^, ^. IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I I^|2j8 |2^ |so "^" B^B Ui lii |2.2 "f 1^ 12.0 I nni9 o^ /] ^;; ^^ '/ Hill' Sciences Corporation 33 WEST MAIN STtEET WEBSTER, N.Y. USM (716)872-4503 THE MILITARY ASPECT OP CAN'ADA. 3 towards it, and remind you that until tlio Ciiniuliiin Pucific Rnilroad in built tlio Canadian tiovornnioiit wouhl liiivo to kcikI from ilH Store Department at Ottawa or Montreal rountl by Cape Horn every nniHket, every pound of powder, and every uniform button n(|uired in UritiKli Columbia. I fail to see the a«ivant4ige of the boasted In-lt of territory that eireleH ilio globe if the eleetrie current of Imperial power which is abHolutely necoHHary for Imperial defence cannot frtjely permeate through it. The completion of the Canadian Pneilic railroa»l is not merely a vital necosBity to the integrity (-i ho Dominion, but of the Empire. It is as much an Imperial as a Co), lial question. Its ccmi- pletion would bo the realization of the di'nn s of Christopher Colum- bus, of Vaseo di Gama, and the numerous h"rdy mariners who have tried to force their way to the east b; frozen north or south, or sultry tropic exploration. The shortest route from Ireland to Japan by a * bousand miles would bo the groat circle of the globe along which the Canadian Pacific runs. By it will return the costly silks and teas of Chiua, the products of the Spice Islands, of Australia and India, the cotton of Feeiee, as well as the grain of the great valley of tho Saskatchewan. Without it Canada is a ml de sue TIk* struggling nationality resembles a young giant, whose careless parents allowed one nostril to be stuffed up by the loss of the unfrozen seaports of the State of Maine, and now, after giving up Oregon and the San Juan passage, that other Canadian nostril, we are threatened with the seces- sion of British Columbia, which can neither be dolended or traded with. Trade is the life-blood of Anglo-Saxon communities, and rail- roads the arte.-ics. Never having had the good fortune of being per- mitted to visit tho country, as fell to the h)t of my assistant inspector, 1 have carefully icnd the exploration reports, and I do not believe in insurmountable engineering difiicnlties. Tlie rail- road will yet follow the Indian trail through the Tete Jaune pass, which is only 4,000 feet, half the height of the lowest pass on tho United States line. Salmon make their way up to the head-water of tho Frazer river ; 12 feet is tho limit of a salmon leap. The trail of tho Indian, the run of water systems, is the natural line of railroads. Three out of four of our explorations have been athwart three ranges of mountains. The following extract from the Militia Report, page 306, ■will show the action taken by General Selby Smyth, which is, 1 am informed, to be supplemented by the further Report of an Engineer Officer from England, and a Royal Artillery Officer from Canada : — Extract of Re^wrt on the Site, Constructioii, and Armament of the Coast Hatteries, ended for the Defence of the Ilarhunrs of Victoria and Eaquinialt, Vuncottver Island, B ritish Columhia — durinij the months of June, July, and Av^jtist, 1878, by Lieutenant-Oolonel D. T. Irwin, Captain lioyal Artillery, and Inspector of Artillery. The following extract from the general instructions received by me on the day of my departure from Kingston, 13th May, 1878, affords sufficient information as to the general nature of the w ork proposed to be undertakm, together with the limitations imposed as to its extent, viz : — b 2 THE MILITARY ASPECT OF CANADA. " The Dominion Go^ ei'nment have given orders for the erection of a battery on McAulay's Point, Victoria, Vancouver Island, for the protection of the entrance to Victoria and Esquimalt harbours respectively. " Her Majesty's Government has sent orders to supply such guns as may be required froni the dockyard reserves at Esquimalt. " I enclose a plan prepared by Lieutenant- Colonel Blair, R.A. You will observe he proposes a small battery on Victoria Point, and another on Fisgard Island for the better security of both harbours, in addition to that now proposed on McAulay's Point. " The latter is considered of the chief importance, the other two only subsidiary. " It is presumed the Royal Naval authorities will take steps to arm Fisgard Island. " You will use your discretion as to whether McAulay's Point alons or in conjunction with Victoria Point should be armed. " In this you will be guided by regard to economy combined with eflBciency, and the means of manning two batteries. " A volunteer battery of artillerymen has been ordered to bo raised and equipped at Victoria. You will satisfy yourself that means are at liand for instructing the Officers and men and rendering them efficient, and you will assist in doing so if necessary. (Signed) "E. SELBY SMYTH, " Lieutenant-General. " Choice of Sites for Batteries. " Having placed myself in communication with Captain F. Robin- son, Her Majesty's ship 'Opal,' the then Senior Naval Officer on the Station, I made with him and Lieutonant-Colonel Houghton a careful examination of the coast, with a view to determine upon the best sites for defensive works. " In this impoi'taut duty I was afterwards assisted by a Board of Officers, detailed for this duty by Rear- Admiral de Horsey, Com- mander-in-Chief on the Pacific, and composed of Captain Bedford, Her Majesty's ship ' Shah,' Captain Burrowes, R.M.A., and Gun- nery Lieutenant Lindsay, Her Majesty's ship ' Shah.' " It may be sufficient here to state that the plans proposed by Lieutenant-Colonel Blair wci-e not found to be pi-acticable, and it was found necessary, in order to defend with the fire of at least one gun all the approaches to both harbours, to place ten pieces of ordnance in position at the sites undennentioned, and arranged as follows : — " Finlayson Point, 2 64-pr8. R.M.L. " Victoria „ 2 64-prs, " Macaulay ,, 3 7.in. 6^ ton " Brothers Island 18-in.9 „ „ " and 2 64-prs. „ " The guns, stores, Ac, were all taken from the Naval Stores at *' Esquimalt, a heavy transporting axle mounted on wheels, in con- (( it <( (I (( tt (( (( « THE MILITARY ASPECT OF CANADA. i " junction with an ordinary lumber wagon, being used for this pur- " pose, and horses and drivers hired for the occasion." So much for the gun power, which does not perhaps sound much in these days of modern monsters. But how about the man power ? It will be seen for the reason stated to be quite inadequate, unless a small permanent force of regular trained iirtillerymen is established there. I again quote Lieutenant-Colonel Irwin's report. " The guns were mounted on their carriages and platforms by tlie " labourers employed on the works. I was anxious to obtain the sor- " vices of the garrison battery for this purpose, but from reasijns " entirely beyond my control I was unable to get more than a very " few volunteers for this duty, and then only in the evenings. " The work of transporting the guns, stores, &c., from the Naval " Storeyard to Brothers Island being of exceptional difficulty if " obliged to be efFected with the ordinary means at my disposal, I " applied to the Naval Commander-in-Chief for assistance, and liear- " Admiral de Horsey was pleased to undertake the entire execution of '' this work, which was successfully efl'ected by a naval detachment " under the direction of Captain F. Robinson, Her Majesty's ship " 'Opal.' The detachment received the ordinary rates of working " pay, from the Dominion Government. " With reference to the subject of manning the guns in these *' batteries, it will be observed that for this purpose the only means at " present provided are the members of the garrison battery, enrolled " about the time of my arrival, numbering about fifty of all ranks. " Of this number about thirty attended the voluntary evening " drills and lectures, held on the average twice a week during my stay " in Victoria ; about twenty men are fairly proficient in gun drill and " artillery exercises, and a class of about ten of the Officers and pro- " bable non-commissioned officers, who were able to attend occasionally " at special afternoon drills, are capable of instructing at standing gun " drill and elementary exercises. *' The battery is fortunate in being commanded by an Officer of " great energy aud zeal, and also in possessing the services as in- " structor of Lieutenant D. G. McI. ughten, who obtained a first-class *' short course certificate from this school of gunnery in January, " 1876, he being then a sergeant in the New Brunswick Garrison " Artillery. " Owing to the isolated position of Victoria, the very limited " number of its population, and the high rate of wages paid for " labour, special and almost insuperable difficulties are placed in tlic way " of the establishment of anything like an efficient volunteer artillery " force sufficiently numerous or well trained for the purpose of manning " this number of guns and maintaining an efl'ective fire against ships " in motion, a duty the successful performance of which requires the " greatest possible amount of training and intelligence on the part of " the gunners. " My previous reports and recommendations (loth June, 1878) oii " this subject have indicated the advisability of maintaining a small " permanent force at Victoria or Esquimalt, whether composed of 6 THE MILITARY ASPECT OP CANADA. " Royal Marine or Canadian artillerymen, trained at the schools of " gunnery. " This force would serve as a nucleus and training school for the " volunteers, could bo profitably employed in the care of the several " bitteries, guns, stores, Ac, and if a sufficient namber of ariificers, " such as stone-masons, bricklayers, and carpenters, several of whom " are gouorally found in the ranks of "A" and " B " batteries, were " included in their number, the work of converting the present " earthen batteries into defences of a more permanent character could " be gradually carried on with considerable economy of expenditure." The best means for the defence and development of British Columbia, our coal depots, and the terminus of the Canadian Pacific Railway would I believe be military colonization of the old Roman or modern Austrian type, which I hope to discuss more fully at the end of this paper. Let us now consider our left flank. Atlantic Seaboard. The second common base of operations against Canada would be the Atlantic seaboard. It is needless to specify the numerous locali- ties round which the struggle of old wars have surged, of which time does not alter the strategic conditions. Along that indented coast (which would still serve ourselves or our neighbours, whichever had the strongest hand uppermost to begin with), vessels like the "Cimbria " could still be fitted out as privateers against our commerce and the unprotected fishing towns of the Nova Scotian, New Brunswick, Prince Edward's Island, and Newfoundland coasts. After reading Mr. Brassey's figures, which tell us that Newfoundland alone in 1872 had 10,000 men engaged in the seal fishery, while the value of the fish exported from that island alone amounted to 1,340,000/., one feels tempted to say if they suffer, the verdict will be, " serve them right." But we cannot allow such verdicts to go forth to the world, if there is any real Imperialism left among us. It is to be hoped the hitherto obdurate islandei's, than whom Mr. Brassey says there are no subjects of the Crown more loyal or devoted, will round off our transatlantic Dominion by joining it. Fortunately at Halifax we have retained some of the ultimcB rationes reguin, ct populonim. We need not therefore discuss the defence of this fortress and harbour, which, however valuable in other senses, can in no sense be considered a safe base for operating in the inland defence of Canada, for the Treaty of 1842, which handed over the State of Maine, sends a wedge of territory up to within a few miles of the intercolonial railroad, which a handful of troopers could at any moment rciKlor unserviceable in a night, thus cutting off retreat to Halifax or wiiijcuur from thence to the upper provinces. It is true that detach- ments were sent from Haliliix during the Trent ditticulty; but the United States were at that time disunited States. There are, un- fortunately, other undefended points t)n the intercolonial railroad where the destruction of a bridge by the boat's crow of a privateer THE MILITARY ASPECT OF CANADA. would stop communication for some time. There formerly existed a Grand Trunk Railway brigade, and if resuscitated (in the Inter- colonial) it would be an elficient means of transporting guns in ex- temporised railway batteries along the coast, fortifying stations, &c. Unfortunately railway employes have shown themselves sometimes too ready to join the disturbers of the prosperity of nations. At many pcints along the coast are small companies of men, more or less trained as garrison artillery, but without efficient guns or earth-work cover. The blue crosses on the map show the localities where there are such garrison batteries, open crosses, held batteries. Among other important places, the coal mines of Pictou have been included in this partial defence, which it is hoped may grow into something tangible in time. Under this head the Lieutenant- General Commanding, Sir Selby Smyth, remarks: — " With regard to the defences of the Atlantic coast, it was reconi- " mended that on Partridge Island in the Bay of St. John, N.B., a " battery should bo armed with four 7-inch 7-ton rifled gans, and " three 64-pounder wrought-iron guns ; Negro Point, with cwo 7-ton " and three 64-pounder8 ; Sydney, Cape Breton, two batteries in suc- " cession and in support of each other, on Chapel and Mines Points, " each to have two 7-ton and two 64-pounder rifled guns ; and on " Edward Point, two 7-ton and two 64-pounders ; Prince Edward " Island, two 7-ton and two 64-pounder rifled guns on Battery Point; " Pictou, N.S., three 7- ton and three 64-pounders on Moodie Point. " The total cost of these armaments, with 100 rounds of ammunition " per gun, was estimated at about 6U,000Z. sterling, subject to certain " deductions, according to the defences which might bo adopted for " Charlottetown and Sydney." To prevent misconception, which might arise owing to my position as Dominion Inspector of Artillery, I must say shortly, that I never saw the report alluded to above, and from my knowledge of the cir- cumstances of the country, and the direction in which the march of modem artillery is tending, I do not concur in its provisions any more apparently than does the Lieutenant-Gcuerai Commanding, or the repre- sentatives of the people who have to pay the bill ; but the subject of armament must be treated under its special head. The strategic points on the railway system and on our Atlantic seaboard may be said to be : — St. Andrew's at the mouth of the James, our boundary river, St. John, N.B., and Fredericton, Halifax, Sydney, Pictou, Charlotte Town, Princo Edward Island, Moucton, Chatham, and Dalhousie. Quebec, the most important of all, the gateway of the St. Law- rence. Quebec. The strategic value of Quebec can scarcely be exaggerated ; its fall lost a continent to France, its successful defence by ourselves in 1775 was pregnant with far mightier results to the world at large than we trouble ourselves to think of in these days when a sensational news- 8 THE MILITARY ASPECT OP CANADA. paper article diverts the whole thought of the nation for tlie usaal ten days, to be succeeded by another, and yet another crotchet, to the apparent exclusion of the long pondered lines of policy on which Empires are built, and from the neglect of which, they crumble to decay ; but there are points of vital interest whicli cannot be discussed by a military lecturer in an Institution like this. Suffice to say, the fall of Quebec would lose us the key of the gate of Canada, and close the only door by which British succour could come to it, or a fleet of gunboats enter its inland waters. In any case, unpleasant as the truth may appear, Quebec remains the only one possible strong- hold upon which our militia, if rolled up by an overwhelming force from the west, could retreat and wait for that help which never would be denied from the old country. Meanwhile, a besieger must be kept at arm's length, which can only be done by superior artillery BO disposed as to retain its power against attack, if not indefinitely, until such time as relief is at hand. Inland continental fortresses differ materially from the maritine strongholds of Great Britain. I can recall no instance in our history, since the loss of Calais and Fort Mahon,^ where the old flag has been ' Nor do I know of any fortress but Quebec from before whoso walls an English fleet hos recoiled without success, though not without honour, according to the traditional testimony of the gallant French Canadian, who brought to shore the Uttei-ed flag of Admiral Phipps, when asked if it was not heavy, he replied, " Out, mon camarade, vous avez ralson ; o'eitt charge de ffloire," Alas, the response of the stem old De Frontenac when summoned to surrender, " I will give you my answer from the mouth of my guns," would be scarcely possible from the antiquated arma- ment of what was the Gibraltar of America. '? i THE MILITARr ASPECT OP CAN.VDA. 9 I lowered at the bidding of a besieger for want of succour from the sea, our great base of operations. Especially does it hold good in the case of a maritime fortress such as Quebec, where " Field-Marshal " Frost " prevents the possibility of a longer investment than five summer months; and even in summer the mighty sweep of the St. Lawrence would render complete investment almost an impossi- bility to the invader, who could not transport very heavy guns and their enormous weight of ammunition for a long distance over difficult country, with few and bad roads, impassable in the spring and autumn.' The defender, holding the river within the circle of forts, could throw his whole force on a section of the enemy divided by the St. Lawrence and separated by it from their base of operation and line of retreat. The complete railway systems at the command of Prussia did not enable her to bring heavier guns than 60-pounders in her siege train. There are certain physical data which do not alter, viz., the strength of men and horses, the badness of country roads, Railroads, from the numerous other calls upon them in war, have been found incapable of transporting very heavy artillery. It is hardly to be supposed that the mistress of the seas and her eldest daughter, Canada, the com- mercial navy of which already ranks third among the commercial navies of the world, would permit the siege train destined for tlie attack on Quebec to be conveyed by sea. The armament, therefore, of Quebec might easily be superior to that broug' ' against it even by hostile ironclads, whose unarmourcd decks would be exposed to the citadel ure, which, with the addition of a few torpedoes at the Traverse, would secure the St. Lawrence, if those upon whom the responsibility devolves considered the subject of sufficient importance to warrant a comparatively trifling expenditure, and to prevent, while there is yet time, the erection of buildings which would close the most important lines of fire. I f FrotUier. Having considered the strategic conditions with reference to the Atlantic and Pacific seaboards, it remains to consider those of the south with reference to the natural bases and lines of an enemy's operations and the objective he would select for attack. In doing so the question is treated merely in a military and, it is hoped, philo- sophic spirit, Buch as cannot give offence to our kinsmen of the great Anglo-Saxon Republic with whom the most friendly relations exist, but they have not always been able to restrain the lawless bands of Fenians and their sympathizers who have from time to time raided ' 1875 wag the centomirv of the winter expedition of Generals Montgomery and Arnold against Quebec ; the latter witli incredible hardshipg cnme through the Stat« of Maine, and, on the death of his colleague, withdrew the shattered remnants of their force. The new detached forts at Levis completely command tlie intersection of roads and railways east, west, and south, as well as the valley of the Chaudifere and Kennebec road, by which Arnold uiorched, and they occupy the ground from which Wolfe shelled the town. ' 10 THE MILITARY ASPECT OP CANADA. acrusB our frontier ; besides, time may change their motto to " ex tmo "plures." The frontier of the Province of Quebec is contiguous to the territory of the United States for a distance of about 4)60 miles, that is to say, 167 miles of imaginary boundary along the 45th parallel of latitude southward of Montreal and Quebec, running from St. Regis, oa the eastern end of Lake St. Fraucis (an expansion of the St. Lawrence) to the Connecticut river, in the township of Hereford, abutting on the State of New Hampshire. Thence in an irregular line the boundary of the State of Maine follows the high ground wliich forms the water- shed between the Kennebec river, in the United States, and the Chaudiere, a tributary of the St. Lawrence, running north-east in accordance with the disastrous arbitration of the Ashburton Treaty of 1842, which brings the territory of the State of Maine to within 25 miles of the St. Lawrence, opposite Riviere-du-Loup. Unfortunately at this point, as before stated, the Intercolonial Railway is close to the frontier, which from this point runs south-east until it meets Dominion territory in New Brunswick. The disadvantage of having a wedge of foreign territory thrust into our own is not altogether so great as might at first sight be anticipated, the character of the country being for the most part rugged, covered with forest, and thinly populated; there are no natural commercial lines, nor any railroads running through it to the north, the watershed north of the St. John's river being close to the St. Lawrence prevents the forma- tion of any long or navigable tributaries to the St. Lawrence ; there is, therefore, no natu"il channel for intercommunication or commerce from the northern angle of the State of Maine into Canada. As mili- tary lines of operation always follow natural channels, no invasion of Canada has ever been attempted from this point, the nearest to it being that of General Arnold, of the United States, in 1775, and he followed the line of the Kennebec and Chaudiere rivers. On the other hand, in case of offensive operations from Canada, in the direc- tion of the Penobscot valley, or to seize the triple railroad terminus of Woodstock, Richmond, and Houlton, leading to St. John's, N.B., our re-entering frontier would form an advantageous base of opera- tions, backed by Quebec and the St. Lawrence and the Intercolonial Railway. Though the long line of frontier (4000 miles from ocean to ocean) is apparently attackable at all points, the defence of the country, even with its much smaller population than that of the con- tiguous States, would, with proper forethought and organization, be by no means so difficult nor impossible a task as some would have us to suppose. Although owing to the length and character of frontier, it is quite impossible and not desirable to protect it throughout its whole length, an enemy must capture and establish himself in some vital points before he could obtain any decided military advantage. There are only a few such points. If they were put into and maintained in a proper state of defence, vrith a small body of regular troops as the nucleus of a garrison to be furnished by the local militia, such posi- tions could be held during the live months, in vvhioh alone it is pos- ■f f ; THE MILITARY ASPECT OP CANADA. 