The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1888-06-23 00:00:00

ESQITIMAULT,

in the late debate in the House of Lords regarding
the defence of Esquimault the action of tha Govern-
ment of Canada and its duty in defending its shores
on the Pacific coast appears to have been forgotten.
We have it on the best authority (remarks the Morn-
ing Post) that should ever Russia menace Esquimault
and its graving dock with a landing of marines or
troops from Petropaulovski they would be faced by at
least 10,000 Canadian troops with 40 field guns.
Should a landing be effected, the result would inevi-
tably be a surrender; for, thanks to the Canadian Pacific
Railway, troops in overpowering numbers would be
pushed forward to the scene of action; so that a landing
of Russian troops at Esquimault, or anywhere else in
the Dominion of Canada, unless in great strength,
may be dismissed f.-om the public mind. The
Government of Canada has at its disposal an un-
limited supply of men, all between the ages of 18
and 60 being compelled to serve, if the Minister of
Defence calls on them to do so. The Government
is not, however, led astray by its commanding
position regarding the masses of men at its disposal,
but contents itself with about 40,000 very fairly.
trained troops. It maintains " schools," or train-
ing depots of regular troops and selected officers.
These " schools " are scattered over the Dominion,
the regular troops in each being from 100 to 160 men,
and about six officers. There are cavalry, artillery,
mounted infantry, and infantry "schools," and
militia officers backward in their duties have to go
through them or resign. At first it was thought
that those " schools" would cause much expense,
but as the militia are improved in their training,
and the great body of officers are well acquainted
with their duty, the Government finds itself able to
reduce the number of men presenting themselves for
annual training. Thus the established strength of
the active militia for Quebec, for instance, is two
troops of cavalry, 96 men; one battery field artillery,
81 men; six batteries of garrison artillery, 270 men;
74 companies of infantry, 3417 men. It is plain these
numbers could be at once increased by men who
had served; but in case of a Russian landing, this
even would hardly be necessary. The established,
active militia of Canada in its present strength, due
to a regard for .economy, would be sufficient to
defeat an enemy, unless landing in superior force,
because 10,000 men and 40 field guns could be des-
patched by train to the Pacific in a week after a
fortnight's notice. With regard to field artillery,
Colonel Irwin, Royal Artillery, reports in De-
cember, 1887, that he and his assistant inspector
had inspected 18 field batteries, and that he himself
brigaded five of these at his camp at Niagara. In
his report to Lieutenant-General Sir Frederick Middle-
ton, K.O M.G., commanding militia, he says : "The
general results of this artillery camp were in every
respect most satisfactory." In his "general re-
marks" on the 18 field batteries of the Dominion the
Inspector-General says, "I am very glad to be able
to report in most favourable terms of the general
efficiency of these corps," and further on he says he
is well pleased with their annual gun practice.
Before very long the active Canadian Militia will
have magazine rifles issued to them, and besides
these, a supply of that terrible new weapon of
defence, the Maxim gun, may safely be relied on.

COURTSHIP is often made up of the fact that the
girl calls her beau a noble youth, a hero, a genius;
while he calls her a paragon of beauty and gentleness;
tnd so they keep tickling each other until they get
married, and then corns.. a,olding.