PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
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Reference :-
C.O. 885
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON İ
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO
Militia HILI, 1840.
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westward, and the ground falls somewhat steeply towards Quiddy Viddy Lake and the harbour of St. John's.
33. Third Consideration.
As regards the third principal consideration, viz., the best and most economical means of defence, the question has to be considered in its relation to the peculiar charac- teristics and occupation of the people of Newfoundland.
Hitherto very little has been done by the Local Government in making preparations for the defence of a harbour which in time of war must be so important, both for colonial and Imperial purposes, and the Colony has relied entirely on Imperial assistance for protection against foreign aggression.
In the year 1846 a Bill was introduced into the House of Assembly, by direction of Governor Sir J. Harvey, for establishing a militia force in the Colony, but after being read a first time it was withdrawn by the Attorney-General, and the attempt was abandoned.
In the year 1859 this question was again brought up, and in the following year it considered in 1859-60. was submitted to a joint Committee of both branches of the Legislature, who presented a
Report on the subject, dated the 7th March, 1860. The following is an extract:-
Question of militia
Volunteers, 1860.
Opinion of Council in the year 1878.
Character and avo-
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"They are of opinion that the Legislature of Newfoundland would do well to lend their ready concurrence to any well-considered undertaking for affording increased military defence to this Colony which may be consistent with the public means at their disposal and the many imperative claims upon the revenue for the internal improvement of the Colony.
"Your Committee would further report that in the year 1846, on the recommendation of the Secretary of State, a Bill was introduced into the Legislature for the establishment of a militia, which was withdrawn, the prevailing opinion then, and still, being that such a measure, as a reliable means of defence, would be impracticable, from the peculiar avocations of the great bulk of the people necessarily engaging them in the fisheries during the greater part of the year. Your Committee concur in this view, and regard it as an additional reason for the increase of the present garrison."
In the course of the same year (1860) the subject of raising a volunteer corps was considered, and eventually five companies were organized in the Colony and armed by the Imperial Government. This force does not appear to have been a very great success at any time, and at the end of three years it ceased to exist.
After this all idea of adopting any system of local defence seems to have been com- pletely abandoned, and from the year 1870, when the Imperial troops were withdrawn, up to the present time, not the slightest attempt has ever been made by the Colony to develop any practical measures for its own defence.
In the year 1878, when there was a possibility of England being engaged in war, the question of the assistance which could be afforded by the Colony for its own defence was brought by Governor Sir J. H. Glover before the Executive Council, who decided that "all that the Government feel themselves in a position to undertake is to provide volun. teer gunners for guns provided at the expense of the Imperial Exchequer."
It will be observed from the foregoing extracts that all attempts to raise a militia force in the Colony have hitherto failed, and whilst we find the inhabitants of the adjacent provinces of the Dominion of Canada are liable to be balloted and called out in accordance with the Militia Acts of the Dominion, the people of Newfoundland cannot by law be called to perform any service whatever by land or sea.
upon
This may in some measure be due to the habits and avocations of the male portion of the community rendering it very difficult, and almost impossible, to organize them as soldiers. In order the more readily to understand any suggestions which may be sub- mitted for raising a local force for the defence of Newfoundland, it becomes necessary to give a brief description of the character and habits of its people.
The great bulk of the labouring population are employed, directly or indirectly, in the
cations of the people. fisheries which are the staple industry of the Colony,
With the exception of those who reside in St. John's and Harbour Grace, the popula- tion are scattered around the entire coast-line of the island, living in small villages and hamlets situated on the shores of the various bays, creeks, and harbours which indent the coast wherever facilities exist for catching and curing fish.
Their occupations are thus thoroughly healthy. Much of their lives is spent in the open air in a cliinate very favourable to health. Under these circumstances, we find them to be a robust, hardy race, with a physical development which compares favourably with that of other population; possessed of wonderful powers of enduring trial and priva- tion; patient, industrious, and, as a whole, characterized by sobriety. They are orderly
any
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and taw-abiding. Crime of a serious character is rare. They are quiet, peaceable, thoroughly loyal, and attached to the British Constitution, and easily subjected to discipline. Their great want is education, which, owing to a defective system, and the scattered condition of the population, is very limited.