11 . sible for an enemy to carry on operations on the large scale necessary to capture them. Canada is a long strip of communications, its main artery, the St. Lawrence, being the fosse of a natural fortress, open during tbe summer season (winter operations may bo deemed impracticable in this climate) • to the gunboats of Great Britain, and to them alone, as long as the fortress of Quebec is kept in a defensive condition, In consequence of the character of the original soignorial settlement of the Province of Quebec, there are numerous lines of roads running parallel to the St. Lawrence, forming the front and rear of the con- cessions or seignorial grants of land. The Grand Trunk Railway and others on the south shore are now supplemented by railways on the north shore of the St. Lawrence and the Lakes, with their usual telegraphic lines, the whole forming a series of communications which have always enabled Canadian troops to act upon, what are practically interior lines, and so concentrate readily upon important strategic points, as was proved in the late Fenian raids. Successful initiative in war counts for mnch. Both Great Britain and the United States are forbidden by treaty to build gunboats on the liakes, but gunboats can and have with the first note of war passed up the St. Lawrence through the Lachine Canal* aid on to the Lakes. The Beauhapuois Canal on the south shore would pro- bably be rendered useless at the commencement of hostilities by the United States ; but the necessities of commerce, which are with ns stronger than any consideration of Imperial defence, point to the proba- ble enlargement of the old canal on the north shore of the Cedar rapids to Coteau landing. There is moreover the second and protected inland navigation route by the waters of the Ottawa to the capital, thence by the Rideau Canal to Lake Ontario and Kingston, which is the other gate opening to us the initiative against the comparatively defenceless emporiums of commerce on Lake Ontario ; while the Welland and other canals lead to the more western waters. A counter-initiative from the Atlantic seaboard by the Erie Canal would no doubt be attempted. The Ohio Caaal and river debouching at Cleveland is too long a line of counter-current navigation from which to start initiative gunboat attack. Colonel Fletcher in his paper under this head remarks : " The " great trading city of Chicago affords means to the United States, " commanding as they do the outlet from Lake Michigan, rapidly to " extemporise at the commencement of hostilities out of their fleet of " merchantmen and steamers, vessels of war, sufficient to command " Lake Huron, and probably to force an entry into Lake Erie, where " they would be met by vessels from Buffalo and other large ports. " Thus Ontario would be threatened on its northern, western, and ' Though tht! olil Freneli Utinadiiiii voifar/eur soldii'rs and Iiidiiiii!) often made during winter, inroads into Euglish Colonies, jet the conditions attending these Hi-'U'-rcUant expeditious of a few hardy men hidden by dense forests till they burst upon some defenceless iKwt, are entirely unlike the oonditioQS of uudwu warfare. " Now being still further enlarged. 12 THE MILITARY ASPECT OF CANADA. south-western frontier, and would in great measure depend for its defence on a land force, but this land force would run a risk of being isolated and cut ofE, unless its left flank were protected, and communication maintained with the Province of Quebec, and through that province with the sea. Therefore, coute tpi!, coute, the com- mand of Lake Ontario must be secured and maintained. Here Canada is at an advantage, the best harbours being situatetl on her shores, and the greater number of tlio steamers trading on the lake being held or manned by Canadians. These harbours, such as Coburg, Port Hope, Toronto, Hamilton, Niagara, and Welland Canal, would require the pi'otection either of permanent or extemporised fortifications." KingsUm, Kingston should be rendered as secure as possible from capture, and contain a strong garrison capable of protecting the mouth of the Biideau Canal and supporting detachments guarding the Grand Trunk Railway at Brockville and Prescott to Montreal, thus protecting Ottawa, the capital, and the communications to the east. It is to be hoped that we shall on the Lakes also so far take the initiative recommended by Mr. Brassey, M.P., by encouraging a volunteer naval reserve on Lake Ontario. The common trading steamers and vessels, if armed with an ordinary rifled field gun, would require no extra strengthening, and from the power and range of such guns, would be a powerful means of retaining command of tlus lake, as well as of the water communications between Kingston and Mon- treal, and the canals which avoid the several rapids of the St, Law- rence and the Ridcau Canal. Troops would be concentrated at the junctions of railroads and communications from the west, such as Samia, Stratford, London, Guelph. An attack from the west, however, though it might be a good political move, would be bad military strategy, as tending only to roll up the defence along the lines of communication towards the point of support and baae of supply, instead of cutting it in two by an attack on the centre. An Enemy's Central Base — Li7ies of Operation and Objective. The enemy's principal base of operations would probably be at Albany, the central point from which natural lines of operation lead direct to Montreal, north-east to Quebec, and westerly to Niagara or Sackets harbour, if Kingston were a secondary objective. Albany is moreover an arsenal to which there is access by river, road and railway from all quarters, including the Pennsylvania coal and iron country. Springfield, a small-arm factory, and Troy also a manufacturing town, both communicating with Albany and New York, would be subsidiary bases for supplies, which could be poured along the Hudson river and Canal, Lake Champlain, and the roads and railroads all con- verging on the objective point, Montreal. The strongly fortified posi- THE MILITARY ASPECT OF CANADA. 13 tion of Rouses Point at the head of Lake Champlain on the frontier within 40 miles of Montreal, being the final point of concentration for attack upon Montreal, the defenceless commercial and strategical capital of Canada, to which the Vermont Central and a network of other railroads converge. Perhaps no better proof of the absolute certainty of Montreal as an objective, and no more complete idea of the inevitable lines of the United States military operation, can be gained than by a study of the twenty-five routes advertised to the Centennial Exhibition of 1876. A glance at the map before the constmction of railways shows that tlie mountainous regions of the Adirondacs, &c., the Catskills on the west, the White Mountains and the rugged territory of Maine on the east, restricted communications to the channels of the Hudson, Lake Champlain, and the Richelieu Valley, and will explain why history has so often, and will again repeat itself here as elsewhere. The war-path of the Iroquois and Mohawk was followed by the retaliatory expedi- tions of the French Canadian voyageur soldiers, and then again by British, Colonial, and United States invasions of Canada, down to the last futile effort of a Fenian mob. Th( tide of war has ever rolled along the channels that nature and art have made it share with commerce and travel. The lately projected Caughnawaga Canal may, it is hoped, never be constructed to admit United States f^unboats up the Hudson from the sea, and so complete the communi- cations of Lake Champlain from New York to the St. Lawrence for the enemy who, having seized the Victoria Bridge, and established batteries on the south bank of the river, could bombard the town. The wealthy commercial classes of Montreal would have to pay a very heavy contribution towards the subjugation of their country. Canada would be cut in two by the capture of Montreal, which is the head of the sea navigation of the St. Lawrence, and the focus of all communications by land and water between Upper and Lower Canada and the maritime provinces ; the defence of the country would be severed ; Ontario being cut ofE from Quebec and the maritime provinces, as well as from any aid from Great Britain. An enemy holding Montreal, with its network of communications con- verging upon it from his basis of supply, could easily maintain him- self in the natural fortress island on which the city is built, and con- tain any force coming from Ontario, hold the communications to Ottawa, the capital of the country, while they proceeded to lay siege to Quebec. The St. Lawrence itself with its tributary of the Richelieu Canal and the roads and railroads follow ing the line of country in a north-eastern direction, would become fresh lines of communication and supply, to an enemy operating against Quebec. If Quebec, Montreal, and Kingston were put in a proper state of defence, an enemy would be obliged, in aiming at the severance of communication between Ontario and Quebec, the maritime provinces and Great Britain, to carry on three extensive expeditions simultaneously, each involving the necessity of a protracted siege, and considering the short period during which military operations on a large scale can be carried on in 14 THE MILITARY ASPECT OF CANADA. this country, there would be every probability of successful resistance. Uufortunatoly the repeal in 1872 by the Imperial and Dominion Par- liament of the Act of Confedoriitioii entitled the Canada Defence Act, complicates the defence of Canada. The Act provided for the gua- ranteed loan of 1,000,000/. sterling, for the building of forta round Montreal, as well as the free gift by the Imperial Government of an armament for such forts as might be built at Montreal, also a free gift armament for the Quebec and Levis forts, all of which wore declined by the Dominion Government, in favour of a transfer of the guaran- teed loan of 1,000,000/. to the Canada Pacific Railway. Central Strategic Points. After Montreal, Quebec, and Kingston, perhaps the most important point is St. Johns, P. of Q., the site of the old redoubt, commands the railway bridge of the Vermont Central, the junctions from Rouses Point, Waterloo, and the Passumpsic ; the Richelieu river canal, and the roads running north and south, but the advance guard of observa- tion would be at Port Isle-aux-Noix, close to Rouses Point and St Albans railroad junction. " To prevent the enemy from passing " vessels down the Richelieu river from Lake Champlain, for tl e " transport of troops, stores, and material for the attack on Montreal, " obstructions (torpedoes) should be placed in the river on either side " of, and flanked by the fort at Isle-aux-Noix. This work and its *' garrison would no doubt being in an advanced and isolated position, " be liable to be captured at an early period, but it is considered that " the delay it would cause an enemy would more than compensate for " the loss that would thereby be occasioned." The garrison in re- treating might destroy the Canal Lock in the Richelieu river; Sir William Jervois also considers Sorel, at the mouth of the Richelieu, an important point. Advanced bodies of militia at Lennoxville and Richmond Railway junction, after keeping the enemy in check, might retire upon Quebec, destroying the railway bridges behind them, " It is further necessary to provide against attack upon Montreal by ' a force advancing from the westward, supposing it to have crossed ' the St. Lawrence, between Lake Ontario and Lake St. Louis. This ' may best be effected by the construction of works covering the rail- ' way bridge near Vaudreuil, at the junction of the Ottawa river with ' the St. Lawrence. Such works would also act as a tete du j)07d, from ' under cover of which troops might operate westward ; they would, ' moreover, be on the flank of any force of the enemy advancing against * Ottawa. In connection with the defensive position at Vaudreuil, ' temporary works should be constructed on Isle Perrot, which, if ' some of the spans of the railway bridge between it and the main ' land were removed, would form a second line of defence ; again, by ' removing some of the spans of the bridge between Isle Perrot and ' Montreal Island, a third line might be taken up at St. Annes." Between Vaudreuil and the works immediately covering Montreal, Lake St. Louis and the Lachine Rapids, would be a suSicient defence ; gunboats could be brought into the lake by the Lachipe Canal, which is bel St. l1 the near madel aid il more<| or pr Ontail FoJ Canal bankf Canal Platsj force again mcnt Cana Th wouh the etorei bourj formi were I amot raide befoi acrof Tl towa whi( com Grei C not wai cou cat '■■^icS BlVi wh lia; tiv an rei ba sh THE MILITARY ASPECT OP CANADA. U is boing widened. Any vessels of war that were brought into Lake St. Louis would nlso bo of assistauco in the defence of the left flank of the works nt Vaudrcuil ; and if the St. Ann's Lock and the passage near it, between St. Louis and the Lake of the Two Mountains, were made sufKciently largo to take such vessels through, they could also aid in the defence of the right flank of those works. They could, moreover, operate in the channel on the north side of Montreal Island, or proceed up the Ottawa and down the Ridcau Canal into Lake Ontario. For the protection of communications by the Lachino Railway and Canal, works should be constructed at Caughnawaga, on the right bank of the St. Lawrence, nearly opposite the junction of the Lachine Canal with Lake St. Louis, and near the terminus of the railway from Platsburg. These works would also affoi-d the means of throwing a force across the river to act upon the left flank of the enemy operating against Montreal, should circumstances be favourable for such a move- ment, they could also guard against the entrance to the Beauhamois Canal. The Island of St. Helen's, upon which rifled guns should be mounted, would form a keep to an intrenched camp covering Montreal and the Victoria bndge. On this island is also the main dep6t for tools, stores, guns, arms, and munitions of war for Montreal and the neigh- bourhood ; it is unfortunately without protection since the barracks formerly occupied by a detachment from the Quebec Gunnery School were burnt. Many thousand stands of rifles, as well as a considerable amount of powder in the magnKino are at the mercy of a handful of raiders, who might carry off the arms and blow up the magazine before the militia of Montreal could be assembled and transported across the river. The cultivated classes of the United States are friendly in feeling towards Great Britain, and the Canadian population are full of loyalty, which could be at any time rendered active in the defence of the country, provided the principal expense and direction was taken by Great Britain, or the council of a federated Empire. Offence. Often the best defence is offence, but Canada being a colony does not contain within herself the elements necessary to the initiative in war, though her localized militia system and the character of the country, which is a riband of interior lines, land and water commxini> cations, would facilitate the concentration and launching of an offen- sive force which might surprise even 40,000,000 of unarmed people who have hitherto relied upon their ever successful diplomacy. Par- liamentary Governments are not however, suited to a decisive initia- tive ; and when the expenses would have to be shared by the Imperial and Dominion Governments, divided control would be a natural result, rendering initiative perilous if not impossible. Great Britain's natural base of operations (the sea) gives the advantage of enabling her to shift her secondary bases almost at will. A combined military and 16 THE MILITARY ASPECT OF CANADA. naval force, therefore, started from Canada at the first declaration of hostihties might, by giving up their communicationt, to the roar, push on to the Atlantic coast as Sherman did, and soizii an important seaport, there to co-oporate with the British fleet which couUl support them, and form a fresh base for further opoi-ations, whih) an expedition from India might land a force of British troops and a Sikh contingent on the Pacific seaboard. Part II. — Militia op Canada, Active and Rkseeve. The Militia Act. That the MiHtia Law of Canada is so tlionmgh in its provisions, and that the keystone of the arch of all military systoniH, i.e., universal liability to military service, is not absent as in those of all other Anglo- Saxon communities, is due to the traditions iiiiieritcd from the old French reijime, which were readily followed by the descendants of the " United Kmpire Loyalists," who found themselves for ever face to face with their more numerous and wealthy kinsmen from whom they had torn themselves, often at the sticrifice of material wealth fo;' the sake of adherence to those principles and that " Dream of a United " Empire " which has not yet been realised, though a century has passed away. The very history of those heroic men has been forgotten, the initials of their distinctive title, U.E.L., brings no very clear pic- ture to the minds of the majority of Englishmen to-day who, let us hope before it is yet too late, may realise the true meaning of a United Empire. The theoretically perfect MiHtia Law of Canada, though it may be an example of military legislation to us at home, yet, like every other law, its practical result depends upon its administration. Instead of quoting the verbiage inseparable from legal documents, I think I cannot do better than give you the condensed resume taken from the Militia Act by Captain J. C. R. Colomb, R.M.A., in his able paper on the Naval and Military Resources of the Colonies, making some expla- nations of its practical workings : — Cla^ -"s of Militia, " The militia consists of all male inhabitants between the ages of " 18 and 60. It is divided irto four classes. " 1st Class. Men from 18 to 30 years, who are unmarried or " widowers without children. " 2nd Class. Men from 30 to 45, who are married or widowers " with children. " 3rd Class. Men from 45 to 60. " Tho above is the order in which the male population is called " npon to serve. W... i ■ THK XIILITARY ASPECT OF CAN'ADA. r •' Tho Militiii is dividod into Active nnd RrHcrvo. " Activo Militia coiiHiHts of tho Voluntuor Militia, tho Rof^nlar " Militin, and tho Marino Militia. Tlio Volunteer Militia beinj? " conipoHed of corpH raised by voluntary enlistment ; tho Uej^ular " Militia of men wiio have voluntarily enlisted to serve in tho same, or "who have been balloted' to serve ; the Marino Militia com|)osed of " seamen, and persons whose usual occupation is upon any steam or "sailing' craft; tho Jteservo Militia consists of tho whole of tho men " who are not servin^f in the Activo Militia for the time beinj^. The " period of service, in time of peace, in tho Volunteer Militia is three " years, in the liof^ular and Marino Militia two years. Men enrolled " in the service companies of Hefjular or Marine Militia during any •' such two years are not aj^ain liable to bo taken for drill and training " until all tho other men in 1st, 2nd, or 3rd Class of tho same " com- " pany division " have volunteered or bi'cn balloted to serve. No " member of a Volunteer Militia corps can, in time of peace, resign " under six months' notice. As the ballot has not been put in force since the existence of the Act, the whole of tho Active Militia may be said to bo Volunteer Militia, nnd the term Regular Militia has no special meaning, unless it bo applied to the two batteries of artillery, "A" and "JJ," permanently embodied, one at Kingston and the other at Quebec. They had no ex- istence when tho present Act, which did not contemplata the with- drawal of the Imperial troops, was passed. It has therefore no provi- sions for the maintenance of regular troops, or the three years' period of enlistment now sanctioned for those corps.