The
statistics show that in 1894 70,719 men
were engaged in the fishing Industry
of these about 30,000 received th^ boun-
ty-

It Is not necessary to analyze these
figures. There is no doubt whatever
that we have ample naterial to draw
from. The winter affords an excellent
oportunlty for drills. I would favor the
erection of naval reserve barracks at
the principal seaport towns, at which
during the winter a certain number of
enrolled men should qualify in cunnery.
It would not be necessary that they be
Instrrcted In the use of every class
of weapon witi; which a modern man-
of-war is equipped. Each station

-10-

should have a 4.7 or 6 Inch Q. F. gun.
This gun should be so located as to
defend the entrance of some harbor,
so as to be of practical value in time of
need. It should be housed so that men
could drill at it in cold weather. All its
appointments should be the same as
on shipboard. Each station should also
be supplied with a few machine guns;
also rifles, cutlasses, and a drill shed,
with a competent staff of instructors.
The force should be commanded by oiTl-
cers from the Royal Navy on the re-
tired lists. These appointments
should not be permanent, but should
be changed every two or three years
to ensure a proper standard of techni-
cal qualification being maintained. To
commence with, a certain number of
gunboats, of a size allowable under the
agreement with the United States for
the upper lakes, should be provided,
so that each summer a certain number
of men should have an opportunity of
target practice and of obtaining an ex-
tra degree of efficiency for which a
premium should be paid. The reserve
should consist of two classes. Upon
enrollment a man to belong to the first
class, in which he should remain for
a period of five years, putting in at
least two months' steady drill each
winter under pay. In this way a certain
numbe ' of our fishermen would find
remunerative employment at a season
of the year when they are unable to
follow their usual avocation.
Every year a number equal to one-
fifth of the whole force should after the
completion of five years' service go into
the second class for another period of
five years, doing a limited amount of
drill each winter. Both lasses should
be liable to be called it in case of
war. Upon declaratioi f war the en-
tire force 6'hould ibe placed under the
direct control of the British Admiralty.
Time and space forbid my going into
any more details, but I have endeavor-
ed to sketch in outline an organiza-
tion for naval defence, which I believe
to be suited to our requirements.

Another subject which should engage
public attention is tne escablishment of
suitable training ships for boys, so
that Canadian youths may be facilitat-
ed in acquiring an early training,
which will make them fit either for
the Royal Navy as seamen or for ser-
vice in the mercantile marine In a
similar capacity. It has often occurred
to me. and I am sure to all those who
have thought upon the subject, that
there is a want of some tie of a per-
sonal nature, which will make for the
unity of the empire, I cannot conceive
a stronger bond of union than would
result from Canadians entering both
the British Navy and Army as sailors
and soldiers. The fact of Canadian
parents having their sons serving as
blue Jackets all over the world in
British men-of-war, would give the
whole people such a personal interest
in the British Na^'y as would go very
far in cementing the empire. I do not
think too much stress can possibly be
laid upon this point

Shortly after the establishment of
the Toronto branch, I comnunicated
with the Secretary of the League hi
London, requesting him to furnish me
vvlth full particulars, so that I might
be in X position to answer the Inquiries
which are from time to time addressed
to me by parents, as to what they are
to do In order to get their boys Into
the Navy. In response to my request,
the Secretary of the League In London,
has, in conjunction with the Colonial
Committee, been at very great pains
to procure and formulate Information
upon this head. These gentlemen have
also communicated with the Admiralty,
and as a consequence of their repre-
sentations the Admiralty have issued
a "Ircular dated April, 1896, entitled,
" Pay, Position, and Prospects of Sea-
men and Boys of the Royal Navy."
This circular presents In a f^ondansed
form, the conditions, etc., which have
to be complied t»ith by those who wish
to enter the Royal Navy as boys, and

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T»^^i-\,.VaM(sHLI

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also, as its title indicates, gives a full
outline of the prospects held out by a
career as a seaman in the Royal Navy.
A glance at this circular will serve
to show that the life of a blue-Jacket
to-day, is very different from the popu-
lar Ideu, which associates "Jack" with
rum and tobacco, and the squandering
of his money when " paid off." A few
copies of this circular have been sent
to me for distribution.

