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17. The only ports on the Pacific Coast of Canada likely in the near future to offer inducements to such attack are Vancouver, the terminus of the Canadian Pacifio Railway, and Prince Rupert, the terminus of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway, which is likely soon to develop into a commercial port of considerable importance.

Standard of Defences.

18. In the Colonial Defence Committee's Memorandum No. 417 M., dated the 7th July, 1910, it is stated :—

"27. In regard to the question of the local defence of naval ports and commercial harbours, it has already been explained that the protection afforded by the navy constitutes their main security from attack from the sea in war; but it is obvious that naval action alone will not serve to guarantee absolute immunity from hasty predatory attacks by hostile warships, which may have succeeded temporarily in evading the vigilance of our fleets.

"To render all ports of the Empire absolutely secure against such attacks, the provision of local defences at each port would no doubt be necessary. As, however, our resources are not unlimited, it is not possible to make every portion of the Empire secure against all the contingencies of war. All that can be aimed at is to provide for the defence of important and vulnerable objectives against such forms of attack as, having regard to the strategic conditions, are regarded as reasonably probable.”

19. Owing to the remoteness of the Pacific Coast of Canada from foreign naval bases and from the main theatres of naval wars, it is improbable that hostile warships would be found operating in these waters in time of war, and consequently the ohances of attack even by raiding cruisers are extremely small. It is suggested, however, in view of the probable development of these ports, that fixed defences on the moderate scale required to deter attack by unarmoured cruisers should be provided at Vancouver and Prince Rupert.

20. In the absence of plans showing in detail the topographical and hydro- graphical features, and the position of docks and other vulnerable objectives, existing or projected, the Colonial Defence Committee do not feel qualified to make detailed recommendations regarding the fixed defences of these ports. They desire, however, to draw attention to their Memorandum No. 376 M., dated the 2nd January, 1907, on the general principles governing the standard of fixed defences at Colonial ports, in paragraph 11 of which the nature of armament required to meet the attack of unarmoured cruisers is discussed. They adhere to the opinion expressed therein that the 6-inch gun is the most suitable weapon to deal with this form of attack.

21. In expressing the above opinions as to the scale of probable attack on the Pacific Coast, the Colonial Defence Committee have not taken into consideration the possibility of a port on the Pacific Coast being developed as a naval base for Canadian warships stationed in these waters. They have not sufficient information as to the future naval policy of the Canadian Government to enable them usefully to make any suggestions to meet possible future naval developments, but they would observe that should a port on the Pacific Coast ultimately be developed as a naval base, the inducements to a hostile naval commander to attack such a port will be materially increased, and the scale of probable attack and the scale of defences required to meet it will have to be reconsidered.

January 5, 1911.

(Signed) J. R. CHANCELLOR, Secretary,

Colonial Defence Committee.

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