^ The Marine Militia unfortunately has no existence beyond the fact of the nautical calling of individuals being noted in the enrolment of the Reserves which takes place every five years. During Fenian raids Militiu Artillery, with held guns, were placed on board lake steamers. " Enrolment. " Canada is divided into 12 military districts; these are subdivided " into Brigade and Regimental Divisions, and again into Company " Divisions. " In each Regimental Division, one Lieutenant-Colonel and two *' Majors of Reserve Militia are appointed from the residents therein,* ' Exemption on providing a gubstituto by payment of 30 dollars. 2 These two butteries or gunnery Bcliools as they are called, were first formed of Officers and men selected from tho Active Militia Artillery. Tho Officers held no commission except in tho corps from which they were taken, and the men were not enlisted except in their original corps ; but on entering the schools of gunnery for one year, were re-enrolled for a further period of three years in their respective corps. The serious inconvenience of tliis course, from the fact of the original corps sometimes becoming non-effeitivo before the period of service in the gunnery schools of Officers and men liad expired, left such Officers and men apparently without legal status. This was subsequently remedied by granting commissions to the Officers of " A " and " B " batteries, and enlisting the gunners in those corps. ' It is to be regretted that these Officers of Reserve Militia for tho most part have had no practical military training whatever, and have not even passed througli the Active Militia. In war they would be of little use in organizing or leading the C T 18 THE MILITARY ASPECT OF CANADA. " all Militia orders and reports are sent to and received through them. " In each Company Division one Captain, and one Lieutenant, and " one Ensign are likewise appointed to the Reserve Militia. These *' are responsible by seniority to the regimental staff. Enrolment is " cai'ried on by Officers of Company Divisions, and the list is cori-eoted *' before 28th February every fifth year ; from the company returns " the regimental rolls ai-e made up. The ' enrolment ' for which the " company Officers are responsible is ' held to be an embodiment of *' 'all the Militiamen enrolled, and renders them liable to servo, " 'unless exempt by law.' " Exemptions : Judges, clergy, ministers of religion, professors in " colleges and universities, or teachers of religious orders, warden " keepers, guards of penitentiaries, officers, keepers, and guards of " public lunatic asylums, persons disabled by bodily infirmity, and " 'the only son of a widow being her only support.' " The following, though enrolled, are exempted from active service, *' except in case of war, invasion, or insurrection. Half-pay Officers "of Her Majesty's Army and Navy, sea-faring men, and sailors " actually employed in their calling, pilots and apprentice pilots during " the season of navigation, masters of public and common schools. " Her Majesty is empowered by the Act to make such regulations " for the enrolment of such horses as may be necessary for the purpose " of Beld artillery and cavalry. " The oath to bo taken by all ranks of Active Militia is simply as •' follows : — ' I, A. B., do sincerely promise and swear that I will be " faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty.' It can be ad- " ministered by the Commanding Officer. " Balloting. " When the Active Militia is to be organized for drill or actual " service and enough men do not volunteer in any Company Division " to complete the quota required from that Division, the men in the 1st class are balloted first, if the number of men required is greater than the whole number in 1st class, then the 2nd class is required to make up the deficiency, and so on through each class ; but at no time — says the Act — ' shall more than one son belonging to the ' same family, residing in the same house — if there be more than ' one inscribed on the militia roll— be drawn, unless the number of ' names so inscribed be insufficient to complete the required propor- ' tion of service men.' " Officers ; Jppointment and Relative Bank. "Appointments of Officers to the Active Militia are provisional, men tlicy enrol. Tlieir military titles would nt best be only a source of confusion. It nmy be said in fnvour of the system tlmt it is old, being a relic of the old French feudal system, but it must be remembered that its success depended on the warlike seigneurs who have been improved away. It has no doubt the advantage of facili- tating enrolment, and enlisting on the side of loyalty and order some of the influen- tial mcu oi country districts all over the Dominion. I THE MILITARY ASPECT OF CANADA. 19 " pending the taking ont of a certificate of fitness from one of the mili- " tery schools of the Dominion.^ " According to the Act, Officers of Her Majesty's Regular Army are " always reckoned senior to Militia Officers of the same rank whatever " be the dates of their respective commissions."^ The Canadian Militia Act also provides that each of the twelve Deputy Adjutant-Generals of Districts " shall command the Militia in his district."^ The following paragraphs, 35 and 36 (which are difficult to reconcile with the previous mentioned), would imply that the ordinary rule of the senior Officer being entitled to command was intended to hold good as also the 185th Article of War, " (35). The relative rank and authority of Officers in the Militia of " Canada, shall be the same as the relative rank and authority of " Officers in Her Majesty's Regular Army ; and any body of Militia " assembled on parade, shall be commanded by the Officer highest in " rank then present, on duty and in uniform, or the senior of two or " more Officers of equal rank ; provided that no Officer whose rank is " provisional only shall under any circumstances command an Officer " of the same grade whose rank is substantive." (33.) " Officers of Her Majesty's Regular Army shall always bo " reckoned senior to Militia Officers of the same rank, whatever be the " dates of their respective commissions. " The present law permits the training annually of a number not " exceeding 45,000 all ranks. The training period for Active Militia, " called out for training, is not to exceed 10, nor to be less than 8 days " in any one year. " Non.commissioned officers and privates of mounted corps, receive, " for each day's drill of three hours, 75 cents for each horse that has * taken part in the drill; and every Officer and man of the Regular *' and Marine Militia, and the Officers of Reserve Militia, called out " for training, receive 50 cents for each day's drill. Payment for drill " is made on proof of compliance with regulations touching the drill " and efficiency of the several corps. " The Militia, or any part of it, may be called out for ' actual ser- " * vice,' either within or without the Dominion,* whenever it appears ' There are no carnlry or infantry schools, the appointment of Officers of those branches are confirmed by boards of Militia Oflicers, though a few Officers of cavalry and infantry are occnsioiially allowed to fill racancies at the artillery schools where- in endeavonr is made to give instruction in all arms. * By A late notification in General Orders of the Canada Gaxetle, Officers of Her Majesty's Kcj-ulai' Army serving with Canadian Militia or Volunteers, are not allowed to avail themseUcs of their Army rank. * But on occasions of emergency, wlien the troops of one military district have been ordered into another, both Adjutant-Generals have claimed the command. Vi hile in the case of the apprehended riots at Montreal at the funeral of Mr. Guibord, the line between two military districts running through the city, the head-quarters of the troops being at one side, while the cemetery was on the otlier, the command of the force should have been changed at a certain spot on the lino of march. * llie Militia can be called out in aid of the civil power on a written requisition by the mayor or any two magistrates in any municipahty in which a riot takes place, and tb? Officer in command is to obey such instructions as may be lawfuUy given c 2 •20 THE mLITARY ASPECT OF CANADA. advisable to do so by reason of war, invasion, or insurrection, or danger of any of them, and when so called oat, it may be placed by Her Majesty under the orders of the Commander of Her Majesty's Regular Forces in Canada, and will be paid at such rates of daily pay as arc paid in Her Majesty's Service. " Officers and men, when called out for actual service, and also during the period of annual training, or during drill or parade of his corps, or as spectators, or while wearing uniform, are subject to the rules and Articles of War, and Mutiny Act, the Queen's Regula- tions and Orders for the Array, and all other laws then applicable to Her Majesty's troops in Canada, and not inconsistent with the Canadian Act." " Command in Chief. " By the 15th section of the British North American Act, 1867, " the Command in Chief of Land and Naval Militia was vested in " the Queen, to be exercised and administered by Her Majesty per- " sonally, or by the Governor as Her representative. " The Minister of Militia is charged with and responsible for the " administration of Militia affairs, including all matters involving " expenditure, and of the forti 6 cations, gunboats, ordnance, ammu- *' nition, arms, armouries, stores, &c. " The Governor may appoint a Deputy Minister and such other " Officers as may be necessary. " The Adjutant-General of Militia for the Dominion of Canada " shall be a person educated to the military profession and who has " attained the rank of a Field Officer in Her Majesty's regular Army. " He shall have the rank of Colonel in the Militia and shall be charged, *' under the orders of Her Majesty, with the military command and " discipline of the Militia." A Deputy Adjutant-General of Militia is also provided for at head-quarters as well as a Deputy Adjutant- General and staff for each of tbe 12 military districts. Her Majesty may farther appoint Staff Officei'S of the Militia with such rank as from time to time may be found requisite or necessary for the efi"' :iency of the Militia service, but in no case to exceed that of Major-General. The above is an outline of the legal enactments on which the Militia of Canada rests. The Militia. The head-quarters of military districts are marked on the map, also positions of field and garrison batteries and permanent militia garrisons. Ontario is divided into 4 military districts. No. 1 Military District comprises Western Ontario, with its head- quarters at London. him by ani/ maf/iitrate in regard to such riot. A difference of opinion between the luagistrateB puts the OfBcer commanding in an awkward position. THE MILITARY ASPECT OF CANADA. 21 Infantry. ... 11 battalions and 2 independent companiea. Cavalry 1 regiment of 4 troops. » , .,, f 2 iield batteries. L 2 garrison batteries. No, 2 Military District, at the western end of Lake Ontario, witli its head-quarters at Toronto. Infantry 15 battalions and 1 independent company, with mountain guns. Cavalry Governor- General's body guard, 2 troops ; 1 regiment, 7 troops. 4 . .,, r 3 field batteries. ^ \ 2 garrison batteries. Engineers 1 company. No. 3 Military District, east end of Lake Ontario, with head-quarters at Kingston. Infantry 10 battalions. Cavalry 2 regiments. . . ^-i, r 2 field batteries. ^ \ 4 garrison batteries. No. 4 Military District, Eastern Ontario, with head-quarters at Brockville. Infantry 6 battalions and 3 independent companies. Cavalry ...... 2 troops (Governor- General's Dragoon Guards, 1 troop). Artillerv . -f ^ ^®^^ batteries. ^ \1 garrison battery. The Province of Quebec is divided into 3 military districts. No. 6 Military District, that pori/ion of the western end of the pro- vince and southern frontier, mainly inhabited by English Canadians ; head-quarters, Montreal. Infantry 14 battalions and 3 independent companies. Cavalry 1 regiment (3 troops), and 5 independent troops. {3 field batteries, garrison, 1 brigade of 6 batteries and 1 independent battery. Engineers .... 2 companies. No, 6 Military District, head-quarters, Montreal. (French Canadian troops.) Infantry. ... 7 battalions and 10 independent companies. Cavalry .... Nil. Artillery. . . . Nil. No. 7 Military District, with head-quarters at Quebec, mixed English and French Canadian troops, mainly the latter, sxtends to the Atlantic, along both sides of the St. Lawrence. 22 THE MILITARY ASPEOT OF CANADA. Infantry 14 battalions. Cavalry 1 squadron. . .„ f 1 field battery, -^"^^'^^y \ 3 garrison batteriea. No. 8 Military District comprises Now Brunswick, with head- quarters at Predcrickton. Infantry . . Cavalry . , Artillery . Engineers No. 9 Military District, Nova Scotia Infantry .... 9 battalions. 5 battalions and 4 independent companies. 1 regiment. f 2 field batteries. \ 1 brigade garrison artillery (9 batteries). 1 company. Cavalry . . Artillery . . 1 troop. f 1 field battery. l2bri^ " brigades garrison artillery (6 batteriea each), and 5 independent battei'ies. No. 10 Military District, Manitoba, head -quarters Winnipeg. Infantry 2 independent companies. Artillery 1 field battery. No. 11 Military District, British Columbia, head-quarters Vic- toria, British Columbia. Infantry 5 independent companies. Artillery 2 garrison batteries. No. 12 Military District, Prince Edward Island. Infantry 3 battalions. Artillery 4 batteries garrison artillery. Engineers 1 company. The battalions consist usually of 6 or 8 companies of 40 bayonets. The number of Officers has lately been reduced to 2 per company, which does not allow of drill being properly carried out with right and left guides. The cavalry, 40 sabres per troop. The field battery, 70 gunners, and non-commissioned officers. The garrison battery, 40 gunners and non-commissioned ofEcors ; making a total of about — Infantry 37,000 Cavalry 1,800 Field artillery 1,350 Garrison artillery 3,000 Engineers 215 4.3,3G5' • These numbers of course do not include the Imperial gorrisons nfc Halifax ; nor lire the two permanent Cnnndinn artillery garrisons of Quebco and Kingston included in tlio militia strength of the districts. THE MILITARY ASPECT OF CANADA. 23 Only about half these numbers have been drilled during the past two years, the Militia estimates having been reduced by about one- half. On this point, and everything connected with his command, Lieutenant- General Commanding Sir Selby Smyth, has furnished a most complete and exhaustive report, which I cannot do better than quote and recommend you to read for further information. He states : — " When first I came to Canada, I believe the Parliamentary grant " for the Militia amounted to about a million and a half of dollars per " annum, and with that sum the 42,000 men annually trained in " brigade camps for the full period allowed by law. The following " and each succeeding year the vote was decreased, until last year it " amounted to less than one million dollars, out of which the mainte- *' nance of the Royal Military College and the North- West Mounted " Police have become a charge upon it. Therefore the paid training " of the Militia has been reduced to a minimum, only one-half the " force being embodied for twelve days' drill in each year, and such " training as that amounts to is almost useless, being really little more " than an armed muster at battalion and company head-quarters. " The Militia grant last year was exactly 931,950 dollars, from " which deduct 306,356 dollars for North- West Mounted Police, and " 50,000 dollars for the Royal Military College, leaving somewhat more " than half-a-million dollars for militia purposes proper, and the " supply of all warlike stores.' " The supply of military stores takes a considerable portion of this " grant. It comprises clothing for the whole force, which has to be fre- " quently renewed, and for the two gunnery schools, twice a year,' great " coats, rifles and material for their repair, ammunition, field and garri- " son guns, saddlery, gunpowder, as well as accoutrements and equip- " ments of every description that an army requires. So that in fact, after " deducting besides salaries, pay for drill instruction to Captains, " storekeepers, rent for armouries and storehouses, fuel and light, " artillery and rifle association allowances, band pay, targets, drill " sheds, rifle ranges and contingencies for general service not otherwise " provided for, there remains for the drill pay and incidental expenses " attendant on drill and training, only the meagre and insufficient sum " of 155,000 dollars, or about 80,000^ sterling. This sum is quite " inadequate to keep the 42,000 Militia of Canada in a proper state of " training and effectiveness, amounting approximately to the annual " cost of a single British battalion of the line. What progress can a " General Officer make in this case? He cauonl)' feel himself a source " of disappointment to the excellent and loyal body of Officers at d " men under his command, who look to him for support." Oeneral Remarks. Given the every-day life of a people and their physical surround- ings, and it is not difficult to form a true estimate of the character of ' One Buit cloth, one eerge, per annum, with an allowance to keep up winter underclothing. 24 THE MILITARY ASPECT OF CAN.VDA. its soldiers, especially when they are a national army and not the product of one or two classes or strata of society. Perliaps the load- ing characteristic of all Canadians is self- reliance, a splendid military quality, especially in the rank and tile during war, but capable of extreme development among the Officers of all volunteer forces even in peace. Infantry. The general characteristics of the papulation of great cities are much the same everywhere. They are more intoUigont, but less robust, than the rural population ; they readily acquire a military carriage, precision, and smartness in drill ; their uniforms are better fitted, their arms and accoutrements in better order, and their com- paratively wealthy Officers are willing to assist liberally in producing these results, whicli, after all, go some way towards real efficiency. But in a serious struggle the backbone of Canada would, I believe, be found in the rural battalions. A very large proportion of the farming population engages in lumbering during the winter. He who has lived among these genial stalwart lumbermen, shared their shanty and their bivouac in winter and in early spring, when they drive the logs along the icy torrents and head waters of their wooded wilderness, cannot but be impressed with the belief that he is among nature's soldiers of the very best type. Be they E'nglish or French Canadian, there is not, I believe, finer stuff for soldiers among any population in the world, while the habits of organization and supply of the various lumber camps at the ex- tremity of long lines of difficult communication ai'c a Quartermaster- General's department in miniatuie. Again I must quote Sir Selby Smyth for the gist of the whole matter as to the difficulty of training such men under present conditions ; — " b^ortunfitely for the country the battalions are commanded, and " in general officered, by gentlemen of zealous patriotism and strong " military proclivities, and in the various cities they have continued to '* assemble their men for unpaid drill as often as possible in the long " and unoccupied winter evenings. Therefore city battalions and " corps of all arms are in an efficient state, but country battalions " are, owing to the absence of such opportunities and facilities, less so. " However, they are fairly drilled too. They are fully armed, clothed, " and equipped. They are proficient in the use of their rifles, being " as a rule capital shots,^ and a few weeks would suffice to place them " creditably in line with any troops. " The training of rural battalions at company head-quarters for " three successive years has not resulted in much good. The majority " of the men reside on farms at a distance from their company head- *' quarters, and when called on to drill they have to give up their day's ' Colonel Gzowski, by his energetic and liberal presidency of the Dominion Bifle Association, has contributed much to the shooting efficiency of the infantry of the Dominion. "■ *! THE MILITARY ASPECT OF CANADA. 