50
At Nanaimo, including town and district and Comax and Cowichan districts, 350 ; At New Westminster, city and district, including Burrard Inlet, 350.
Beyond the districts mentioned, excepting the mining village of Baskerville, Stanley, and Cassiar, the population is so scattered that there are very few men who could, with safety, leave their homes, for the most part being without assistance and too far separated for neighbours to aid or relieve each other, few men could leave their homes and families.
From the mining villages a small addition might be made to the numbers I have given, but several weeks would be required to enrol men and bring them to the
coast.
If time admitted and arms were available, an auxiliary force of 1,000 Indians could, I have no doubt, be raised.
I have, &c.
(Signed) C. T. DUPONT, Captain,
Acting Deputy Adjutant-General.
Military Colonization. The best defence of a territory is a loyal and contented population. A practicable system of military colonization would add much to the security and development of the country.
This subject has been treated in a paper entitled "Military Aspect of Canada,” read before the United Service Institution, London, 2nd and 7th May, 1879.
It would appear that the most suitable spot for such a system of military coloniza- tion in British Columbia would be the delta of the Fraser; the embankment of such tracts to protect them from the overflow of the river and high tides, as well as the construction of a canal to relieve the surplus waters, would be a work requiring special organization of a military character; it is not a work which can be carried out indepen dently by individuals. The lands when reclaimed would be exceedingly fertile, and there is apparently no fever or malaria in the district.
The advantages of locating a body of military settlers on this frontier at the Continental terminus of the Canadian Pacific Railroad need scarcely be discussed; they might also be employed with advantage in the construction of the railway. Irrigation, which is necessary in many parts east of the Cascade Range, especially along the frontier, is a species of labour in which military organization or something akin to it is essential.
In any case, should it be in contemplation to extend the system of army reserves to Canada by the formation of an Imperial Canadian reserve force, it is to be hoped its provisions will be extended to Vancouver Island and British Columbia.
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."
The defence of Nanaimo appears essential to our supremacy in the Pacific. Fortunately the form of the harbour lends itself very readily to defence, Nanaimo and Departure Bay forming practically one harbour, Newcastle and Protection Island forming natural breakwaters and places for batteries. The Continental terminus of the Canadian Pacific Railroad will probably necessitate some batteries on the mainland of British Columbia.
Colonel Lovell, C.B., R.E., has the plans and estimates for the works proposed in Vancouver Island, of which I was to receive a copy.
I have, &c.
(Signed) T. BLAND STRANGE, Lieut.-Colonel, R.A,
Dominion Inspector of Artillery.
Citadel, Quebec, November 7, 1879.
Bir,
51
(A.)
Instructions.
(Confidential.)
War Office, July 1, 1879. His Royal Highness the Field-Marshal Commanding-in-chief having been pleased to direct you to proceed to Vancouver Island for the purpose of reporting on the defences, I have to inform you that certain measures were taken last year for the purpose of providing temporary defences, which were partially erected by officers of the Dominion Government and armed with guns lent by the Admiralty.
The Report of the Colonial Defence Committee of last year, forwarded berewith, will explain their views upon the subject. I also forward Reports by Lieutenant-General Sir E. Selby Smyth, Colonel Blair, R.A., and Admiral de Horsey, R.N., referring thereto, with Lieutenant-Colonel Irwin's plan of defence and chart of the port in question.
You will be good enough to place yourself in communication with Lieutenant- Colonel Strange, R.A., Inspector of Dominion Artillery, who has been sent by the Dominion Government, and after conferring with him to report in detail on the following points :-
1. 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.
2. Whether the two harbours can be considered independently, or whether, on the other hand, the scheme of defence must necessarily embrace both, bearing in mind that Esquimalt, as an Imperial station, is of primary importance.
3. 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.
These are the principal points to which your attention should be directed, but I may add that your Report should be as full as possible, and accompanied with plans and approximate estimates.
It is desirable that your inspection should be completed and your Report furnished with the least possible delay.
J. L. A. SIMMONS, General.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
To Colonel Lovell, C.B.,
Commanding R.E., Halifax.
(B.)
(Confidential.)
Sir,
War Office, July 1, 1879. With reference to my letter to you of this day, I am to request you, when in Vancouver Island, to visit Nanaimo, which has been brought to the notice of the Secretary of State for War as the station from which the dockyard at Esquimalt and steam-ships navigating the Northern Pacific along the coast of America are chiefly supplied with coal.
The defence of Nanaimo may, therefore, become a matter of importance, as well for securing a supply of fuel for the use of British steam-ships as for preventing an enemy from obtaining such supplies. The Secretary of State is therefore desirous of taking advantage of your visit to Vancouver Island to obtain your views as to the advisableness of providing defences for this port, and the means to be taken for its defence in case such a measure should at any time become necessary.
The Secretary of State for War will also be glad to receive any views you may form generally on the measures to be taken for the defence of the Pacific coast of Her Majesty's dominions in the event of war, bearing in mind its distance from any established naval arsenal, and the difficulties which must therefore attend hostile operations directed against it.
To Colonel Lovell, C.B.,
Commanding R.E., Halifax, N.B.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
J. L. A. SIMMONS, General.
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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
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