In England most of the training ships
for boys are maintained as private in-
stitutions. Amongst those of which
detaiib nave been furnished to me ard
the Grampian a* Belfast, the Warspite
in the Thames and the Mercury at
Hamble on Southampton water. I have
been furnished with full details as to
the expense of maintenance and the
general scheme of government regulat-
ing these vesels. They do grand work
in furnishing seamen for the British
navy. It seems to me that the ques-
tion of training shlDS for boys should
come under the head of education, and
ag such be forwarded to a large extend
by the various Provincial Govern-
ments. For instance. I think that a
training brig in connection with Lhe
Industrial School at Mimico, like those
used at Portsmouth and Plymouth for
training boys in seamanship, would be
a step in the righi direction on the part
of the Provincial Government. A brig
for the training of boys in seamanship
would in no way affect the question of
agreement between the United States
and Great Britain as to the mainten-
ance of war vessels on these lakes. It
would not be necessary that they
should carry guns at ail. They might
be simply used for the purpose of in-
struction in seamanship. At Plymouth

and Portsmouth these brigs get under
way at daybreak and cruise outside the
harbor each evening and anchoring for
the night. The strict discipline of
a man-of-war is rigidly enforced on
board, and thus the boys receive an
early training which leaA'^es its stamp
upon their lives. A similar vessel fully
equipped with the necessary staff, up-
on which a certain number of boys
from the Industrial School at Mimico
should be trained, would not be a very
heavy matter of expense. In fact, the
expense would be a mere bagatelle in
view of the great benefit which would
be done by opening up, £.s it were, a
new channel of employment to Can-
adian youths.

The Grampian at Belfast was for-
merly H.M.S. Gibraltar. I served in
her as t, midshipman in her first and
only corumission in the Mediterranean
from 1863 to 1867. She was a sister ship
of the Duncan. These two veseels were
the largest two-deckers ever launched
In the British navy, and they were
aoout the two last in the commission.

I would suggest that a sub-committee
be struck to draft such resolutions as
may be considered by the branch best
calculated to express our view r.s to
the manner in which Canadians should
act In supporting the general policy of
the Navy League.

I have communicated with the May-
ors of various maritime cities In Can-
ada, and have received assurance of
the support of these cities just as soon
as we formulate a definite line of ac-
tion. I think we should call upon the
Government to appoint a commission
to inquire ir:to the whole subject and
report with as little delay as possible.

ff^^S^Rl^^ fffl Pt?^ *^

OBJECTS OF THE NAVY LEAGUE

IN CANADA.

Why the League should be supported by all loyal Canadians.

The Navy League is in no sense a political organization.
It works for the welfare of the Empire, the preservation of
peace, au.l the prosperity of the British Community.

Here in Canada its objects are :

1. To bring home to Canadians a sense of their de-

pendence on and interest in the naval strength
of the p]mpire.

2. To press upon public attention the need for a

Canadian Naval Defence force.

8. To show how (^anada can best help the Royal
Navy — locally — in time of war.

4. As " knowledge is power," so want of knowledge is
weakness. This Lea<jfue seeks to remedy the
prevailing lack of information on naval matters
by distributing literature on the subject to its
members and the public press, and by proinoting
the teaching of Naval history in schools.

Aildress for further information the lioii. Secrctar}',

H. J. WICKHAM,
^^ :: ^ : "V Room 81 & 82 Canada Life Bldg-,

-_ ._^^ TORONTO. —

Annual Membership Fee for Toronto Branch, #2.00. ^

THE NAVY LEAGUE Ifl CANADA

[7Wo7if,o Brnnch.l

At the Annual Meeting of this Branch held at
Toronto, on Monday, 21st March, 1898, the following
resolution was unanimously adopted :

"Re.olved, that whereas the sailors and fishermen of the
Dominion of Canada form excellent material from which to
recruit men for the Roval Naval Reserve :

•' And whereas, under the Imperial law as it now stands,
Canadian seamen and others are debarred from enrolment
in the Royal Naval Reserve unless serving on board vessels
registered in the United Kingdom ;

" Therefore the Toronto branch of the Navy League are of
the opinion that it would make for the strength and unity of the
Empire if the said law were amended so as to permit of the
enrolment in the Royal Naval Reserve of seamen employed upon
Canadian registered vessels or in the fishing industries of
Canada.

" This branch of the Navy Lea<,'ue are further of opinion
that, for the purpose of enrolling and drilling Canadians for the
Royal Naval Reserve, at least two sea-going cruisers of modern
type of the Royal Navy should be permanently stationed, one on
the Atlantic and the other on the Pacific coast of the Do-
minion.

" And this Branch of the Navy League are further of the
opinion that in consideration of an annual sum to be paid by the
Dominion of Canada to the Home authorities, the aforesaid
vessels should be available for the purpose of training and drilling
a local Canadian naval force to be raided under the provisions of
the Colonial Naval Defence Act, 1865."