25 f 4 work and that of their horses, receiving only fifty cents in lieu. Therefore they are naturally anxious to shorten the period by per- forming two days' drill in one, and so the work is hurried over in a perfunctory fashion ; the drill instructor, who draws his forty dollars a year as such, possibly having learnt but little of the rudiments of drill, discipline, or regimental economy. A looseness and laxity of system therefore occurs which does not conduce to the first prin- ciples of training a soldier. It has been brought to my notice that rural corps ordered out for training are frequently composed of about one-half recruits, showing that men often join for one train- ing only, with no desire to carry out the terms of their three years' enlistment unless it be convenient. Officers commanding companies are in fault for this ; tiiey are responsible for their companies under the existing law ;' they should not enrol men unless they know them well, their employment, their place of residence, and whether they are likely to fulfil the provisions of the Act. They are too lenient with their men, and to save themselves trouble or perhaps unpopu- larity, or even politics may here again interpose, they enrol new hands rather than proceed by law against the old ones to compel them, under the penalties of the Militia Act, to fulfil their terms of enrolment. All this requires looking into and a thorough reforma- tion. Rural corps have the disadvantage of such long distances between their companies that the Lieutenant-Colonel, who has of course his daily business to attend to, can hardly supervise their details ; and it may happen that the Staff Officers who make the muster and the half yearly inspections do not always, as a rule, take minute notice of what has on the surface an appearance of being ' all * correct.' *' Rural companies should be always drilled at battalion head- quarters. •' In the same degree that rural company drill works badly that of city corps does well, because men can assemble in long winter even- ings in the drill-sheds without loss of pay, and they look upon their drill and lectures as a recreation. I have every year opposed the system of rural company drill : it has the effect of circulating some money through the locality, and they may be convenient and satisfy local interests ; it also brings a body of men together, armed and equipped for a time. But in my opinion it wastes more arms and equipments and clothing than any good that can result from it, and I shall disband every independent company not affiliated to a bat- talion, except in Manitoba and Biitish Columbia; and I should suggest, if possible, in future to abstain from annual drill at com- pany head- quarters, unless the Captain holds a first-class certificate for drill and rifle instruction. " This leads me to revert to the subject I have so often before dwelt upon — the necessity for some regimental permanent staff. The militia of Great Britain has, according to regimental strength, two ' The law gives a loop-liolo in allowing any man to claim discharge after six months' notice. He can, and sometimes does, give notice immediately after hit first training, and oannot in that case be made to attend another. 26 THE MILITARY ASPECT OF CANADA. " Officers and from 30 to 36 staff sergeants, who are thorough drill " instractors ; the Quartermaster being charged with the care of " arms and clothing, which are thus kept in order, and no loss from " neglect or theft permitted. In fact, it is a delusion to believe that " an efficient military force can exist in perfection without a trained " permanent staflF, an unprofitable expenditure of public money being " often the consequence of dispensing with it." Cavalry. I venture to doubt whether Canada could supply so large or effi- cient a body of cavalry as has been by some imagined, who ignore the fact that Canadians are not a nation of horsemen. Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, and Quebec are the only planes whore foxhounds are fol- lowed. The long, hard winter necessitates driving in a well-furred sleigh rather than riding, and in summer fast-trotting sulkies are more prevalent than hacks. Nevertheless the yeoman cavalry of Ontario and along the United States frontiers of Quebec and New Brunswick have before now done good service as outposts : the eyes, ears, feelers and veil of an army. They have able and enthusiastic cavalry leaders in such men as Colonel Dennison, of Essay celebrity. Colonels Forsyth, Turnbull, Lovelace, Saunders, and others. The country troops are of course rough in appearance compared to those of cities, who have more opportunities for dismounted drills, while their saddlery and appointments are kept in better order. The rural troops from their knowledge of the country are of course better scouts. Artille7-y. The artillery is perhaps the arm in which the natural military pro- clivities of Canadians appear at their best. Their efficiency compared with the short period of training has been a constant source of sur- prise to me. The practical mobility of the field artillery of small country towns is due to its popularity among the sons of yeomen farmers who enrol their own pair of horses and enlist as drivers. Their first appearance would perhaps be painful to the hypercritical glance of a Royal Artilleryman, but familiarity would teach him that, give them time, and they will get their guns almost anywhere for you ; their Officers would select good positions, and the fire, judging by their target practice, would be very fairly effective. The cities naturally pro- duce the most intelligent gunners, as the rural districts do the best drivers. The system of selecting artillery marksmen fostered by the Dominion Artillery Association, and introduced into the Canadian Militia before it existed in England, has, I think, produced very good results. I trust I may be excused for quoting my own report which gives a resume of the subject : — ,. THE MILITARY ASPECT OF CANADA. 27 1 Extracts from Biport of the Dominion Inspector of Artillery. " Field Artillery Qenerally. " Considering the small cost to the Government, and the consequent *' short period allowed for training — 16 days — I consider the Cana- " dian Militia Field Artillery in a remarkable state of efficiency. I " trust the number of horses will be increased to six per gun, with " three spare in case of accidents, making a total of 45 horses per " battery. The issue of black leather gaiters up to the knee and " strapped spurs to mounted non-commiMsioned officers and men, " though apparently a trifling matter, would tend much to efficiency ; " the trousers, often without straps, wrinkle up towards the knees, " unsightly in appearance ; they would gall the leg of a man riding " any distance. The deficient and irregular supply of whips and spurs " renders good driving impossible, and has been a source of accident as " at Hamilton, Ont., when a gun team going up a steep incline could " not be kept up to the collar, and were precipitated down a declivity, " in this instance, fortunately without loss of life. " Instead of the importation of the cumbrous ammunition wagons, '* I would recommend the adoption of a system of an enlarged limber " supply as more handy, with fewer horses and less difficulty in driving, " &c., as proposed by Major Ellis, R.A. " The Dominion Artillery Association has, I think, by producing a " spirit of emulation, been largely conducive to the present efficiency " of the field artillery, while the system of efficiency badges for unpaid " drills has been largely conducive of good results, especially to the " artillery in cities and towns. A complete Field Battery of Instruc- " tion at each of the gunnery schools is absolutely necessary before " instraction in field movements can be given." In spite of the very able essay of Major Holmes, Adjutant of the Kingston Gunnery School, I would not recommend a large increase to the Militia field artillery, but would prefer to see what is at present organized given double the period of drill — 32 days instead of 16 — and a proper equipment of ammunition wagons or limbers issued. The greatly increased range and efficiency of infantry fire does not, in my opinion, point to the advisability of increasing our proportion of guns to infantry as formerly laid down in Europe. The close character of the country and the badness of roads in Canada would not, in my opinion, justify any large increase of field artillery. Better to render thoroughly efficient what we have got. Indifferent artillery or even good artillery badly handled is only an incumbrance. It might bo thought advisable to equip a few batteries with mitrail> leurs, firing the same ammunition as the infantry, to act with cavalry and enable them to seize and hold an important point ; but until some manufactory for small-arm ammunition is established in Canada, it would be rash to start an armament that would call for a larger reserve of what we have to import a distance of 4,000 miles, viz., small- arm ammunition. With regard to the garrison artillery, I must again quote my own 28 THE MILITARY ASPECT OF CANADA. report and that of my Assistant-Inspector, Lioatenant-Colonpl Price Lewes : — " Qarrison Artillery Oenerallij, *' With the exception of the Montreal and St. John, N.B., Brigades " of Garrison Artillery, I have found the garrison artillery in a very " inefficient condition, mainly, I believe, for want of a weapon on the " effioacy of which they can rely, as they cannot on the old smooth " bores that camber our works and drill sliods. The introduction of " Sir William Palliser's comparatively inexpensive system of convert- " ing our old cannon into riHes in Canadian workshops, at a cost of " 1201, each, the cost of the imported "iilliser gun being 1601. exclu- " sive of freight, is, in my opinion, the only tangible and permanent " means of giving efficiency to this important branch of the service, " especially in cities where both the industry, the guns, and the gun- " ners, are most needed ; and where intelligent mechanics may be " found to form enthusiastic artillerymen to man the guns they forge " in the defence of the city where they live. Judging by what has " taken place in Great Britain, these results are not necessarily " visionary for Canada. Having commanded the Gunnery School for " Reserve Artillery at Woolwich, from its inception until I left " for Canada, it was my duty to recommend the adoption of the " Palliser 64-pounder for the Reserve Artillery of Great Britain. " The immediate interest roused by this substitution (for * the old " ' gas-pipe guns,' as the obsolete weapons wore somewhat irreverently " styled by the men who were supposed to fight them) raised the " efficiency of the force in a manner incredible to one who did not " witness it. The home Reserve Artillery of Great Britain musters " 60,000 fairly trained gunners in addition to the regular reserves of " the Royal Artillery. I would earnestly plead for the extension of " the system to this part of the Empire." Lieutenant-Colonel Price Lewes reports : — " I regret to find in the Halifax drill shed no stores for shifting " ordnance exercises ; in fact no appliances wherewith to instruct or " interest the artilleryman in his work beyond a few 32-pounder " smooth-bore guns mounted on traversing platforms. The Brigades " of Halifax Artillery contain the material for as fine a force of " garrison artillery as could be desiiid; but if the most ordinary " appliances for instruction (which in England are possessed by the " smallest volunteer artillery corps) are not given them a high state " of efficiency cannot be expected. I trust this deficiency may be " remedied, especially as regards Halifax and St. John, N.B., at both " of which places are excellent drill sheds, and I feel confident that " the results in increased efficiency will amply justify the trifling " outlay required for the few stores referred to. These brigades have " not carried out their annual gun practice, owing to the ammunition " having only very recently been received, and I should recommend " that, as the winter season has set in, the ammunition be retained " until the spring, and then used for competitive practice." In my own report I find the following : — ( THE MILITARY ASPECT OF CANADA. 29 " Engineers. " This branch of the Militia is sadly in want of materials, and " means of instruction. They are without entrenching tools and the " common aopliances of their arm. Lieutt-nant-Coloiiel Scoble at " Toronto, Major Kennedy at Montreal, and Captain Perley at St. '* John, N.B., are able and zealous Officers, anxious to produce efl&- " ciency, if the means were available. " The two engineer companies at Montreal might with advantage " be placed under the senior Ofiicer of the arm at Montreal. " I was not notified by any of the Deputy Adjutants-General of the " districts of the proposed dates of inspection of engineer corps, and *' have therefore had no opportunity of judging accurately, bui from " want of the appliances before mentioned, and from previous inspec- " tions of some of the companies, I believe them to be little more than " efficient infantry. The Tonmto Engineers, Lieutenant-Colonel " Scoble, have to a certain extent, I am informed, supplied material at " their own expen.se." They are very zealous and deserve great commendation and some assistance from Government, but [ am not of opinion that, considering the very small sum of money voted for the Militia, it would be advisable to horse and establish so costly an institution as a pontoon train. Esj)ecially do I not think the game worth the candle in Canada, on the banks of whose forest rivers and streams for the most part are found the means of crossing, which a gang of lumber-men would very soon knock into a bridge or raft, vvitli extra flotation if required from empty pork, flour, petroleum, or whisky barrels, which must be found where men congregate, or at all events in the stores of an army. There is no organization for the transport and supply of ammunition in the field, a question of vital importance in these days of breech-loaders. Wednesday, May 7, 1879. Lieotenant-General Sib HENRY LEFROY, K.C.M.G., C.B., R.A., &c., &c., in the Chair. Part III. — Permanentiy Embodied Troops and Military Educational Establishments op Canada. When the Imperial legions were withdrawn from Quebec, the last and most important stroLghold of Canada proper, to me was confided the honour of forming a garrison of loyal Canadians to guard the Im- perial fiag that still floated over the ancient fortress.^ A similar task * It waB a cmious coincidence that the two regiments first to enter Quebec after its capitulation were the last to leave it more than a century alter. To an Officer and detachment of the Boyal Artillery, escorted by the 60th £o}al American Biflee, 30 TIIE MILITARY ASPECT OF CANADA. dovolvod upon Captain G. T. French, R.A., with respect to Kinpston.' How wo have performed thoao diitioH is I believe i)eiiicrial (|uestion, wo sh' Iways bo in a confusion about it. Now there is a very extraordinary re:»ult p -d by the ditTerence of opinion as to what is and what is not an Imperial questii niel Strange has brought the question before us whether it is the Dominion oi v^anada or the Empire of Great liritain which should provide for the defence of that place, but if you lose that point, if you lose tlioso coal mines, the ])arts of the Empire which will most directly suH'cr are (Ireat Britain and Austniiia. If once you lose thot point you relcnso the whole Pacific seaboard of America ; you cease to have the power of checking the cruizers suiih as were bought by Russia the other day, leaving her Pacific ports. Your fleets cannot keep the sea, and Australia is open and the rood to Australia is an Imperial question, therefore the security of this point is certainly an Imperial question. We call an Imperial question anything that concerns the British people livini; in the United Kingdom, and ns lorg as that view continues, so long shall we have confusion as to what is Impei'ial and what is not. Take the Pacific Railway — nine men out of ten in tliis country will tell you that is a Canadian concern — she never will be able to make it. This is all nonsense, for the Pacific Railwoy is an Imperial question. How few peojile think it is an Imi)erial question. We umst remember the construction of that line will bring Australia, China and Japan nearer — as regords time —to us. Taking the sea as our own dominion, for it must be our dominion if we are to live, it gives us the shortest possible line through our dominion of the sea and through the British dominion in North America. Then you say that is a question of money, and we cannot agree about it, and so it drops. The trade of Australia is enormously increasing, and anybody who l.as read Pai/iif'.s European Colonies will get a very interesting account there of thegradual shifting of civilization following sea basins. He traces the ancient colonies and he traces the shifting from the Mediterranean basin to the Atlantic. Now civilization and progress have alreiuly commenced to shift from the basin of the Atlantic to that of the Pacific. At this moment what has happened with regard to the Suez Canal is happening with regard to the railway across America. The effect of cutting the Suez Canal has been very much more in favour of countries having Mediterranean seaboard than it has been to us hs a commercial matter, and nobody can watch what has been the effect on the commerce in the Pacific without observing that it is in like manner being diverted towards the States. The only possible way for us to got it in the future is by the Canadian Railway. The British people now have the opporl anity of doing what our fathers for centuries were endeavouring to do, to find a short northern route to the other side of the world. Between 1800 and 1845 we spent more than a million ujwn Arctic Expeditions, all for wliot ? to get a short route to the other side of the world. We have found it, there it is through British North America, and if completed by a railway it would cost some ten millions ; so we despise what we have found and oiir fathers sought. We should, however, not only regard this railway from the standpoint of its ^- THE JflLITARY ASPECT OF CANADA. 45 utrategical value to Caimdu, but na vitally concerning fiitiiro British power in the I'uciflo and as the key to liritiMli power in tlie future to coninmnd the sea on the other 8ide of the world. Colonel KiiKTOHKii, C.Xf.O. ; I should not have risen to miy anything except to Hupply a slif^ht ou.m^ion wliich Colonel StrangcV own niodcHty has led liiin to make in llie jjupcr that he had just reiwl. Jle alhided to the excellence of the Canadian Art dh'ry without saying that that exi'ellence is in great measure due to the exceed- iuK energy, sl%ill, and tact that he has shown in organizing, drilling, and getting ivady for' service tlu^ batteries of artillery now in that Dominion. Through the cxcri ions of Colonel Strange, Coh)nel French, and others, schools of guiuiery have been cstablisliisl, which form a sort of nucleus of a permanent f^rce. 1 won't call it a permanent iurcc, but u nucleus of a jilaceot instruction and a tyjje on whidi other bodies of I i\>,>p(t can be formed. It so often happens that the services of Ollicers who arc away from ticir corps are not remembered ; therefore I did not like to lose tlie onpitrtunity of makiuii allusion from what I saw myself as Military Secretary in Canada to the excellent work done by the Ollicers of the Royal Artillery while attached to tlie Duniinion Korci'H, Sir Hk.suv Lkfkov ; I'erliiiji-i I can bear rather more recent testimony even than my friend Colonel Fletcher, for I hud the t;ood fortune and pleasure of being the guest of Colonel Strange at Quebec less t! jii two years ago, and of there seeing a field battery that might have appeared with credit on Woolwich Common, going through its drill, and of seeing the whole machinery of the School of Instruction carried on, witli all the greater intelligence and zeal that it was entirely voluntary. Ill that venerable garrison, which I knew 30 years ago in its palmier days, I saw the spirit of niiliiary life kept alive entirely through the energy of Colonel Strange, and 1 had the pleasure of being challenged by a sentry, which I certainly never expectetl to occur again in the citadel of Quebec. I cannot tiierefore overstate the obligation which not only we ourselves as representing Imperial interests in this great question, but the Dominion of Canada owes to Colonel Stmnge for his efforts to keep alive by what is personally a characteristic of the man himself, a spirit of soldiersliip and of zeal, which would otherwise have no representation there. I am one of those who think the best security we iiave for the peace of Canada is the multiplication of commercial ties, the exercise of a wise diplomacy, and the removal of sources of . irritation. Kuin to Canada would be ruin to multitudes in all the Northern States. G-reat and prosperous towns now live upon the Canadian trade, therefore designs of a hostile nature against Canada, more serious than Fenian raids, are as far remote as anything in politics can be said to be. But there is another point of view. No doubt the development of the martial ir 'tinct of any race is essential to its self-re- spect. If there is one obligation more than another which we owe to Lord Pal- merston it is that by his timely expenditure of eight millions of money he increased the self-respect, the freedom from panic fears and periodical fits of alarm and uneasi- ness that used to seize the public mind before we had the great defences which he developed. Lord ralmerston's care did not stop with Great Britain. Although the expenditure was comparatively restricted to home ports, a good deal was in fact expended abroad, and what is more, great designs were matured and prepared, and only need the purse strings to be