42.
cated to the Dominion Government with the above-mentioned despatch, be adopted, as it would be of the greatest importance to be in possession of a Code of complete instruc- tions by which merchant vessels could be made available in time of war.
The Committee submit the foregoing recommendations for your Excellency's approval.
Certified,
(Signed) J. O. COTE, Assistant Clerk, Privy Council, Canada.
No. 69.
Governor-General the Marquis of Lorne, K.T., to the Right Hon. Sir Michael Hicks Beach, Bart.-(Received December 9.)
(Secret.) Sir,
Government House, Ottawa, November 25, 1879, WITH reference to the correspondence which has passed regarding the works of defence of Esquimalt and Victoria, I have the honour to transmit herewith a copy of a letter from the Department of Militia and Defence covering a Report by Lieutenant- Colonel T. Bland Strange, R.A., the officer appointed by the Canadian Government to report on the above subject, accompanied by a letter from Lieutenant-General Sir Edward Selby Smyth, K.C.M.G., relative to this question.
Sir,
Inclosure 1 in No. 69.
I have, &c. (Signed)
LORNE.
The Department of Militia and Defence to the Governor-General's Secretary.
Ottawa, November 20, 1879.
IN reply to a Secret despatch of the 3rd February last on the subject of the defence of Esquimalt and Victoria, British Columbia, I am directed by the Honourable the Minister of Militia and Defence to transmit to you herewith the statement of Lieutenant- Colonel Thomas Bland Strange, R.A., Dominion Inspector of Artillery, the officer detailed by the Canadian Government to report on the above subject, together with a letter from Lieutenant-General Sir E. Selby Smyth, K.C.M.G., commanding the militia, addressed to the Honourable the Minister of Militia and Defence.
I have, &c.
Sir,
(Signed)
Inclosure 2 in No. 69.
C. ENG. PANET, Dy. M. of Militia and Defence.
Report on the Defence of British Columbia.
Citadel, Quebec, November 7, 1879.
I HAVE the honour to submit the following Report on the defence of British Columbia.
I have treated this subject, first, on the general' question of its vulnerability and the means of defence; second, categorically in reply to the letters of instruction from the Imperial Government, copies of which, (B), (C), given to me by Colonel Lovell, C.B., R.E., are attached herewith.
I have, &c.
(Signed) T. BLAND STRANGE, Lieut-Colonel, R.A.,
Dominion Inspector of Artillery.
The Lieut.-General Commanding Militia of Canada.
C
(Confidential.)
43
Inclosure 9 in No. 69.
Report on the Defence of British Columbia.
I. "GENERAL question of vulnerability and means of defence."
II. "The means to be adopted for placing the harbours of Esquimalt and Victoria in an efficient state of defence, by permanent works, the extent to which the temporary works may be made available being reported.
III. "Whether these two harbours may be considered independently, or whether, on the other hand, a scheme of defence must necessarily embrace both, bearing in mind that Esquimalt, as an Imperial station, is of primary importance."
IV. "The garrison required to be permanently maintained, and the manner in which such garrison should be constituted, stating the extent to which assistance in this respect may be expected from local resources."
V. The advisability of providing defences for the coaling-station at Nanaimo, from which the dockyard at Esquimalt and steam-ships navigating the Northern Pacific along the coast of America are chiefly supplied with coal.”
ゾ
I. "General question of vulnerability and means of defence ":-
Referring to the last paragraph of the letter of instruction (B), herewith attached, "on the measures to be taken for the defence of the Pacific coast of Her Majesty's dominions in the event of war," we are directed to bear in mind its distance from any naval arsenal, and the difficulties which must therefore attend hostile operations directed against it. I consider it my duty to bring to your notice the following facts, which show that the difficulties of defence are greater than the facilities for attack, and that the bases of hostile operations are much nearer than is implied in the paragraph above mentioned. Nevertheless, I am of opinion that it is by no means impracticable to place the few vital points in a position of security by the emplacement of powerful guns, supplemented by torpedoes and telegraph signals; and that a comparatively small garrison, aided by local resources and the completion of communication by the Canadian Pacific Railway, would maintain the integrity of the Empire, which otherwise, I respect- fully submit, will be endangered at no distant day from internal as well as external Bources of disintegration.
With regard to the nearest naval arsenal and base of hostile operations, the United States' naval establishment at Meare's Island, and the ordnance establishments at Benicia, they are admirably situated as a base, and protected by the effective and heavily-armed works in San Francisco Harbour; and though the political system of the United States does not tend to efficiency in dockyards and arsenals, we must bear in mind the extra- ordinary energy of the people of the United States, their wealth, and power of rapid production of war material when once engaged in war.
The Government naval and ordnance establishments at Meare's Island and Benicia would be immediately and largely supplemented by the private enterprise of the large forging establishments and factories, and the enormous material and shipping interests of the State of California, which is also connected by railroad with the coal and iron districts and arsenals of the Eastern States. A second railway is already in progress, the North Pacific Railroad, with a terminus on Puget Sound, where coal is being worked (at Seattle). In fact, within two or three years there will be five lines of railways, besides a network of telegraphs, which will bring the Pacific coast into direct communication with the Eastern States, in addition to the ordinary sea route from San Francisco to the Straits of Fuca, which would enable the United States to launch a large body of troops and war material from a point not many miles from our frontier before any assistance could be obtained from the nearest British base of supply, India.
Our only telegraphic communication between British Columbia and England, or even Canada, passes through the United States. This will be remedied at an early date, no doubt, and the Canadian Pacific Railroad will be pushed forward to completion. That portion already decided upon, along a part of the Valley of the Fraser to the navi gable waters of that river, will open up a stock and grain-producing tract which would otherwise have been tapped by the United States' North Pacific line into Washington
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