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Since returning to England another question has arisen in correspondence with persons of experience in Canadian military affairs.
The Imperial Government has, through the Royal Military College of Kingston, generously opened the army for Canadian officers. Why not open the same door for soldiers?
I am informed that some of the best recruits in the service of the United States are Canadians. Why not, therefore, give these men the option of serving under their own flag? It is to be regretted they should be lost to their country, but there is no opening to service for them at home, and, bold and adventurous, they go where they are gladly welcomed.
*
The theory of "localization of forces" of Great Britain and Ireland is under trial, though it seems an unsolved problem how far it can be secured in the sister island, at times approaching to rebellion against constituted law and order; but in loyal and orderly Canada I have no doubt it would be responded to with alacrity. Therefore, I submit that the depôt of the 100th Royal Canadian Regiment should be established in Canada, and allowed to retain a strength of 200 or 300 men for duty there if required, and also to serve as a primary school of instruction for regimental officers and non-commissioned officers of the militia. The want of such a school of instruction is one of the greatest and most prominent defects of the Canadian militia.
By this means the militia would have a standard to follow, and perhaps in a few years, when the country and its public men had come to recognize the advantage of the presence of a few hundred regular troops, the project of a local permanent force might have every prospect of success.
By this means, too, a nucleus for an army reserve would follow with the establishment of a corresponding reserve, which I before suggested through the Canadian militia.
The transport of recruits for the 100th Regiment from Canada, and of time-expired men back to the reserve, would, of course, be a source of some small expense to the Imperial Government, but surely such an additional tie between Great Britain and her largest Colony would be worth a trifling outlay. There is railway communication from all parts of Canada to Halifax,* where troop-ships call every year during the troop relief
season.
Four important points may be considered as the station for this depôt, viz., Quebec, Montreal, Kingston, and Toronto.
Quebec I consider too far east, and surrounded by a French Canadian population, who, however, make very average good soldiers in their own country. Montreal has no barrack, but there is a good one at St. John's, on the River Richelieu, an important strategic point south of Montreal.
Kingston has the Royal Military College, and a battery of permanent artillery for a gunnery school. There would be ample accommodation for a depôt in Fort Henry, an excellent casemated work in good repair, and which would be much improved by perma- nent occupation and constant fires.
Toronto, the capital of Ontario, is in the midst of an English population, where perhaps the best recruits could be procured. It has a good barrack for 300 men in the new fort.
I prefer Kingston as the most central, with existing military establishments and extensive fortified works; also near excellent recruiting ground.
(Signed) E. SELBY SMYTH, Lieutenant-General.
Thames Ditton, November 11, 1880.
No. 109.
Colonial Office to Treasury.
Downing Street, December 21, 1880.
Sir,
IN reply to your letter of the 10th December,+ I am directed by the Earl of Kimberley to transmit to you, to be laid before the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, a copy of a lettert which has been received from the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad, submitting an estimate, as far as is in the power of the Commission, of its expenditure during the ensuing financial year.
(Signed) ROBERT G. W. HERBERT.
I am, &c.
61
No. 110.
Colonial Office to Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad.
Sir,
Downing Street, December 23, 1880. WITH reference to the letter from this Department of the 30th November, I am directed by the Earl of Kimberley to transmit to you, to be laid before the Royal Commis- sion on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad, a copy of a letter which has been received from the War Office, requesting to be informed at an early date of the views of the Commission upon the question of the command of Colonial troops when associated with Imperial troops.
Sir,
No. 111.
-
I
&c. am,
(Signed)
War Office to Colonial Office.
R. H. MEADE.
War Office, December 30, 1880. I AM directed by the Secretary of State for War to inform you that, having had under his consideration the strength of the colonial garrisons, and the advisability of reducing the number of the battalions in the Colonies to that fixed by Her Majesty's Government in 1872, he would be glad to know whether Lord Kimberley has any objection to the reduction of the Mediterranean garrisons from eleven battalions to nine without reducing the number of men; also to the withdrawal of one regiment each from Halifax and Bermuda, raising the strength of the regiment which would remain in each of those stations to 800 men.
As far as the garrisons of the Mediterranean are concerned, the present immediate result of this arrangement would be a reduction of 354 men, but this number will be made up by drafts as soon as possible.
As regards Halifax, the result would be a reduction from 2 battalions, equalling 1,200, to 1 battalion of 800 men; at Bermuda a reduction from 2 battalions, equalling 1,200, to 1 battalion of 800 men.
Sir,
No. 112.
I have, &c. (Signed)
Colonial Office to War Office.
H. G. DEEDES.
Downing Street, January 4, 1881.
I AM directed by the Earl of Kimberley to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 30th December,† asking whether his Lordship would have any objection to the reduction of the Mediterranean garrisons from eleven battalions to nine without reducing the number of men, and also to the withdrawal of one regiment each from Halifax and Bermuda, raising the strength of the regiment which would remain in each of those stations to 800 men.
In reply, Lord Kimberley desires me to request that you will inform Mr. Secretary Childers that he sees no objection on colonial grounds to the reductions and changes proposed.
I am, &c.
(Signed)
ROBERT G. W. HERBERT,
• Over 800 miles of Government railway from Montreal to Halifax.
† No. 101.
‡ No. 106.
• No. 97.
+ No. 111.
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