opened to place Canada in the same position of security. The natural features of C'limula are, of course, of an indelible character. There is the Lower St. Lawrence, which is the key to the whole position. There is the difliculty of defence of Western Canada, the certainly that we must concentrate our troops at three or four great points, and trust to the winter wearing out and ex- hausting the forces of any inviulcr. There are martial instincts in the race developed by their particular phase of civilisation, the habits of daily life, which will make them one of the toughest people to conquer on the face of the earth, bo that their conquest or annexation without their own consent seems to me amoral im- possibility. Looking at it from that point of view 1 am delighted to hear my friend Colonel Strange bringing his great personal knowledge to bear upon the question to re-excite public interest in it, but I look upon it rather as a philosophical exercise than as a thing of great practical urgency. With regard to the North Pacific there is one of those questions in which a single generation of man has seen a most prodi- giotis change. The last speaker might have included a coal-field between the Pacific 46 THE MILITARY ASPECT OF CANADA. and Upper Canada, niimely, tlie coalfield of the SaBkatchcwan and Peace Bivers. I haye visited that country, and can testify to the existence of coal there in large quantities. Nature has herself apparently pioneered the way for us by placing exactly where we shall some day want it, the stores of coal neci ssary for our purpose, and the iron will not be far off. But whether the Canadian (lovernmert should go into the vast expenditure which they are urged to do by the Columbians in com- pleting the raUway instead of letting time itself develop it, making it length by length, as is the plan of their able and sagacious engineer, is a point we might discuiis for a great length of time without coming to any agreement. I have known Canada for 35 years, and the advance in that space of time is beyond anything to be easily imagined ; not only its material a*lvance, but also its advance towards those feelings on winch national independence may be founded. They have no desire to be inde- pendent of us, and I trust that this generation will never see them so, but we must, of course, hold them with a silken string ; and never was there a moment in which the loyal and popuLir feelings of Canada were stronger in favour of the Imperial connection than they are now. General Lowey : As one who knew Canada well some years ago I would like to say how entirely I go with Captain Colomb in the remarks he has just made, and how grateful I think we should all be to him and to Mr. Brassey for previous ad- dresses here on this subject, and to the able lecturer of to-day— Colonel Strange — for calUng public attention so forcibly to this matter. Attaclung myself the vastest importance to use being made of the present time to prepare, in every possible way by land, sea, and lake, our Colonies for any emergency, I do hope that this subject will not be allowed to be lost siglit of. There can be none of much greater monHMit than that of a well-planned scheme of mutual defence and protection between Groat Britain and her deixindencies. Such a scheme would seem to promise to be best matured by due consultation — say by means of a Royal Commission — between the Imperial and colonial authorities. It will not do to attempt to improvise it wlien the emergency is on ue. However it may be witl- us in " the old country " our colonies are growing apace. If we look at the short span of time 't took to make the United States the great nation it now is, it will not be by any means impossible to forecast what Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and British America may — nay must — become even in the time of our children's children ! Why that part only of Canada known as Rupert's Land is said to have increased by 20,000 inhabitants in course oi the last year ! And now, while the lieaits of the people of that great dependency of British North America tm-n to us, as we have heard this afternoon, and as, I doubt not, do those of the people of all our colonies, with such loyal devotion, now is surely the time to lay deep and wide our plans for standing together as one great Empire for all time. Colonel MoNCBiEFF, F.R.S. : Permit me to remark upon one point brought for- ward by Colonel Strange, the construction of the great line connecting, what he happily named, the two nostrils of British America, viz., Columbia and Lower Canada. I have myself been in that central region through which this line would pass, and do not know any available country which, on the whole, is better suited for settlement by Englishilien. The vast and fertde undulating plains of the valley of the Saskatchi^wan, so accessible by a railway, and really so near to England, are, as it v.cro, cleared by nature for settlement, and ready for the plough. A con- dition of things exist there which honu> statesmen do not realise, or else ignore, although they might have an important bearing on the crowded population of these islands. Certain classes of politicians — I do not say statesmen — in this counti-y seem never tired of disparaging such questions, whicli they stigmatise as Itiperialism, and constantly enucavonr to concentrate public attention on home affairs, or on what Colonel Strange called the Home Empire, to the exclusion of the external or Colonial Empire, concealing the fact that the prosperity of the Home Empire depends, to a great extent, in these days upon the Colonial Empire, and is likely to depend even more in future on that, a'"-.', upon the security of our great lines of communication. That great territory, lying between the Atlantic and Pacific, offers not only a line of commuuicaliou, but the very thing which is getting ever scarcer as our THE MILITARY ASPECT OF 0^ .SDA. 47 popiilatior increages at home, viz., land for the poor, and Oi^portiinities for a healthy agricultui-al population. Such opportunities, necessary for the moral and physical health, if not for political stability, are getting smaller in proportion as our popu- lation every year increases, whereas our available land here remains the same. In the healtliy region tlirough which this Une runs there is ample accommodation for the surplus population of the United Kingdom for a very long time, where they could settle and prosper without changing their flag, to the mutual advantage of the colony nnd motdor-oountry. I believe also that tlie construction of that Pacific Railroiul has a strategical importance extending far beyond Canada itself, and which cannot easily be exaggerated. It quite startled me to hear the lecturer refer to a possible act of separation on the part of the Columbians. If such a thing were to take place, either by their own action or by external force, those coal-fields wliich Sir Henry Lefroy referred to as being of possible future use to this country, would be used against this country ; certainly against those interests which the public are led to suppose will be conserved by confining our action within our own seas. I trust this paper will find its way to the ears of the public, and help to enlighten them as to who their best advisers are, viz., those wlio confine their views to wliat is convenient and immediate, or those who also embrace the whole Empire, and provide for the future. Captain P. H. CoLOMB : I did not intend to speak on this paper, which is really a military paper, but some remarks which fell from my gallant friend, Sir Henry Lefroy, in reference to what my brother said, make it necessary that some speaker should draw attention clearly to the difference tliat might appear to exist between them in reference to the Pacific Railway. Sir Henry Lefroy spoke strongly,' and I think we all went with him, as to the desirability of insuring peace by the multi- plication of commercial ties. As I understood my brother's remarks, he wished to point out that from the transference of commerce, first to the Mediterranean, then to the Atlantic, then to the Pacific, the fact was tliat the commerce of Australia was drawing more nearly into and through the United States. Of course a cos- mopolitan would say at once that that was of minor importance, because the great thing was the general progress of the world. I myself am not quite a cosmopolitan, and so if it be the case tliat tlie commerce of the East and of Australia is drawing more and more to the United States, then I say I think those under English domi- nion are very nearly concerned in drawing the coinmerce through 'lieir own terri- tory. However satisfactory it may be for the geneml welfare of the world, I think that we Englishmen have a distinct interest ir' drawing comni"i-ce by means of the Pacific Railway tlirough our own territory to our own shores, because I take it that if the commercial rotitcs get entirely fixed vid the United States, the result will ultimately be that there will be no use for tliat railway at all, and that any strate- gical value it might have, woidd be lost, because it would bo impossible to make the railway only on that account. Sir IIenuy IvEFKOY : I may state that when I was at London about a year ago, there was a train for San Fnineiseo a- ' "illy at the station when I arrived there, so that the commerce of the Pacific does il w through Canada. Captain J. C. R. Cor.OMn : I spoki' of the trade and commerce of the Pacific in regard to Australio, China, ond Juj n, and that is being every year drawn more and more, not round the Horn, not through the Suez Canal, but towards the United States. Admiral Sir CooPEii Key : I should like to ask Colonel Strange one or two ques- tions. 1 tliink he stated tiial tlie Marine Militia in Canada did not exist, although provision for it was includixl in the Act of Pm-liament for the formation of the Mil'tia in Canada. Will lie kindly tell us if lie knows the reasons why it is not in existence — whether it is because of the expense, or because of the indisjxisition of the people to enter into the marine ser\'iee : or whether it is because the Canadian Government do not consider it of ony importance for the defence of the country P Tlien I would ask, is there any elementary torpedo school, or any idea of forming such a B<'liool in Canada? Is there any preparation for torpedo defence of the St. Lawrence ? And, further, what number of rifles are there in store in Canada, and of what descri])tion, Martini-Henry "r Snider? I am very glad to hove an opportunity of coniirming what I have .rd from Colonel Fletcher and Si " Henry 48 THE MILITARY ASPECT OF CANADA. Lefroy as to the admirable organization of the artillery in Canada under Colonel Strange. I had two opportiini'ics of witnessing its practice and inspecting the system adopted, and I can speak most strongly of the delight I felt on seeing the perfection to which it had been brought under his care. Colonel Strange : I cannot speak decidedly ns to the causes of the non-existence of the Marine Militia. I should think it was certainly not due to indifference or apathy on the part of tlie marine pojjulatioii, either of the seaboard or of the great lakes, because, as probably the Admiral knows better than I do, the Nova Scotian fishermen have always had a great reputation for hardihood and daring, and I believe the lake sailors are not fur behind tlieni. The true cause I take to be a question of moi.ey. As regards the torjiedocs, there is no organization whatever. On one occasion, when it was suggested to me (not to sot the St. Lawrence on fire), but to clear it from ice, I obtained from the Corporation of Quebec five charges of gun-cotton, weighing 50 lbs. each. I placed these charges under the iee and exploded them by electricity, carrying it out ns a means of instruction to the Artillery Officers arid the men under my commund. I also applied to the Government to allow me to send Ofliccrs to Halifax to be instructed by the Royal Engineer in torpedo practice, but the question of expense again cnme in. I also, though I am by no means as well acquainted with ilie coast as the Admiral himself, did suggest in confidential reports to tlie Dominion Government the localities tliat I thought would be advisable for torpedoes, the means of preventing their being dredged up by covering them with a few light guns in position, and other details, but I have heard nothing further on the subject. As regards the rifles in Canada, this point will be n-f^rr-'d to in the next lecture. There are only 70,000 rifles in Canada, 40,000 of which are in the hands of tlie Militia, and about 30,000 ore in store. They are of the Snider pattern, and I must say, considering the close character of the country, that the Snider rifle, wliich is a rough serviceable weapon, answers very well in the hands of the jVlilitia. I should not like to see the Government of Canada investing in Henry-Martini's, but I am sorry to say they have already com- menced to do so. They have now obtained a few Martinis, and have in consequence a ndxed arm and a mixed ammunition, with all its disadvantages, but I was not consulted on that point, nor the General commanding, apparently, as he condemns the purchase in this year's report. Commander Gthuon, R.N. : I should like to ask Colonel Strange one question. Are the guns which he has informed us are mounted at the various batteries in the Dominion intended to be the permanent establishment of guns for those places? The Americans are the only serious foes we arc likely to encounter in those parts. If we were to go to war with them we should have some very heavily armoured monitors brought acainst us, and not one of the guns that Colonel Strange has men- tioned is cajiable of piercing those monitors. Colonel Sthange : In answer to Conminnder Gurdon, I must say I devoutly hope that the limit of the seabonrd arniament hat; not be»n rfnclied. The guns at present in position ore put there on the principle that ho' a li.af is better tlian no bread. The Chairman ; This subject has been so fully brought forward by Colonel Strange, and so completely discussed by the gentlemen who have taken part in the argument, that I have nothing to odd. I can, however, fully corroborote all that Colonel Strange has said with regnrd to the quilily of llie n:aterial of the forces that are in Canada. I have never met with a liner set of fellows aiij where than the Canadians, especially the lumberers. 1 have met them in the bush ; J know them well. They are magnificent men, capable of being brought into orgiiiiization in a very short B])ace of time. The great difllculty, of course, in Canada is the small number of these magnificent men, for the Mliole population is now below tliree millions, as against the enormous population of the Liiitcd States. 1 beg on your behalf to return thanks (o Colonel Strange for his admirable lecture. THE MILITARY ASPECT OF CANADA. 49 Rojal Second Day's Discussion. Sir CoopEB Key : I should like to ask Colonel Strange if ho has heard any confir- mation of what I wao very glad to read in the paper two days ago, that the desire for secession from the Dominion on the part of British Columbia has now entirely ceased, and that a promise has been made by the Canadian Government that the construction of the Pacific Railroad shall be taken in hand as soon as the scheme can be organized. I am strongly impressed with the necessity for the construction of this railway as a matter of Imperial policy for the defence of our colonies in general as well as for the commercial interests of our own country, and especially for the securitT and prosperity of Canada. It seems to me the duty of all Englishmen to advocate that measure as strongly as possible. How it is to be carried out is beyond our province to indicate. The Jlome Government cannot interfere with the internal admmistration of Canada, but I believe it is the duty of every Englishman to ussiit in promoting the construction of this line. As was remarked by Captain Colomb the other day, large sums of money and many valuable lives have been expended in attempting to discover a practicable north-west passage without success, though not without valuable result, while the same object woultl be obtained far more securely by the Great Pacific Railroad. I trust that we shall soon hear that this great wo 1 has been undertaken. Colonel Alcoce : Imperial duty is tlie principal point now as it was in the previous discussion wVen we heard the question asked : " What are Imperial duties " towards the Colonies ?" and no one gave an answer, and that for a very sufficient reason, which is, that it implies a policy towards the colonies, and a policy requires the support of public opinion, and public opinion in this countrj- is very gradually formed, excepting after an event nul under the influence of some great and sen^•»■ imlebtcd for a system of const iMili(:,.il colonics and their federation for defence, wliieh i-* tlie subject of thij^ lect ire and discussion. The next great step taken was thiit \r which the publie denoimeed the idea that the colonies were an incumbrance anil ought to be thrown over, in order that a greater home power might be kept for tlie pur|i -e df influenc 2 Continental affairs called foreign policy, if tliat did not mean intcniutiona' j)eaee. The ideu was as unsound as anything could be, and it could be shown to be so upi>n n nilitary principle, because we act upon defensive and not upon aggressive ideas. Wi il kniiw that on the Continent the Great Powers can put we may sa\ "iicj.tMH) men under arms, with double that number of trained men as a reserve, i' I iin ei|ual number again rciuly to be called up by compulsory service, ond there i^ .le root of the whole question ; it is the difference between the compulsory service aud voluntary service. Everything with us must be voluntary, carrying it on to the colonies themselves, and what they do, must be voluntary. Every colony, which from its vol' lary power provides for its own defence, contributes its full quota towards the trem ral Imperial safety inasmuch as it has done its part. With respect to all cun^* (ional colonies the first consideration is whether they will fulfil their full duty .m defending them- selves, and Canada, which the gallant lecturer has brought so forcibly before us, has set a very strong example in that rcsi)ect, and I think we ought all to be very nmch indebted to liim for the able manner in whieli he has brought before us the facilities with which a railway may bo built, and the facilities by which a military colonization can be effected, inasmuch as the two could he easily matle to work together, and the system which men understand in a regiment should be used in the construction of a railway. Captain J. C. R. Colomb, R.M.A. : I quite agree with the observation of the last Bijcaker, that if a colony has provided for its own defence it has done its duty, but the difficulty is to determine what is its own defence. If you take some of your own colonies that are now engaged in doing that very thing, and spending a considerable deal of money in their own quarter of our globe, you would find that they are doing e 50 THE MILITARY ASPECT OF CANADA. nothing -wUh regard to eoniething vital to tlieir own interest, and that is nothing for tlie protection of their enormous wealth passing over the sea. The real diffi- fulfy in tlie matter of this Tacifie Euilway seems to be one of money. I do not think it is a question of polit' nl feeling between the motlier country and Canada at all. Canada recognises the .'lece^sity for this railway as vital to her future, but she Ims not got the money to make it. On the other hand, we in this country say it is a Ciinadian concern, when it is no such thing ; it is a concern which is vital to our whole Empire, for by it we should obtain the shortest route for the whole of the Chinese, Jiipanese, and Australian trades. A question has been asked about the secession of Columbia, but behind t hut there is anotlier question which really affects us with regard to Vancouver's Island, that is, the question of an Imperial dock. I dare suy distinguished na\ iil Officers here, do not know that British Columbia ha« already expended equivalent to 40,000/. in labour and plant in commencing the building of an Imperial dock. It is well that these things should be known, but those reports are not laid belbre Parliament, ajul the consequence is she has been placed in the position of commencing a dock whicji she cannot finish. She joined the Dominion on the condition of the Pacific Railway being made ; the railway has not been made, and she has been left with this unfinished dock, involving expendi- ture of capital, on her hands, which unlinished dock she has offered to the Imperial Government. She has expended tlie money, and she says, "for goodness' sake take it oU' our hands, and complete it as an Imperial dock," and Admiral after Admiral in the Pacific has in-j,'('d and pressed our Government about the importance to us of that position, and the necessity nf having, 15,000 miles away from home, a place where we can dock ii slii]) ; but people in this country do not know it. The fact is wc are afraid to look into the whole question, and the reason why we may lose this wliole province, the ivason we are afraid to make such preparation to maintain our command of the sea in the North Pacific, is because we have not direct communication with it. Therefore the Pacific Railway becomes connected with the dock, the Van- couver