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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE

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C.O. 885 / 5 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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PROVINCE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA.

Victoria and Esquimault.

The defensive works at these stations consist of temporary earthen barbette gun batteries erected in 1878, and armed with rifled guns obtained from the Imperial naval authorities. There are four batteries, one on a small island commanding the entrance to Esquimalt harbour, another on a point midway between the latter and Victoria harbour, and two others on the shore line south of Victoria city.

The woodwork of some of the carriages and platforms is reported as being somewhat decayed, but otherwise the defences, such as they are, are in serviceable condition.

The armament consists of:-

On wrought-iron carriages and plat-

One 8-in. 9 ton R.M.L.

gun

Three 7-in. 7 ton

"

} forms.

Six 64-pr. 64 cwt.

On wooden carriage and platforms.

Ottawa, 2nd April, 1883.

LETTER Written by Colonel PoWELL, Adjutant-General, to the MINISTER OF MILITIA.

SIR,

In view of the inquiry recently made as to the nature of the employment of graduates of the Royal Military College, I take the liberty, in supplying you with that information, to say a few words in respect of the Militia and as to the advantages which have resulted, and are likely to result, from the establishment of the excellent system of military instruction now being tested by Canada.

If our opinion of the usefulness of the Royal Military College is to be based upon its present condition and the results of the past, there can be little doubt as to the benefits likely to flow from its future maintenance. It must be understood that the success of such an institution depends very much upon the capacity and tone of its professors and instructors, the good conduct and aptitude of the cadets, the love and respect of the graduates for the place where they were educated, and the increased qualification for employment, both military and civil, the education affords. When all these are favourable, as in the present instance, and the affairs of the institution are administered with vigor and singleness of purpose, the result cannot fail to pro- mote the object for which it is maintained. The allocation of vacancies to districts, and competitive examinations for cadetships, which are open to every young Canadian of required age, insures representation from all parts of the Dominion, and the possession of candidates, who may be successful, of some knowledge in many subjects of study.

In addition to the primary objects of the College, the course affords a thoroughly practical, scientific, and sound training in all departments which are essential to a high and general modern education. The civil engineering course. is complete and thorough in all branches. The obligatory course in surveying is such as is required for the profession of land surveyors; the voluntary course of surveying, that required for topographical surveyors.

Time will tell whether or not the hopes and expectations of those who believe the College and subordinate schools of instruction necessary, are to be verified; but it seems evident that the magnitude and importance of the interests involved, and of the duties which must devolve upon the population, are such as to render not only the maintenance of an armed force a necessity, but also provision for the education of those who are to command and instruct that force.

There can be no consciousness of growing weakness or decay in a country that possesses all the elements of progress and enough undeveloped territory for a large population. Indeed, it is so extensive that to secure uniformity in military organisation, it is indispensable that the germ of a system should be found in a military college and schools of military instruction. Without these it will be impossible, under existing circumstances, to maintain that oneness in detail needed in a force which is auxiliary as regards the other forces of the Empire, and national in respect to the interior affairs of the Dominion.

The College course founded on well-defined principles and for specified objects. The syllabus of study and training has been prepared with care and method, in order that all instruction may tend to useful ends and purposes, that the graduates may act their part well as good citizens, and that there will be few struggles between inclination and the sense of duty whenever their services may be required for the public purposes

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of the Dominion. All will not possess the highest qualifications for administrative duties, but out of the number educated many will attain to that capacity, and become available for such work. The bent of the inclination of some will be in one direction, and of others in another, but diversity of employment will afford ample means for the occupation of all.

The number graduated to end of College year, July, 1882, is 54. Of these 11 hold commissions in the Imperial Regular Army, two are assistants to professors in the College, one is an inspector in the North-West Mounted Police, 23 in civil engineering, railway works, &c., six in land surveying, one in agriculture, four in commerce, one in Customs, one as divinity student, one as bank clerk, one temporarily unemployed from ill-health, two occupation not reported.

Eight of these are in the United States, and one in New Zealand, of whom seven belong to the first batch of graduates. In addition to the above two others are at present in the United States, but are on the "Michigan Air Line," now being constructed by the Grand Trunk Railway of Canada.

Owing to the recent establishment of the College, and want of knowledge in the country of the value of the qualification of the graduates for civil employment, some of them experienced difficulty in obtaining suitable situations in Canada, not from any fault of the system, but because they had no person of influence to recommend them. It must, however, be remembered that Canadian railways have, until recently, sought their engineer staff from abroad, and that in the United States the qualifications of graduates from West Point have long been appreciated. It is, therefore, not wonderful that those who failed to secure suitable places here at once should find less difficulty there. This should, however, be looked upon as a temporary obstacle, as the cause will likely disappear as the nature of the education and the qualifications of graduates become more generally known. Even now it is a subject for congratulation that so few have accepted situations elsewhere and that these have expressed a preference for hoine employment. The conditions which created the necessity for a military college are now more strongly marked than when it was established. The Dominion has reached an important point in its destiny. Development, which until recently was confined within comparatively narrow limits, is now extending into the North-West, and bids fair to be the means of adding new Provinces which possess great natural resources, and which will enlarge the bounds of agriculture and commerce, add vastly to the revenue, and afford facilities for the promotion of those objects which the dictates of experience point out as necessary to ensure public protection. It is evident that a country which does not maintain a regular army, and depends on its population for defence, must, of necessity, provide a means, on a settled basis, for the dissemination of needful military instruction. It will, therefore, be seen that, under the peculiar circumstances, the establishment of this College for the education of cadets in subjects relating to all arms, and of practical schools for officers and non-commissioned officers of each arm, based upon enlisted corps of active militia, are the only means by which a militiary organisation that will stand the test of time can be maintained in a satisfactory manner, and that although the objects of the course point also to provision for technical instruction in specified subjects, other than military, these subjects are so intertwined as to give ultimate strength to the primary object entertained in founding the College.

The steady expansion in all departments of industry which create public and private wealth, affords ample evidence of the necessity for skilled men who possess special knowledge, and although this development has not been disturbed since the College was established, by causes requiring the services of a military force, the provision made for the education in advance of those who will be available for such duty, must prove of great value. Even though it is not possible to predict what emergencies may arise in the future, it is apparent that in proportion as the country is prepared to meet them, the frequency of their occurrence is likely to diminish.

The liberality of the Imperial Government in loaning trained officers for professorial work in the College, and in awarding commissions to graduates, has been productive of good results, in enabling Canada to open its College under favourable auspices, and to make provision for the future by the gradual development of its own resources. The purposes of both Governments are therefore well served by an arrangement which will doubtless prove beneficial to both. The professors who are loaned to Canada will, on completion of their tours of duty at the College, return to England, strengthened in experience, and with increased powers for usefulness, while it may be hoped some of the graduates who have obtained commissions in the army will, in the course of time, return to Canada, possessing qualifications for useful careers in the service of their native country.

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