pocket. We shall not rely upon these oversea ships to defend the shores of Britain, for they will not be always immediately available. But they will constitute a number of allied navies prepared to come to the assistance of the Mother-Country in the home waters, to aid her in guarding the great trade routes, and to set free part of the force she keeps in the Atlantic, the Pacific, and the Indian Oceans. There will not be one British Navy, but three or four, and the enemies of the Empire will have to reckon with them all."

Thus, in favour of the creation of a Canadian Navy there are solid arguments.

It is to be noted1 that it was one of the principles laid down at the Conference as the basis of the defence organization of the Empire that it was the duty of each self-governing nation to provide, as far as possible, for its own territorial security. Primarily, the sphere of action of the Canadian Navy must be its own waters and bordering seas; but, nevertheless, it is not to be tied to that sphere, which would greatly reduce its power and its usefulness.

How the Canadian Navy or Army would in any particular case be employed upon the outbreak of war must depend upon the character of that war, and must be decided at the time between the Home and Canadian Governments; but it may be anticipated that for the first few days or even weeks of war the security of the Canadian frontier must necessarily depend upon the readiness of the Canadian sea and land forces to maintain it.

1 See p. 3.

One important provision of the Bill creating the Canadian Navy is that, in the case of emergency, the Dominion Government may, by an Order in Council,1 place the fleet at the disposal of His Majesty the King (in whom the command-in-chief is vested) for general service with the Royal Navy; and the Prime Minister for Canada, Sir Wilfrid Laurier, when asked whether "emergency" meant war in Canada or abroad, is stated2 to have thus replied:

"War anywhere. If Great Britain is at war with any nation of the world, then Canada is liable to invasion, and Canada is at war."

The value of the future Canadian fleet to the Empire, and for the security of the Dominion frontier, must naturally and mainly depend upon whether, when created, it is kept up, in spite of all political pressure, in full efficiency as regards personnel, armament, equipment, and stores, and prepared for instant war; to secure which, skilled and impartial inspection is absolutely essential, and will, it is assumed, be arranged for.

It probably is not so much the conviction that any threatening war-clouds are about to burst before the Canadian Navy has come into being that has made some prefer to its creation a money contribution or the gift of a battleship. It is rather the fear that even pride in a national fleet may not be sufficient in Canada, as at times it has not 1 That is, without waiting until Parliament had been assembled, though it was to be so immediately afterwards.

2 Report of debate in Dominion House of Commons (Morning Post, January 13, 1910).

been so in England, to prevent political exigencies or political patronage from interfering with its efficiency.

If French and British together will alike concur in putting the Dominion Navy beyond the sphere of party, and placing it, where it should be, “in the front rank of the navies of the dominions of their great Empire,"1 then it may be anticipated that it will not only take, but hold, that rank, and become a pillar of Imperial strength. If it becomes the plaything of politics, it naturally can never do so.

The present moment appears an opportune one2 to examine into what is essential to the security of the Canadian frontier; and this, it is thought, can be done in no more effective way than by

First, describing the character of that frontier; then dwelling upon the lessons which the most recent attempt to conquer Canada in 1812-14 has taught; and, finally, by considering the changes affecting defence which have taken place in Canada since 1814, with how far the experience of the past can, under different conditions, be usefully applied to Canadian defence to-day.

Very much is to be learnt from the war of 1812-14, but in the interval-nearly a centurywhich has elapsed since that period both Canada and the science of war have made rapid strides.

1 Speech of Mr. Borden, Leader of the Opposition in Canada, before the Dominion Travellers' Association, December, 1909.

2 See Preface.

The communications throughout the Dominion both by land and by water have greatly altered; a far larger area of territory may now become the theatre of conflict than was the case in that war; the interests Canada has to defend are wider; her resources, as well as those of her possible enemies, are greater; her cities richer, and a more valuable prize to an invader; while she is also a party now to a Convention with a friendly Power which had not then come into force.

We do not propose to enter into unnecessary technicalities, or into details of organization or composition and strength of forces, or the character of defensive works.

Although these details intimately relate to defence, they form a large subject in themselves, and are to be more advisedly dealt with by those possessed of that confidential information and knowledge of what is really practicable, as viewed from all points, which official position alone gives.1 Our object here is confined to discussing broadly what relates to Canadian defence, both in the hope of assisting to widen interest in the question and of securing to those who have to take up the above details a more general and complete support. The opinions expressed, though no doubt all may not agree in them, are based, whenever possible, on facts contained in published documents and papers, or which can otherwise be readily verified.

1 And on matters of this character the Report of Sir John French, carrying the weight conferred by this position, by war experience, and by his recent inspection of the Dominion forces, will be of special value.

CHAPTER II

Character of the boundary-line of Canada-Her inland waters— Hudson Bay, the St. Lawrence, and the great lakes-Naval combined with military power essential for her defence The United States of America.

THE Dominion of Canada is very largely bounded by water. It includes all the Arctic islands—except Greenland, which is Danish-also Anticosti, Prince Edward Island, and Cape Breton, on the Atlantic, with Vancouver and Queen Charlotte Islands on the Pacific.

In tracing below, in sufficient detail for our purpose, her boundary-line,1 we must consider the British possession of Newfoundland, with its dependency of Labrador, as if within that line, although Newfoundland, as yet at all events, is not technically a portion of the Dominion. In connection with defence she cannot be separated from it.

What is to be especially noticed2 is that the boundary-line or frontier of Canada, thus understood, is on the north and east formed by the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, running round past Hudson Straits and Nova Scotia to the Bay of

1 There have been some modifications in this line since the declaration of American Independence in 1783. See Chapter VI. as to this. 2 Here refer to map facing p. 136.