Dock is, like the Vancouver coal, connected with our command of the sea in the North Pacific ; the command of the South Pacific goes witli it, and our Empire of half the world is at stake. Now we at home are uiueh more interested in our own affairs than in the affairs of those who come after us, and therefore there is a view of this Pacific Railway I shovdd like to bring forward. Colonel Strange has alreadv dwelt upon it, but it is important in connection with tlie Pacific Railway and with colonization. What the colonies wont is population, and what we have too much of in England is ])opulation. At the i)re3ent time your food supply is in the hands of foreign Powers; hut suppising this railway to be made, you would then Lave within 14 or 15 days of iMigland this enormous British tract of the best food- producing land in the world, ami w hich when got at, would I believe maintain its food- producing power against the \\]\o\o worlil. There is plenty of evidence to that effect. You have got that British waste land close to you. You do not choose to make that railway to dcvelo]) it, and to enable home ])oiiulation to get at it, you choose rather to say it is a Canadian concern. What is the conse(|uence ? As I said the other day, out of some 54,000,000 quarters of wheat imported into the United Kingdom in 1877 we got about 22,tK)0,( 00 from America. A month ago you may have noti(ed in the papers it was discovered that a ring existed in America for buying up and controlling the export of the corn crop of the year, and if it had not been accidentally found out you would in this country have suH^cred from that by arbitrary rise in the price of your food. As long as Kn^jlish peojile are content to let their food come from a forcgin counti^ when they have got food-producing wealth of their own thrown before them by "n; •uie, which tlicy have only to pick up and make use of, they must remember this, that the control of their food will have passed out of their hands through their own blindness and neglect. Such a " ring " would be impossible in Canada if our food ^^ns jiroduccd there, because commercial transactions are guarded and jirotected by British law. It was stated in the dis- cussion here the other day that we were u, liold Canada and our colonies with a "silken string." I know it is a very jiopular jjlnnse, but in using it we must remember that 'Vere are two ends to the string. It is not altogether a question for you, it is a question for the colonies at the other end as well ; and when people talk of cutting colonics adrift they must remember also that if the prefent action of the THE AlILITARY ASPECT OF CANADA. M United Kingdom be not worthy of its position as the head of the Empire, before iniicli time passed, the colonies might in disgust talk of cutting it adrift. Thorefore in talking about consolidation -we must also talk about reciprocity of duties and obligations. If we ilesire to keep the colonies it must not be by a loose string, but by a firm hold at both ends, and by a mutual system of give and take. With regard to the "silken string" I think Officers of the Army and Navy should closely examine as to whether we are not getting a good deal of shoddy into that string ; in fact it may not be silk at all. Wo have heard of these Canadian Schools of Gunnery, Ac, those admirable institutions for which Canada and the Empire has been in- debted to the energy of our lecturer and his colleagues. Many of you have read the admirable Prize Essays by Officers reared in those Dominion schools, and you must see there is coming on in Canadii, a school of higldy-trained scientific Officers, and you say, " That is a very good thing ; let them go on." I hope they will go on, and I am sure they will as long as they have Officers like our gallant friend. But you must remember at present your superior appointments in Canada are held by Imperial Officers sent from England. When you get a number of excellently-edu- cated, adniirably-trained military Officers of Canadian Militia as you have now grow- ing up in Dominion schools at this moment, do you think that they will be content always to occupy subordinate positions in Canada ? They will not j it is unnatural that they should. Therefore I say you have to look to that fact, and to treat them as Englishmen, and as much a part of England's military strength as if they were born in Middlesex. We know it is the ambition of Englishmen to rise to the highest ranks of their profession, but at present the highest military positions even in their own localities scom to be out of reach of the colonists. The Home Militia oilers a road into tlie Army ; but you shut the gate on Canadians by saying the Canadian Militia shall not be a stepping stone for them into the Army of the- Queen, and thus you bar them out. If the question of Imperial defence is ever to be settled on a durable basis it nmst be on broader principles than " silken string " theories," and the question must be dealt with honestly, thoroughly, and truly. Commander Gubdon, R.N. : I should like to ask Colonel Strange whether any pro(X)8Bl has been brought forward in the Dominion House of Parliament for the supply of money to erect a small arms factoi-y in Canada — whether if it has been proposed, it was rejected or not, and if rejected, by how large a majority P I had the pleasure of being here two years ago, when Ca))tain Colouib read a very able paper alluding to A^oncouver's Island and the Dominion. I then suggested that a garrison should be sent out from England, and I hoped tliat it might have been done. This garrison, for more reasons than one, should be composed of marines and marine artillery, so that they may be at the dii^posal of the Admiral in command of the station. I think Vancouver's Island in the opinion of most people who know that part of the world, should be an Imperial colony, or at all events an Imperial garrison, the same as "! have at Halifax on the other side. There are no docks of any descrijjtion that we can go to, unless we go to the Americans at San Francisco. Wo have an enormous trade with the Pacific coast. I have seen 70,000 tons of British shipping lying in San Francisco at one time, waiting for wheat. Of course if war breoks out with America — wc iimst allude to these questions in connection with that part of the world — that trade of course would go, but we should have to protect the whole of our shipping in the Pacific, and a great portion of our China trade on that side, and we have not a single dock that we could put our men-of-war into at all. It is absolutely necei-sary tbat we should get a supply of coal on the spot ; that supply of coal can only be got at one place, Vancouver's stand. Therefore it is ab.-olutely necessary that for military purposes these coal supplies should be properly defended. They cannot be defended without a garrison. Ships can do a great deal, but you must have a garrison to protect your batteries, and those batteries must be placed to protect your arsenals and coal supplies in time of war. There is no doubt that the construction of the Canadian Pacific Kailway at any cost is an abnulufe iierctmih/ if we are going to main- tain the Dominion of Canada. That view has been pressed on the Government agaui and jgain. There is no doubt that the Americans place every possible obstacle ill our way to prevent the completion of the Canadian Pacillc Railway, for this very V 2 52 THE MILITARY ASPECT OF CANADA. Rood reason, that they know if it is not carried out soon, British Columbia must fall into their mouth like a ripe cherry. It is no good shutting our eyes to a stern fact that the manufacture of cotton goods has censed to be a profitable employment in this country. That means that an adult population of four milHons in Lnncnshire and elsewhere will shortly lose their means of livelitiood and have to be provided for otherwise ; and all this time we have immense tracts of land in the Dominion and other colonies to which they might be drawn, the connection between the colonies and the mother country streniithened, and riots and perhaps far worse consequences avoided. This scheme could be easily carried out if the Government cliose to make emigration a national measure, directed by themselves. They could raise a large loan at 3i per cent., paying the passages out of married couples, their maintenance for the first year, and the erection of the necessary buildings, tlie Colonial Governments on their side granting farms of say 200 acres to each married couple, the money expended by the Home Government being charged as a mortgage of 5 per cent, on the title deeds of these farms, repayable to tlio Home Government in terms of three, five, and seviJn years, the Colonial Governments being responsible for the collection and trans- mission home of the money. Unless some measure of this sort is adopted very soon, with failing manufactures, a population throwii more every day out of employment, with a capital of nearly 500 millions locked up in machinery and buildings, &c., we shall have a very serious crisis in this country, and I see no statesman on the scene who is preparing for this difficulty, and has the pluck to propose a measure of tliis description to the country. Colonel MoNCRiEFP, F.R.S. : As so few people have visited that magni- ficent territory through which this railway is proposed to pass, I think it a good opportunity to say a very few words about its cliaracter, having been there myself. When the line was drawn between the Canadian and American posses- sioHS, although the Americans as usual stole a march ujx)ii us and put it further north than was originally intended, it is a remarkable fact ttiat the line in this longitnde cuts off a very poor district lying between the Missouri and Britisi temt«ry, nnd which from tlie poverty of the soil cannot support more than a .parse population, whereas on tlie other or north side of the line you get into I. better and richer countiy, embracing the Assiniboin and the two valleys of t\e Saskatchewan. That river is navigable for hundreds of miles, and will be ,, useful artery for commerce, its two forks running towards Win- nipeg, and extending back west towards the Rocky Mountains, drain an enor- mous area. A great part of this area is capable of cultivation, and has many resources, aMong others coal. It certainly enjoys a healthy climate for our race. The climate in the valley of the Saskatchewan is better than that of Canada in the corresponding latitude, as the isothermal lines rise towards the west. I have known troops of horses ni winter wandering there without any attention whatever in the bush ; in fact twenty years ago, and it may be now for what I know, it was the custom of settlers in Selkirk settlement to send out large troops of horses to the bush, where they Uved without any attention all the winter, and they were herded back when required for summer use. This splendid region is so little known and appreciated that the charge of making a railway through it, whicli would open it up and enormously increase its value, is tlirown first by Canada on England for want of means, and then back by England on Canec i for went of knowledge. My own opinion is that if the real facts of the case were known on the Stock Exchange and by our rich peo])le, and if they knew the conces»i(ms of land wliich could here at oi'ce be made to the railway, instead of thus holding back, there would be a rush to secure shares in such an enterprise. So much for the scheme as a legitimate and ultimately profitable speculation. It is, however, on the ground of its Imperial and strategical importance that the strongest reasons for its construction are to be found. Here is a great field for our surplus pojjulation ; and if England has not lost the Imperial faculty of organizing arrangements for her people, why should not some such scheme as that proposed by Colonel Strange for making the colonization, the military defence, the construction of the railway, and the proper and orderly government of that country go hand ir hand and be thus carried outP What has been said by other speakor" i.nd iu the paper on the strategic importance \ THE MILITARY ASPECT OF CANADA. 53 of coanecting "the two nostrils" of British North America I hope will rouse atten- tion to this matter in the proper quarters. Colonel AtcocK : Colonel Moncrieff has tftuched ipon a very important subject in mentioning the Stock Exchange, because the mipuke ^h-it this country has made has been in investing money in foreign securities instear^ of investing it in Imperial, that is, in colonial securities ; and to give the strongest possible instance with respect to a railway, tlie Eussian railways have been built with English money, and but for that we should not have had the recent war. Russia would not have been prepared for it as soon or as well as she was, to say nothing of Central Asia and her progress towards the East.' Mr. Young : I should like to express my own individual gratitude to Colonel Strange for the very clear and able way in which he lias placed before us tlie profes- sional aspects of this important question. He has shown us the great shortcomings which exist in carrying out the details of these military matters which are of such vital interest to Canada. Tiie whole question seems to resolve itself into one of cost. How then is the money to be obtained for carrying out this most necessary work for the proper defence of Canada ? Is it to be thrown on tlie resources of the Dominion alone, or are we not rather as a people living under one Sovereign to recog- nise it as a question of Imperial, or I would rather speak of it as of national, im- portance. If tliat be so, I do not know how we can refuse to recognise our responsibilities with regard to it, and the importance of our doing what is required of us as a nation, in order to carry it into effect. The principal point dwelt upon in the discussion this afternoon has been the necessity of completing the Pacific Rail- way ; and tliere is no doubt the Canadians are perliectly desirous of seeing it done ; but they consider it impossible for them to do more than they are doing at present. Unless they can have the Imperial aid which I think they have a right to claim, it will be many a long year before that great and essential work is likely to be com- pleted. In the meantime it is a most serious question to recollect tliat British Columbia, which i« the terminus at the other end, is in great danger of taking some steps towards separation from the Dominion, and of falling into the hands of another nation. This is a very serious consideration for us to contemplate, and there can be no doubt that it is much more imminent tlian many people in England have any idea of. What is wanted, after all, is for some one on tlie part of those who profess to be statesmen to take a statesmanlike and comprehensive view of these matters. We are too apt in this country to look far too much merely to our local interests, and do not extend our vision to the more remote corners of our enormous Empire. But it will not do for us to continue to dwell in such a " fool's paradise" very much longer, or we shall be some day suddenly awakened to a very serious condition of things. The question of emigration has been touched upon. It is a national one. It does seem to me most extraordinary that we in England who are continually com- plaining of our being overpopulated, and are constantly seeing the terrible distress that occurs in many of our great centres of population from an undoubted super- abundance of people, cannot evolve some national scheme for taking that surplus away to the other parts of our Empire which are urgently wanting them, and only require them to be properly transported to their shores. . These are que^itions which wo must frankly face before long, and it is very dt-sirable that so indueiitial a class as military and naval men should turn their attention to them, in order to force the Government to take them up, in deference to enlightened public opinion, in a way which their paramount national importance demands. The CuAiuuAN : I am not one of those who believe in the decadence of England, or in the incapability of our statesmen, our merchants, and our financiers, to grasp ' Whether I am strictly correct or not in what I said about Russain railways, it will be admitted that tliey are strategical, and more for the movement of troops and artillery than for any remunerative purpose, while those in Australia, for instance, are for the development of the resources of the country, and the money expended on them by their Gkivernment is reproductively employed, and therefore to be preferred as an investment from a financial and phiLBtntliropic, as well as from a patriotic point of view. T. St. L. A. 54 THE MILITARY ASPECT OF C^VNADA. a great idea imil ciirrv it out. Much that has been said of their folly aiid infatuation ill not coiupletiug tliis Paeillc Railway appears to nio gratuitous and unfounded. There are cnornio\is diHieulties in the aehievoniont of such a project ; tlie idea of the Canadian Government is to execute the railway step by step, as tliere shall be a population to bcnclit by it, or as sections of 100 or :iOO miles can bo sliown to be profitable ; and if we only allow time, it w ill find its way by that process to tlio Pacific. But I must my, L for one should think it the height of folly on the part of the Canadian Government to rush into this great work in its entirety at the present time, or for any party of English statesmen, resiwnsible to tiio people of England for their taxation, to volunteer to lend them ;iO,0(K),(XX)^ or any similar sura that they might require. Gentlemen of the Stock Exchange can tell you some- thing of the capital that has already gone to Canada for making railways, scarcely one of which at present pays. I think, therefore, we nmst bo a little patient ; we cannot anticipate what is really the work of the slow development of history. We have no more marvellous proof of the rapidity of that development than in the subject whicli has been brought before us by Colonel Strange to-day. It is but 40 years since a handful of French Canadians, on grounds so obscure that they are almost forgotten, half friglitcncd us out of our senses lest we should lose Lower Canada, led to enormous and costly efforts to BU])pres9 them, and to the occupation of the country for the next 30 years by a strong Imperial garrison. Now the country is in a far more loyal position and tcm])er towards the British Empire than it ever was before. It has developed what is a perfectly new thing in Colonial history, a regularly organizetl, well-conceived militia system, embracing every branch of instruction from the highest to the lowest, not realised perhaps as fidly as it exists on pajier ; but there is the seed, out of which the matured plant may here- after grow. Can wo not be contented with that for one generation? Can we not let these nuignificent dreams of empire work themselves out according to the destiny of nations? Where is the pres.nit danger? What was the condition of the United States itself in regard to its military armaments prior to the great contest of North and South? Why, they were as thoroughly neglected as they were in Canada; they thought themselves free from external foes, and therefore could afford to dis- pense with tliem. They l'"'-e since developed them to some extent, but they are still, as measured by the l a'u of European preparation, in a very defective state. Canada can also afford to leave much that is in an abstract sense important, to be' met when the necessity arises Of course we admit the necessity of hftving a foun- dation laid to carry any future superstructure j but to say that everything that may have to bo done in war is to be done in anticipation in time of peace, is to ask what no resiwnsible statesman can agree to ; and I do not think that any one of us, if we were addressing a constituency with a view to election to Parliament, would venture to adopt such a line of argument. Colonel Stuanqe : I thank you very much for the remarks that have been made, which I think are even more valuable than the paper itself. I have not heard that the secession question of British Columbia has been settled in Canada. Sir Cooper Key remarked tliat the English Government were not in a position to interfere in this matter. To a certain extent of course wo all know that is quite true, but surely to purchase shares in a Canadian Pacific railway would bo as legitimate as to purchase shares in the Suez Canal. Surely we are as closely connected with Canada as we are or might be with Egypt. I have also been asked whether there has been a vote before Parliament for a small-arms fa<;tory in Canada. The matter has never been brought before Parliament. I have urged it in Oflicial Reports, in Blue Books, which are laid befoie Parliament, but apparently never read. With regard to Sir Henry Lefroy's remarks, I am not in a position exactly to answer them. I know his long familiarity with the country and his great wisdom, and it would seem presumption for me to say anything on the subject in the way of reply. Ife alluded to the Rebellion of 1837, as giving us 30 years miUtary occupa- tion and trouble, but another s])eaker pointed out it was the want of considei ing what the French Canadians wanted in time that was the cause of all this, and Sir Henry himself has alluded to the marvellous development of things now-a-days that requires Jis to be up and doing, and will not allow us to drift as we used to drift in the old times. He spoke about American people not having military institutions and orga- n w o: T a: 01 tl n 8 h S t a V r h o t THE MILITARY ASPECT OF CANADA. 