The Sun.
London, England, 1865-02-15 00:00:00

The Defence of Canada.

The following letter to the Secretary of State for
War, with reference to the defence of Canada, from
Lieut.; Col. Jervois, RE., C. 8., Deputy-Director of
Fortifications, was issued yesterday :

War-office, Jan., 1865.
MY LORD,-1. Having in accordance with your
lordship's desire visited the British North American.'
possessions during the autumn of 1863, to ascertain
the condition of their defences, I pointed out to your
lordship in my report, dated FebruarY, 1864,
result of my in as the
-specfion in Canada, that the construc-
tion of certain works of fortification at Montreal
and Quebec was essential to enable the British troops
and local forces to resist an invasion by the Ameri-
cans with any prospect of success. In obedience to
your lordship's further directions, I again proceeded
to Canada in the beginning of September last, for
the purpose of affording to Lord Monck and to the
provincial government of Canada every information
in my power as to the measures which it is desirable
to adopt for the defence of that colony. I havenow
the honour to report as follows :-
2. I embarked at Liverpool for North America on
the 3d September last, and after visiting Halifax,
Nova Scotia, and travelling through New Bruns-
wick en route to Canada, I arrived at Quebec on the
23d of the same month. I then communicated with
Lord Monck with reference to the object of my • -
sion. I also proceeded to Montreal to confer with
Lieut.-Gen. Sir W. F. Williams, the general com-
manding the troops in British North America. Sub-
sequently I had interviews with several members of
the Government of Canada, who met at Quebec in
October to take part in the conference with the de-
legates from the province of Nova Scotia, New Bruns-
wick, Prince Edward's Island, and Newfoundland,
with reference to the proposed confederation of the
provinces of British North America.
3. On the 12th October I had a formal inter-
view with the whole of the executive council,
who then requested me to state my views
with respect to the defence , of Canada.
A long conversation with the council took place in
consequence of my statement, which led to a paper
of question being addressed to me by the provincial
government. These questions rendered it necessary
for me to make a detailed examination of several
positions in Upper Canada. I accordingly recon-
noitredthe country about Kingston, Toronto, Hamil-
ton, London, Paris, and other places. I then pre-
pared a report on the defence of the whole of Canada,
embodying my answers to those questions, which
report I submitted to the lieutenant-general com-
manding, who signified his approval in writing of
the measures recommended therein. On my return
to Quebec I placed my report in the hands of the
Canadian Government. After interviews with the
governor-general and some of the members of the
council, I left Quebec for New York and returned
to England at the end of last November.

4. Although the proposals which resulted from my
communication with the Canadian Government are
stated in my report to the council it may be conve-
nient that I should state briefly in this place the
iews which I expressed at my interview with the
council.

5. I observed, that although, owing to the length
and nature of the frontier of Canada, it was impos-
sible to protect it throughout - its whole extent, an
enemy must nevertheless acquire possession of cer-
tain vital points before he could obtain any decided
military advantage; that there are only a few such
points—and that if proper arrangements were made
for the defence of these places by the construction
of fortifications, the provision of gun-boats, and the
improvement of communications ; the militia and
volunteer forces of the country, if properly organised,
and aided by British troops, would be enabled to
hold them during the period (only about six months
in the year), when military operations on a large
scale could be carried on against .them, and thus
those forces could resist an attack with the
best possible chance of success. I pointed
out that under this view, the positions of
the greatest military importance in the country
are Montreal and Quebec ; Montreal, because, beifig
at the head of the sea navigation of the St.
Lawrence, and the focus of all communication by
land and water between the eastern and western dis-
tricts, it is the commercial and strategical capital of
Canada, and, from its position on the frontier, is,
moreover, the •point upon which the enemy could
most readily make a grand attack ; Quebec, as
being the first point of military communication be-
tween Canada and Great Britain, and the point to'
which the British forces must retire, if overpowered.
stated that with those two points placed in a con-
dition for defence, and the river between Montreal
and Quebec commanded by iron-plated vessels, a
successful resistance could be made to any attempt
to subjugate the country so long as Great Britain
had the command of the sea.