Accustomed from their early years to the sea, the male portion of the fishing popula. tion are admirable sailors, and unsurpassed for skill, courage, and endurance. Some 10,000 of them embark each spring in the prosecution of the seal-fishery, an occupation involving great hardships which only the strongest men could encounter. These are the picked men of the fishermen class, and in regard to physical development and power of enduring toil and exposure it would be impossible to find a finer body of men than the seal-hunters of Newfoundland.
From these strong daring men, inured from boyhood to dangers, and accustomed to toil and privation, an excellent force might be raised which, if encouraged and duly trained and organized, would prove a most valuable auxiliary in the defence of the Colony.
[Note.-France has always been impressed with the vast importance of the New- foundland fisheries as an extensive nursery for the seamen whom she requires to man her flect.]
The people of Newfoundland generally are thoroughly loyal and attached to the British People easily influ Constitution, but they are easily agitated, and, from want of education, are readily subject enced by political to the influence of any party which affects a popular character, the leaders of which have agitators, nothing in common with the people, and little or no connection with the fisheries, their principal object being to influence and use them for their own political advantage.
In the present day Newfoundland includes a larger portion of the Roman Catholic Religion. element in proportion to its population than any other British Colony.
The proportion of Protestants to Roman Catholics in the whole island is about three to two, but in St. John's the Roman Catholics greatly predominate, being in the propor tion of two to one. There is a very strong Irish element among the lower classes in St. John's; most of them are uneducated, and all are very excitable and frequently very turbulent. No very great reliance can be placed on the loyalty of this part of the com- munity, and it must always be a matter for serious consideration whether it would be advisable, even if it were possible, to organize them as a militia.
No Colony appears to offer greater advantages as a military station, in respect to the Advantages and dia healthy nature of its climate, and the moderate prices of all the necessaries of life, which advantages of the compare favourably with the cost of supplies in the adjacent provinces of the Dominion of station.
Colony as a military
Canada.
As regards the discipline of the troops when quartered in the Colony, it would appear that the crime of drunkenness prevailed to a very considerable extent. Spirits could be procured at a cheap rate, and were very much drugged and adulterated. There was a constant intermixture and association between the soldier and the inhabitants of the town, and the men were frequently tempted to desert under promises which were never fulfilled.
A permanent Imperial force, called the Royal Newfoundland Companies, was estab- lished about the year 1825, but the evils resulting from having any permanent corps for duty in the Colony were fully recognized, and in 1862 the companies were broken up and their places in garrison filled up by men from the Royal Canadian Rifles, who were relieved from time to time until the garrison was withdrawn from St. John's.
how
From this brief review of the social elements existing in this Colony, it will be seen Remarks. many difficulties stand in the way of raising and organizing a well-disciplined and effective militia, and it must be extremely doubtful whether such a force could be properly organized from a population of scafaring men, few of whose residences are located beyond 3 miles from the seashore, and who are absent from their homes for nearly eight luonths in the year engaged in the fisheries.
Although, from the character and avocations of the people of Newfoundland, it may Force organized on a
raised,
not be possible to organize a militia trained as soldiers, there can be no doubt that with a naval model might be hardy seafaring population, far greater in proportion than that of any other Colony, advantage might be taken of such a class of men for the formation of an efficient and reliable reserve for the defence of the Colony.
The naval model would appear to be in many ways far better suited for such a force than a purely military system, and with careful organization and strict naval discipline whilst under training, it may reasonably be concluded that in a few years Newfoundland would possess a reserve which would prove a most valuable auxiliary to Imperial arms, and, as regarde quality, would be equal to, if not better than, any other Colonial force of a
similar nature.