55 nization until the Civil War obliged them to ; but would thej have had any ciril war at all if they had thought about it a little beforehand ? Then as to the gecuritj of money lent to Canada, I have already referred to the difforenc-, between tiie Pacific and the G-rand Trunk, in which the Eiiglidh people took Hhares, and in which Canadian people had scarcely any sliares at all, and in which there were not vast tracts of rich arable alluvial laud to give away. If the Saskatcliowan Valley is as everybody says it is who lias seen it, a rich fertile alluvial soil, where there is coal cropping out from the banks of the river ready to be used, I must submit with all the rashness of youth, I cannot see any reason why this railway should not be made. The Chaieman : I think I may venture in your name to return to Colonel Strange our hearty thanks for a most interesting, original, and thouglitful paper. I ahould answer Colonel Strange's last remarks about the Saskatchewan, by saying I have had no other feeling than a wish to dispel illusions. When you talk of the Saskatchewan and talk of many thousands of square miles of territory, no doubt in those thousands of square miles there are fertile tracts where grain can be raised, and there is some indifferent coal. But it is a great mistake to suppose that the whole region is so fertile, or that the climate' is altogether such as Englishm.-n would delight in. I think I may express our united hope that Colontd Strange in returning to Canada and to his very important duty there, will return having his hands strengthened by whatever moral inllueuce our approval and respect for his energy and zeal can afford him, and tliat he will be enabled in his future negotia- tions with the Canadian (Jovemment to carry, as well as he deserves, a greater degree of weight than appears to have been hitherto given to him. APPENDIX. I "Militia General Ohdebs. " Head Quarters, " Ollawa, 20th October, 1871. " An appropriation having been sanctioned by Parliament for the pay, mainte- ' nance, and equipment of two batteries of garrison artillery, in order to provide for ' the care and protection of tlie forts, magazines, armament, and warlike stores, ' recently or about to be ha'ided over to tlic Doniinion Government, in the provinces ' of Ontario and Quebec, the formation of these batteries is hereby authorized. " It is further intended that these batteries, in addition to performing garrison ' duties, shall serve as practita) schools of guimery for the training of all ranks of ' the Militia Artillery, viz. ; — by instructing gunners and drivers, and affording ' OlHcers and non-commissioned offlcers opportunities of joining long or short ' courses of instruction as may best suit them individually. "School op Gcnneet, Kingston. " A battery, to be designated ' A ' Battery, will be formed, the maximum strength of which is to be 138 of all ranks' and 8 horses (for instruction in riding, driving, ' moving field and siege guns, and general purposes). " ' A' Battery will furnish a detachment for duty at Toronto. ' One Subaltern has been added to " A " Battery, none to " B," which has a larger fortress and armament to look after, as well as the increased labour of instruction incident to the use of two languages, French and English. 5« THE MILITARY ASP30T OP CANADA. " School op Gunneby, Qukbkc. " A battery, to ho dosignated ' B ' Battery, will bo forinod in a similar manner, tho " maximum strongtli of wliich is to bo (so long as the forts at Point Levis remain " unarmed) 15!) of all ranks and 8 horses. " This battery will furnish detachments for tho forts of Levis and St. Ilelen's " Island, Montreal.' " Selection of Non-commissioned Officers and Men, " The non-commissioned oflicers and men to form 'A' and ' B* Batteries will be " selected from those belonj^ing to the Militia Artillery of tho Dominion who may " voluntarily engage therein for twelve months' duty (or for a longer period if they " may so desire, and it is found expedient in tlie interests of tho public service to " approve of tlio same) ; they will be required, however, to re-onrol for throe years' " furtlier service in their own batteries from the tlate of their joining 'A' and 'B' " Butteries, and whilst serving with these latter they will bo returned aa super- " numeraries on tiie rolls of their respective corps. Men desirous of joining 'A' and " 'B' Batteries, who are not enrolled members of any corps, or who belong to other " than artillery corps of the Active Militia, may also, if approved, bo aj)pointed to " 'A' and ' B ' Batteries, but they will bo required in like manner to enrol for three " years' service in some battery of artillery of the Active Militia. " OlHcers and non-commissioned ollicers selected will receive instruction, in addi- '"tion to field and garrison artillery exercises, in tho mode of making rafts, military " bridges, &c., pontooning, formation of flehl works and batteries, laying gun and " mortar pliitfornis, &(•., &c. " Those Olllccrs and non-commissioned officers leaving the School at the end of " three months will be entitled to first and second class gunnery certificates, provided " they are lound qualified. " Batteries on Actual Service. " The Onicers, non-commissioned ofiicers, and men belonging or attached to 'A' and " ' B ' Batteries will, for purposes of discipline, be held to be culled out for actual ser- " vice with their rcsjiective Militia Corps, aa provided for in Section 64. of the " Militia Act. The Commandants of the Schools of Gunnery may reduce non-com- " missioned ofiicers for misconduct or ineillciency, and dinniiss from the Schools " gunners who nt any time by their conduct, character, or from other causes are not " likely to benefit the service by their retention in such Schools of Instruction. " Liable to duty in any part of Dominion. " All Ofiicers, non-commissioned officers, and men belonging or attached to 'A' and " ' B ' Batteries wiU be liable to duty if required in any part of the Dominion of " Canada, for tho whole or any portion of the period they may be on the strength of " these batteries. " Command. " The above Schools of Gunnery, with any detachment therefrom, are placed " under the immediate command of their Commandants, wlio will report direct to " Head-Quarters, and receive instructions solely from the Adjutaiil-General. " Forts, ^c, handed over to Commandants. " The Director of Stores and Keeper of Militia Properties is hereby instructed to " hand over, as soon as convenient, to the Commandant of the School of Gunnery at " Kingston, the whole of the forts with the armament and stores hitherto in charge " of the Officer commanding the Royal Artillery at that station, also the whole of ' The forts have since been partially armed, but the strength of the " B " Battery has not been increased. I THK MILITAUY ASPECT OF CAXADA, 67 " tho quarters for Officers, non-commissioned olTlccrs, and men, guard-rooms, and " othiT buildings at the Titc ilit pout JJarriicks, tlic l)uililiiifit< contained in tlio new " fort, Toronto, and ston's at the old fort, wlicn re;ii. red. The furls and works at " Quebec and I'oint hcvis, «itli tli(» arnianiciit and slorcs about (o bo banded over " by the Ko}al Artillery, will in like manner be transl'errcd to Ibo care of the Com- " inandant of the School of Gunnery at Quebec, also the barracks with the " mounted guns and stores connected therewith at St. Helen's Island, Montreal. " Schooln of Ouunery—St.Johii and ILilifax. " Arrangements arc being made for tho formation of Schools of Guimcry at " St. Jolin, New IJrunswIek, and Jfalifax, Novia Scotia, tho details of which will bo " announced hereafter in (lencral Orders.' " By command of His Kxcellcncy the Govemor-Oenerul, " r. RoiiKiiTsox-RoHS, Colonel, " AdJHiaHl-fJfiieral of Militia, " Canada." h EXTBACT FROM RePOUT ON " A" BaTTEUY, ScnOOt OF GrSNKRY. " Kiiifls/oii, Ontario, 1878. " During tho past year 1 OiTlcers and 122 non-commissioned OlRcers and men " joined this school. Of this number 3 Olliccrs and 72 nun commissioned ofllccrs " and men joined for a three months' course of instruction, 1 Otlieer and 2it non- " commissioned officers and men were retniniKl for a furtlicr service of 12 nu>ntlis, " 38 non-couimissioncd olllcers and men enlistetl or re-enlistod in " A " Battery for " three years' continuous service. " Tho following ceHiflcates have been issued during the year 1878 ; — Long Course. Short Course. Ist Class. 2iul Class. 1st Class. 2nd Class. 3rd Class. 4th Class. Attend- ance. ToUl. Offlcors •• 1 2 7 1 7 9 • • 9 64 4 Non-commissioned oiB- ccrs and men 96 Total .... •■ 1 8 9 9 64 100 " It is to be hoped that the permission granted in recent General Orders for " OlRcers to present themselves for exaniinntion at the Schools of Gunnery, and if ' Not carried out. Classes for infantry instruction during the winter were formerly carried on at the head-quarters of each military district, a premium of. 50 dollars being given to every person olitnining a eei'tificate, but it was found that only a small proportion of those obtaining tho premium gave tho country the advantage of their instruction by subseqiumtly joining tho Militia, while the expense was considerable. The pupils not being placed in barracks, and taught only in drill-sheds, made but little practical ac(iuaintance with military discipline or field exercises. The Artillery Schools having been nmdc partially available for infantry and cavalry instruction tho winter classes were done away with, except in Now Brunswick and Halifax. The Olliccrs in command of those districts, Colonels Lawrie and Maunsell, being energetic Ollicor.A formerly in Her Majesty's regular Army, hare no doubt made the best of the means nt their disposal. c 8 58 TUE MILITARY ASl'ECT uV CAN'ADA. successful to ohliiiu 2m(1 i-liiss rcrtinciitcs, will net iis nn iiiduconicnt to a numLc- of those goal li'iniMi who hiivo hitherlo l)i'i'!i uniibln to iiltt-ntl the short oourso of in- struction, and tlint they will now ciuloavour to hi-ttcr (juiilify thi'rnselvos for tlio duties of tho positions they occupy, by acquiring a sulllcient knowledge of artillery ' drills and exercises. " [ an» still of opinion that it would be mlvisablo to limit the tenure of such ' Officers' appointments to a cortoin date, say 101 h December, 1879, before which time tlioy should be reipiired to 'pass tho examination for 2nd class short coarse ' certificates at the Hchool of Q-unnery. " The annual ritlo practice, 'UJ rounds per man, was carried on as usual, with very ' good residls. " Owin;^ to tho sorrices of tho battery being required at Montreal from the 9tU ' July until the l(!th July, during which period they were encamped at that city, ' it was not considered necessary to have tho usual summor camp on tho lako ' shore. "During tho summor months tho Officers and men of 'A' Battery wont ' through a course of instruction in the formation of rafts and raft and spar ' bridging. " I am very glad to be able to report that the general conduct of tlic men of ' ' A ' Battery during tho past year has been extremely good, and that I have every ' reason to be satisfied with tho ability and zeal of the Officers and non-commissioned ' officers of this instructional staff. Tho results of tho competition for the prize ' essay, field-gun practice, and shifting heavy ordnance, instituted by the Dwi'iinion Artillery Association, and duly reported in their proceedings, will, T h- .<: no ' doubt, afford sufficient evidence as to tho cliaracter and results of tho iuiii,;'uotion ' carried out at this Institution. " D. T. Ikwin, Lieutenant-Colonel, " Commandant, School of Ounneri/, " Kin(i*ton, Ontario, To the Comandant, School of Ounnery, Quebec," EXTBACT FKOM RePOBT ON " B " BaTTEEY, SCHOOL OP GUNNEBY AND BbANCH " SCUOOI-, MONTEEAL. " Citadel, Quebec, December, 1868. " Sib, — During the year ending 15th December, 1878, 27 Olllcers and 111 non- " commissioned officers and men joined for instruction. Of this number tho Officers " were as follows : — " Artillery. " Short course 15 " Long course 4 " Cavalry. " Short course 1 " Long course , 1 Infantry. " Short course 3 " Long course 1 " Engineer. " Short course 1 " By examination, in accordance with G. O. (12) " 10th May, 1872 i " Of the above, 66 were non-commissioned officers, gunners, and drivers from " various Artillery Militia corps in Quebec and the maritime Provinces. In addition, " 26 non-commissioned officers and men engaged in ' B ' Battery. In the Branch THK MILITAKY ASPECT OF CANADA. m ' School nt Montrcol, 7 OfllcfrB and 16 non-comniisiioncd offlcerg, gunners, and "drivers obtained certifleuUi'. These are included in the above, and shown in " returns A, B, C, D. " Subjects of instruction at the Quebec School are as follows. It is in my opinion " to be regretted that a uniform (tjstem has not been established at both schools hy an " Artillery Oflicer at headquarters, giving to certificates of both schools a relative " value : — " Stnopsis ok Opficbbs' Short Coubsb, OruNKBT ScHoot, Qcebbo. " Practical Exercises and Duties. " Field Artillery. " Field-gun drill. " Riding and driving drill, wheel-car- " rioges, on sleighs. " Field buttery movements. " Disabled Held ordnance, removal of. " Knotting and losliing. " Mounted nword exercise. " Gun practice. " Making up ammunition. " Exaniiiiation and sighting of ordnance. " Taking angles with sextant for rauge- " finding. " Interior economy. " Stable and regimental dutios. " Attending courts-martial';. " Garrison Artillery, " Arm drill. " Company drill. " Heavy gun drill, S.B. " do. riUod. " Mortar drill. " do. (removal on trench carts.) " Oyn drill. " Shifting ordnance. " Sling waggon. " Knotting and lashing. " (iun practice. " Making up ammunition. " Examination and sighting of ordnance. " Taking angles with sextant for range- " finding. " Visiting (weekly) artillery stores and " district. " Interior economy and regimental duty. " Attending courts-martial. " OlEcers will give their special attention to those subjects which belong to their " own branch of artillery service, but will be expected to have a general idea of the " whole. SiNOPSIS OP ShOBT CorRSB, GUNNBEY SCHOOL, QCEBBC. " Theory. " Gunnery, exclusive of applied mathematics. " Knowledge of artillery material, such as exists in Citadel, Quebec. " Laboratory operations as performed at Quebec. " Examination and sighting ordnance. " Elementary fortificiitioii. " Minor tactic of artillery, in connection with the other arms. " Range-finding, use of sextant and prismatic compoas. " General knowledge of Militia Regulations, Queen's Regulations and Articles of War, " as applicable to Militia. " Syllabcs of Opficbbs Long Covbsb, Qunnbbt School, Qubbkc. " To be able to instruct in '' Mortar"drUl, } ^""^ P'^"*'" ^'^'^ projectUes. " Gyn drill. " Shifting ordnance. " To have a good knowledge of " Infantry drill. " Biding drill and stable duties. " Field artillery movements and position. " Artillery material and stores. 60 THE MILITARY ASPECT OF CANADA. Examination and sighting ordnance. ' Laboratory operations. ' Construction of siego batteries, rafts, and bridges. ' Q-iinnery and a])pIiod mathematics. ' Fortification and sieges. ' Military surveying and rccoimaissanco. ' Tactics of all arras, stratoi^y, and military history of one campaign. ' Interior economy, regimental duty, and charge of armament of the fortress. 'Queen's AJ'itia Regulations, and Articles of War as applied to Canadian " Militia. " T. U iTEANOE, Lieutenant-Colonel, " Commandant S. O. and I. of A. I " (A.) Garrison Artillery, Infantry, and Engineer Officers, Quebec School of " Q-unnery and Branch School, Montreal. " (B.) Field artillery and cavalry Oiriuors, Sehool of Ounnory, Quebec. " (C.) Garrison artillery non-cominissioned ollicers and gunners, Quebec School " of Gunnery and Branch School, Montreal. " (D.) Field artillery non-cominissioued officers, gunnoi-s, and drivers, Quebec '* School of Gunnery and Branch School, Montreal. " As the wants and circumstances of the Scliool remain the same, I beg to draw " attention to previous recommendations and remarks, viz. : — " ' Tlie number of applicants to join the battery for three years' service, as also " ' for short courses of three 'months, is more tlian in previous year,i, and far in " ' excess of the number sanctioned. As it would be impossible either to carry out " ' the garrison duties, or even provide squads for instruction, if vacancies were kept " ' open, very eligible men have to be refused admission because tliere happen to bo " ' no vacancies when they apply. They frequenUy ask to join withjut pay to take " ' their tuin of a vacancy. " ' Under the circumstances, it is to be regretted that an increase of "hort-course " ' men from the Militia batteries is not sanctioned, especially during the winter ' ' months. For while the artillery of the maritime provinces (from which tlie number of applicants ie on the increase) is without a special gunnery school, the " ' Quebec Gunnery School is crippled by not having enough men to form squads " ' for instruction and to carry on the duties of the garrison and necessary fatigues, " ' esf 3cially in the (le'd artillery branch, which cannot be efficient ^"ithout the " ' establishment of a complete field battery of instruction ; tliat is, an increase of " ' 28 liorses (in addition to the present strength) , and 3 Officers and 70 non-com- " ' missioned olficers, gunners, and drivers. If IK horses were added to the above, " ' to horse four ammunition waggons, there would be a complete field battery at " * eacli gunni'ry school rimd ' for immediate service, while tlie waggon teams could " ' be used as a cavalry riding sehool as well as performing the transport duty for " ' the store dei)artnient under ordinary circumstances, saving cart hire." " ' Having a selection, tlie class of men joining the battery is not in my opinion " ' inferior in physique, education, or conduct to any troops it has been my lot servo " ' with. " ' From a purely civil jioint of viow, I think it is a dra"hack to the development " ' of a new country that the force at Quebec is not permitted to be increased. Many " ' Canadians, as well as immigrants of -.i good class, would, if permitted, train " ' themselves as Canadian soldiers and become Canadian citizens. Not readily "'finding employment in times of depression, they cross to the United States or " ' return to Euro])e with depreciating aecoimts of the country.' " The branch school detachment at St. Helen's (whieii was withdrawn after the " loss by fire of the barracks), it was found necessary to send back again this summer, '• in consequence of riots and the insecure state of tlie arms and military stores kept " at that important dep6t. The detacliment has been again withdrawn owing to tlie " insufficient number of ' B ' Battery at Quebec. " The Militia of Montreal is composed of classes in business, who cannot leave the " city for a course of instruction, a branch school is therefore much needed. .[ THE MILITARY ASPECT OF CANADA. (;i t " The fortress at Islo-iiux-Noix is very important and still in fair condition, with bomb-prooi.' barracks and every aecomuiodation for a garrison. " The estflblishmen," of a branch school there for garrison artillery, engineers, and ' infantry wi.uld be a il'ssideratuni. It coukl be formed of a demi-gurrisoii battery of 50 men an I 3 Offlcort, on the strength of tlic Quebec Gunnery School from which ' reliefs should bo sent. TK'!y would form an efficient frontier garriron as well as a ' school of instruction, and al'ow of the fortress being armed and kept in order. On ' each recurrence of tlie threiii of invasion a detachment of ' B ' Battery, which it ' can ill afford to spare, has been held in readiness to garrison this fort. " The 0-enoral Officer Commanding has already suggested military schools at ' Toronto a..d St. John's, P.Q. 1 have no doub^ Lieutenant-Colonel Irwin ' would concur in tlie advisability of establishing sucli a branch school as a dctach- ' ment from ' A ' Battery, which should be augmented for the purpose. The General ' Order forming the batteries provides for detacluneii ts from them at Toronto and ' Montreal respectively, but their limited numerical strength lias prevented these ' detachments being of any great i)i'uctical value. " The camp for field artillery practice was on the Island of Orleans ; that for '' musketry instruction at Engineers' Park, Levis ; tlie lieadquarters remained in the ' Citadel, under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Moritizambort, during the time my ' duties as Inspector necessitated my absence, whieli was prolonged this year in ' consequence of the visit to British Columbia of the Inspector for Ontario. The ' Gunnery School jirinting press has furnished copies of examination questions as ' well as copies of artillery manuals, for the use of Militia of the Dominion, also the ' necessary circulars for the Dominion Artillery Association. " ' While tlie (<^,ueber lunnery School has been practically expanded into a school ' for Officers of all arms, thereby much increasing the labour of the staff', no adequate ' provision has been maile for men, without which, the military art can no more bo ' taught than chess without pawns.' " ' The LieutenaKt-General Commanding is fully cognizant of the points referred ' ' to, and hiis suggested eff'ectual remedies from time to time. I trust, however, the ' ' emergency of the case may be an excuse for reporting upon facts with which he ' ' is already familiar.' " Notwithstanding the heavy night duty, the usual daily duties, fatigues, Ac, the ' courses of instruction have been carried out. " The usual courses of gymnastics for young soldiers has been continued. " The system of bi-hourly meteorological observations by means of the non-com- ' missioned officers of the guard relieving sentries has been also continued. " The averages are taken by Lieuteiia.it Donaldson, who has charge of instruments, ' and reporta through me to Professor Kingston, of the Toronto Observatory, who ' speaks very favourably of the results thus obtainetl. A grant of 30 dollars having ' been sanctioned for telegrajihic instruction, four sets of instruments were purchasetl, ' wire*' &c., fixed. Instruction has been given to six Oflficers and one non-commis- ' sio' id oflicer, by Major Ilebert, formerly Superintendant of the Telegraph Ins;i- ' tute, Montreal, who is at present at the Gunnery School. It was thought that ' the valuable knowledge so gi-en could be utilized to concentrate the fire of tho ' fortress or to explode torpedoes, as well as for the ordinary needs of military ' telegraphy. " The dags supjilied ■with the Anny and Navy Signa' Code have also been made ' use of to a slight extent, to comv.unicate with the Levis forts and Her Majesty's ' ships while in harbour, but the small numbers of the garrison and their many duties ' prevent much systematic instruction being carrietl out. " From the Governor-General Commanding Canadian Militin, I obtained permis- ' sion (during tho period that war with Rdssia seemed imminent) to tonimunicate ' with tho Oflicer then commnnding Her Majesty's forces at Halifax, Colonel ' Elgee, R..