• 6. I observed at thesame time time that, although
looking at the question from a purely military point
of view, the defence of Lower Canada was by far
the most important consideration, I was, neverthe-
less, aware of the objections that would 1e raised if
no provision were made for the defence of the coun-
try to westwardof Montreal. I remarked that it was
quite possible, under certain conditions and with
sufficient men and means, to devise a scheme for the
defence of Upper Canada ; the conditions referred to
being that efficient communication should be estab-
lished with the western districts ; that the country
between Lake St. Louis and Lake Ontario should
be protected by naval in combination with military
means; that a naval depot shouid be provided at
Kingston, which place should be fortified, so as to
form a secure harbour for gunboats on Lake On-
tario. With the naval command of that lake, troops
acting for the defence of the western peninsula or
Canada might, if overpowered,-fall back upon its
shore at Toronto, where, if proper works were con-
structed, they might act in conjunction with the
naval force for the defence of that position, either
until reinforcements arrived from other parts of the
country, or until the winter season obliged the
enemy to retire.

7. The proposals for permanent defences contained
in my report to the CanadianFG. Government may be
divided under two heads : the defence of
Canada so far as there is communication for ocean
steamships, i.e., as far westward as Montreal inclu-
sive
; second, the defence of the country to westward
of Montreal. Under the first head it is proposed that
permanent works of fortification shall be constructed
for the defence of Montreal and Quebec. 'Under the
second head it is proposed to fortify Kingston, and
to construct certain permanent works for the defence
of Toronto and Hamilton against an attack from the
lake. My report also contains suggestions with re-
spect to the provision of gunboats, the improvement
of certain communications, and the construction of
works of defence which might be thrown up in time
of war.
8. I have had no official intimation of the course
which the provincial government propose to adopt
with respect to the suggestions which I had the hon-
ourto submit to them ; but I have the best reason
forl
my
statingproposals,
that they concur generally in the whole
o
and that they are ready to meet
the mother country
in a fair and becoming spirit in
carrying out the
defence
of
Canadmeasures which are requisite for the
9. I regardaz the works orfks for the defence of Montreal
and Quebec
cost
tgoof
those
most pre!..74ng importance.
I estimate the
xoae for Quebec at £200,000;
those for Montreal at
and that the
arma-
ments
for the works
of
fortification
places will cost about
tanth3;
£lOO,OOO. The worksa
recommended
at Kingston, Toronto,
£500,000, and the armaments milton will cost about
for those
1100,000• places about

10. With respect to the condition of the local
forces of Canada, I have the honour to state for the
information of your lordship, that there already
exist in the principal towns of Canada several corps
of volunteer militia of the different arms of the
service, according to the last reports amounting in
the aggregate to 21,700* men : these frequently
turn out for drill, and are paid by the Go-

vernment for their services. I saw several
of the volunteer regiments turn out at Quebec;
they were well dressed and appointed ; th !ir appear-
ance was soldierlike, and they went thro Igh a field-
day very creditably. I have reason to elieve that
the volunteer militia of Montreal, To .onto, and other
places are at least equal in efficiency to the volunteers
at Quebec. A great proportion of the officers of
these corps have obtained certificates of proficiency
from military boards before whom they have pre-
sented themselves for examination.

11. As regards the militia,* the attention of the
provincial government has during the last year been
directed chiefly to the establishment of military
schools of instruction for officers. The government
rightly judged that it is of the first importance in
providing for the efficiency of the militia service that
thge should be a body of officers acquainted with
the duties of the military profession. Accordingly,
two schools of instruction for officers are now in
operation in Canada--one in connexion with the
17th Regiment at Quebec, the other with the 16th
Regiment at Toronto. The lieutenant-colonels (who
are directors of the schools) and officers of these
regiments specially told off to teach, are paid for this
service by the provincial government, and certificates
are granted by the colonels to the military pupils ac-
cording to the degree of proficiency they have at-
tained during the period allotted to each for instruc-
tion. A first class certificate is granted to an officer
who hag made himself acquainted with the interior
economy of a regiment, and who is capable of ma-
noeuvring a battalion ; a second class certificate is
given to one who has learnt to drill and take com-
.
mand of a company On the 17th October last, 139
first class and 207 second class certificates had been
granted. There were at the same time 764 appli-
cants for admission. The formation of additional
schools on the same principle as those which now
exist at Quebec and Toronto, and for sergeants as
well as officers, is much to be desired.
12. I should here observe that the prospect of the
withdrawal of the Imperial troops from the western
districts in accordance with the instructions from
this country previous to the confederation move-
ment, has a depressing effect upon the efforts
that are being made for the improvement of the
organisation of the militia of those districts. As I
have already stated, a military school has been
established at Toronto in connection with one of her
Majesty's regiments, and with most satisfactory
results. If the British troops were taken away from
the western districts, the means of instruction for
the militia in that part of the country would at the
same time be withdrawn, and thus a very bad effect
would be produced amongst the people of Canada
generally.