\., with aviev to sending a detachment of Officers and non-commissioned ' otHcers from 'B' battery to !eiirn the manipuli) )on of torpedoes, but I found 1 ' couUl not have 8]iared suiru 'em. men for the purpose. " Tiie six additional artifiiirs are gunners who have been excused guards and ' ordinary duties to work in tho forgo, armourer's, wliceler's, ciu-penter's, ami haniess ' maker's shops. They have, at less than the oost of importatioM, as before shown, 62 THE MILIT.UIY ASPECT OF OAXADA. " manufactured carriages for the 7-inch Pallisor guns presented by Sir William for " the armament of tliis fortress, in addition to executing a vast amount of repairs to " the barracks and equipment of the battery. A company of 50 artillery and engi- " neer artificers added to the battery as recommended by the General Officer Com- " manding, and by the various Boards of Survey on fortifications, would save a largo " amount of money to the public. They would also serve as a school for infantry, " which, in my opinion, should in this country be entirely cuinposod of artificers, " and kept at military work, making and repairing material, as well as keeping in " order fortifications, barracks, &c., by periodical pointing of masonry before heavy " expenditure becomes necessary from long-continued neglect. I must in this con- " nection draw attention to paragraph 10 of Lieutenant-Colonel Irwin's Report on "A" Battery S.Q., in which he complains of the absence of any system by which " Ofiicers placed by general orders in charge of fortifications, might direct or in some " way supervise and report upon the repairs considered necessary, and upon the final " character of such repairs, when executed by the Public Works or other depart- " ment. " The service of the battery were called in aid of the civil power at Quebec on Ist " May, 12th June, and 17th September, and at Montreal on the 12th July, while " those of the detachment of 'B' battery from St. Helen's were on duty ui various " localities for a protracted period. It is not necessary for me to refer in detaU to " these services, as they have been already noticed in General Orders in terms of " approval by the General Otlicer Commanding. " The ten G-l-pounder PalUser guns purchased for Quebec, as well as the 7-inch and " 8-inch guns presented b_^, liir W. Palliser, were landed by the battery and mounted " as far as the racers and platforms laid by the Public Works Department admitted. " One 7-inch B.L.R. gun platform only has been completed at the Levis forts (No. 1), " on which the gun has been mounted. A 64.-pounder Palliser has been also mounted " at Orleans Island for gun practice. " It would be very desirable if the small outlay required to cover the guns so " placed on Orleans Island could be sanctioned, a half-sunken battery reveted with " iron-band gabions could be erected by the men of the battery at a trifling cost. " In conclusion, I beg respectfully to remark that the instruction of infantry, " cavalry, engineers, and artillery is best carried on by working together under a " single director, with regimental Officers for each arm. In the circumstance of " Canada, where the money vote for military purposes must be very limited, the con- " tinuous tactical instruction of any or of oil arms can only be so maiuiged, and by " having recourse to skeleton manoeuvres, reconnaissance, occu])ation, attack and " defence of positions, &c. No arm can be thoroughly educated by itself ; and the " necessary small bodies of regular troops that can be permanently maintained in " Canada, if disseminated in small separate schools for each arm, will, in my opinion, " fail to give instruction beyond barriuik yard drill, and a certain limited exijcrience " of interior economy, alone possible to a detached company, or even larger body of " infantry. It is only jjossible to give such theoretical instruction in fortification, " reconnaissance, and the art of war generally, in establishments with a certain staff, " apd a considerable number of Officers as pupils. In these days the military instruc- " tion that is limited to drill, neatness of turn out, &c , is of little value when not " combined with some higher military knowledge. Tlie examination returns of the " Quebec Gunnery School, show how naturally the instruction of engineers and " infantry falls in with that of garrison artillery ; as the gorrison artillery Officer " and gunner or engineer must be taught infantry drill before ho bMomes a gunner " or engineer, so the cavalry instruction fits in with that of the mounted artillery, " who must be trained as cavalry. After seven years' experience I caimot alter my " opinion, that the limited cxpimsion necessary to enable the Gunnery Schools to " become schools for all arms, as well as garrisons and nuclei to the Militia in time " of need, is the most economical and efficientmeansof maintaining a permnnent force. " In a country happily exempt from the j)robability of frequent xnrs, it is essential " that such Officers and soldiers as are permanently enlisted should be continuously " employed in instruction of the Notional Militia, to keep bright their own know- " ledge. Such detachments as are necessary for small garrisons ond branch school*, " should be commanded from, and frequently relieved by the Central School, other- t THE MILITARY ASPECT OF CANADA. 63 " wise the necessity of snow fatigues, wood cutting, &c., which prevent the regular " instruction of a small detachment (especially in a climate like Canada) combined " with other influence:!, tend to certain deterioration, and is at best, in my opinion, " a waste of public money. " T. Bland Steange, Lieutenant-Colonel, R.A., " Commandant, School of Ounnery, " Quebec." i i " Royal Militarif College of Canada, " Kingston, Ontario. " The Military College is established for the purpose of imparting a complete education in aU branches of military tactics, fortification, engineering, and general scientific knowledge in subjects connected with, and necessary to, a tliorough know- ledge of the military profession, and for qualifying Officers for command and for ' staff appointments. " The length of the course of instruction will be for four years. " Instructions during the gear 1878. — Theoretical Subjects. " The subject of theoretical instruction of the several classes have, in accordance ' with regulations, been as follows : — " 8th Class. " Mathematics. " Geometrical drawing. " French. " 7tA Class. " Mathematics. " French. " Geometrical drawing. " Fortification. " Military topography and civil sur- veying. " German. " 6th Class. " Mathematics. " French. " Descriptive geometry. " Fortification. " Artillery (theory and of). " Military topography and civil sur- veying. " German. " Military administration, construction " 5th Class. " Mathematics. " French. " Descriptive geometry. " Fortification. " Tactics. "Artillery (theory and construction of). " Military topography and civil sur- veying. " German. " MiUtary administration and law. " 4th Class. " Mathematics. " French. " Descriptive geometry. " Fortification. " Strategy and tactics. " Artillery (theory and construction of). " Military topography and civil sur- veying. " German. " Military administration and law. " Recomiaissance. " The class work during the year demonstrates increased application to study and " considerable inn)rovement in tlie rate of progress, on the j)art of the cadets, and " the general result of the several examinations held in the spring term affords a " distinct advance on those of previous terms. " The general knowledge of the Cadets who joined during 1878, as exhibited by 64 THE MILITARY ASPECT OF CANADA. " examination after joining the College, is aboTe the overage of the Cadets of pre- " Tious batches. This is gratifying, as tending to show that the educational estab- " lishments of the country are preparing their pupils for admission to the Boyal *' Military College. " Requirements to complete the specified course of Education. -^Theoretical Subjects. " By regulation approved in Council, the whole of the classes should have received " instruction in freehand drawing and painling since Jiinuary, 1878, and the 4th " class in civil engineering, chemistrg, eleclricitg, and geologg since September, 1878, " but in default of instructors for these subjects, it has not been practii-able to carry " out the prescribed course. I beg most strongly to urge that provision may be " made, by appointment of professors for these branches, for commencing those " subjects next term, viz., February, 1878. " The want of instruction in freehaud drawing especially has already injuriously " affected both the progress of the cadets and the generiil curriculum of sfudy. " The general course of education is so arranged that proficiency attained in some " one subject may, at tlie ])ropcr time and point, prepare for and assist in the study " of some other subject ; indeed a certain amoimt of knowledge in one branch is not " unfrequently indispensable for tlie jirosecution of another. I nuiy add that the " cadets themselves ire fully alive to tliis fact, and are keenly anxious to possess the " facilities fi.f learning subjects which tliey are conscious tlnit they are now suffl- " ciently advanced in education to undertake with profit and the facUities for which " they, with justice, fully expected to be accorded to them. "The importance, botii to the country and to the individual, that the subjects " alluded to should be studied as originally intended, and that they should be taught " by highly qualified and thoroughly ca])able men, carmot be questioned, " The number of cadets is now such that it is not ])ossible for one professor to " pretend to give, without an assistant, adequate and i)erst)nal instruction in any of " the branches of instruction, still less for him to attempt to teach more than one " subject. " The professors feel and represent to me that, in spite of their strenuous efforts, " the inability to give sufticient attention to each cadet individually is becoming a " very serious evil, and 1 entirely endorse tlieir opinion. I respectfully submit that " this matter may receive early consideration and remedy, as being one which the " interests of the country and cadets are equally concerned. " Instruction during gear.— Practical Subjects. " The cadets of 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5tli terms have been practised in infantry " drills, gynuiastics, swimming, &c. ; and those of the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th terms " in garrison and field artillery drills and exercises in addition. " The cadets have gone through a systematic course of rifle (Martini-Henry) " instruction with target practice, and also of artillery target practice with common " and shrapnel from 9-pounder M.L.R. gun. " The average obtained by the cadets in rifle practice was extremely good, and the " artillery prnctice was fully e<|ual to the averiige of perfectly traineil gunners. "A regular guard of cadets (those in their first term excepted) has been mounted " twice a week, and the duty has been performed steadily and satisfactorily. " The service of a sergeant instructor in gymnastics, swordnuinshij), fencing, Ac, " has proved of substantial advantage, and the cadets now enjoy every facility for " the cultivation of their ])hysical powers and of acquiring readiness of hand and " eye, under skilled supervision, and therefore without danger of accident. " A full battery of four 6-pounder smooth-bore field guns has been received. These " guns, on account of their comparatively light weight, are better fitted than the " 9-pounder M.L.R guns for the cadets to practise field movements with hand drag " ropes in place of horse draught. " These guns are used only for field manoeuvres, but not for other drills or target " practice. 1 THE MILITARY ASPECT OF CANADA. «') " Requirements to complete the specified course of Education — Practical Subjects. " Instruction and practice in equitation sliould, in accordance with Regulations of " Council, have been commenced last September, but no horecs have as yet been made " available for this service. " An Ollicer who cannot ride is useless on the Staff or for any mounted corps or " duty ! every Otilcer is likely to be called upon to perform mounted duty, while all " should aspire to Staff employ. " A man seldom becomes even a moderate horseman unless he learns riding during " his youth. " The addition of about fifteen horses to the Kingston 'A' Battery, School of Gun- " ncry, would render it an etl'ective field battery (which, for want of horses, it is not ' at present) and at the same time enable it to jirovide the necessary facilities for " practice of equitation by the cadets of the Military College. This addition of •' horses would also probably suffice to enable a limited number of cavalry OlTicers "and non-commissioned oflicers to be attaeJiod to 'A' battery for the purpose of " going through a much needed course of riding. " At all military educational institutions similar to the Royal Military College " there is always a detachment of regular soldiers who perform certain necessary " duties far more economically and satisfactorily than civilians, and by a very small " increase to 'A' battery the latter might afford similar assistance to the College, " while having the men available for recall to their battery as gunners for any " emergency. " The prescribed course of military drills and exercises is designed to culminate " with practical exercises in military engineering. It is to be regretted that the " absence of the neci'ssary facilities prevented this instruction from being commenced " last September, and I beg to urge that provision be made at the earliest possible '■ date to render the ultimate completion of the intended course feasible. " The honourable distinction which has been recently granted to the College by " the conferring ujion it of the designation 'Royal Military College of Canada,' " forms a step in the history of the institution. " It is especially gratifying as an evidence that the military spirit, high tone, con- " duet, and ability of the gentlemen cadets has not passed unnoticed, but has been " considered to merit for tlie College the same title which the old military schools of " Great Britain are justly jtroud to bear ; and it thus draws nearer and forms another " bond of comradeship between the Militia of Canada and the other military forces of " Her Majesty. " In estimating the value of the Royal Military College of Canada, in comparison " with the cost of maintenance, the double aspect of the institution should be borne " in mind. " Ist.— It provides a body of young men carefully and highly trained, intellectually " and physically, not only with such military education and habits of order, obedience, " and conunand (due to strict discipline) as is requi-^iite to qualify them to become " thoroughly ])nu'lieal and scientific Ollieers, hut also, by the breadth and general " scope of the curriculum of study, to fit them eq^tially for aiii/ civil business or pro- " ff'xsion, pultlic or private. "2ndly. — The College will, when complete, always have available and ready to turn " out at a moment's notice suflicirnt cadets (after excluding all under 18 years of " age) to form two companies or batteries as efTicient for actual field service, either " as infantn/ or artitleri/, as any troo])s of from over one to not less than four years' " enlistment, existing, whether as regards dij^cipline, drill, or equipment, and far " superior to ordinary regiments in intelligence and general aptitude. " Field service for the gentieineii eiidets as a botli/ is not the primari/ object of " the institution of the Militiu\v College of Canada, but the eajincity for it' is an " important fact, tlu' result of its existence, and of the nuitmcr in which it has been " organized, and one by no means to be ignored in a country which otherwise " possesses but 30() thoroughly trained and permanently enrolled' soldiers ('A' and " ' B' Batteries Caiuulian Artillery), if only as furnishing an available disciplined " armetl force, reatly at a moment's notice to temporarily relieve these troops in the 66 THE MILITARY ASPECT OF CANADA. " charge of forts and stores, and free them for support of the civil power, or action " elsewhere. " Many of the cadets have now been at the Royal Military College for nearly " three years, and I am happy to report my increased confidence that the country " may unhesitatingly rely on the ability and fitness of the majority of them, when " they have completed their full course, viz., June, 1880, to afford her high and " excellent service in whatever position she may demand it from them. Application " has been made for commissions in Her Majesty's Army for the four best qualifled " cadets of each term. " I beg to call your attention to the undiminishetl zeal, ability, and goodwill with " which the staff" generally have continued to assist me in the unremitting and " increasing labours which the circumstances of the College have demanded from " them. " The tax upon the powers of some has been and is greater than it should be, and " it is for me equally a pleasure to acknowledge my personal indebtedness to thorn, " and a duty to record the good and conscientious service which they have given to " Canada. " There are few countries whose national history has not been afiected to an im- " portant degree by their Military Colleges, eitlicr as complete organizations, or by " their cadets individually, and in a country young but rapidly increasing in power " and aspirations, such as Canada, the influence of her Military College cannot be " other thon especially great and beneficial. " The Royal Military College of Caniula is the only institution in which her sons " are brought together under Dominion auspices from all her widely parted provinces, " with their more or less divergent interests and blood. " The ties of comradeship springing from daily inteKiourse and common pursuits " during four years of the most impressionable period of life, cannot fail to create in " the eadeta a strong national instinct rising above pro^-incialiam, while, from the " associations of the institution, the appreciation of the even greater citizenship of " the British Empire is strengthened. '' High excellence in anything cannot be obtained without reasonable and ade- " quate expenditure; and half measures and /r«e economy are at all times incom- " patible. This is peculiarly the case in educational institutions, which, if the means " to sustain them in vigorous life are wanting, very easily, indeed necessarily, doge- " nerat« into unrealities. " The increased facilities for imparting instruction referred to in this report as " necessary to provide the more than ordinarily comprehensive course of education " which the present circumstances of Canada imperatively demand from her Mili- " tary College, are far less than those given to the kindred institutions of any other " country, and so long as this is the case the demand cannot be excessive or extrava- " gant. " In now submitting the outline requirements of the future, as in guiding the past, " of the College, I have assumed than nothing less than high excellence is desired or " will be tolerated. " I have the honour to be, Sir, " STour obedient servant, " E. O. Hewett, Lieut«nant-Colonel, R.E., " Commandant, Royal Military College^' llARBIIOIC AMD eo^S, rBIN'ISBI III OBDUiABT TO IIEB MAJItll, V\ HARTIK'i lAh(. action nearly Juntry , when h and cation aliSed .1 with g and from 3, and them, von to >n im- or by power Qot be r sons finces, irsuits (ate in m the hip of 1 ade- ncom- means dcge- ort as cation Mili- other trava- i past, red or r«.