13. I may observe, as an additional reason against
the proposed withdrawal of the troops from the
western districts, that an immediate expenditure of
nearly £20,000 for the accommodation of the troops
m Lower Canada would be thereby rendered neces-
sary, and that it would be unadvisable to incur this
expenditure at the very time when it is proposed to
provide additional barrack accommodation in con-
nection with the projected works of fortification at
Montreal and Quebec. I should add that although
the possibility of the troops being cut off would
render it dangerous to leave a small and unsupported
body of men in the western peninsula of Canada in
time of war, the objection would be materially
diminished if there were a large and efficient body
of militia to act in conjunction with the regular
force.

14. I beg therefore respectfully to represent to
your lordship that the troops at present in the
Western Peninsula should not be at present with-
drawn ; but that on the contrary, every encourage-
ment should be afforded to the organisation of the
militia in that part of the country by the presence
of an imperial regiment at such station as the pro-
vincial government may select for the formation of
another military school on the same principles as
those which have been established at Toronto and
Quebec.

15. The estimated number of militia men in
Canada of all ranks, inclusive of the reserve men
between 45 and 60 years of age, is 470,000. It
therefore appears that, with a proper organisation, a
large force could be made available for the defence
of the province, provided there were a sufficient staff
of educated officers and non-commissioned officers
to whom the men of the several battalions could be
attached when called upon for duty. According to
the latest report from the province, the service
militia, as soon as the Government shall be in a
position to take the ballot, will consist, exclusive of
officers, of 88,245 men.

16. It appears advisable that some suggestions
should be made with regard to the application of
funds which the provincial government of Canada
may hereafter obtain from their legislature for militia
purposes. I have therefore consulted with Colonel
M'Murdo, the Inspector-General of Volunteers in
Great Britain, on this subject, and beg to submit
the following suggestions :---.

17. It is proposed that the force should be orga-
nised throughout the country so as to bear as
equally as possible on the population of the several
districts ; that, in order that the officers and men
may be acquainted with each other, the officers
should be chosen, so far as practicable, from those
districts, and that their appointments should be con-
ditional on their qualifying themselves either at the
schools of instruction, which proved of so much
value, or in any other way that may lead to the de-
sired result, which should be tested by examination.
The force thus organised should be told off in com-
panies and battalions, somewhat on the principle of
administrative battalions of volunteers of Great
Britain. The companies would be drilled at their
respective head quarters, and might be assembled at
central points for battalion instruction without
necessarily involving an absence of the men from
their homes for more than a day at a time. 18.
There should be storehouses for arms, accoutre-
ments,' and clothing at the head quarters of the seve-
ral companies, under the care of a sergeant-instruc-
tor, who should be permanently appointed to each
company. The storehouses may be of an inexpen-
sive construction, and, for the sake of security of
the arms should be surrounded with a palisade or
other enclosure. It would obviously be a great
advantage to have arms available at all times for
the practice of the men of the several companies
who might be disposed to profit by their use. With
a view therefore to afford encouragement both to
officers, non-commissioned officers, and men to work
at rifle instruction and prize shooting, there should
also be a range provided in a convenient locality for
each company, or portion of a company, as the cir-
cumstances of the locality rendered desirable. By
these arrangements the men would obtain a fair
knowledge of company drill and musketry obtain a
fair knowledge of company drill and musketry
practice, which would much facilitate their instruc-
tion as a battalion. 19. The permanent staff of a
battalion should consist of an adjutant and a ser-
geant-major for the battalion, with a sergeant-in-
structor for each company. The adjutant should in
the first instance be an experienced officer from the
regular army, and should from time to time visit
the several companies at their respective localities.
20. It is recommended further that the country
should be divided into convenient districts for the
concentration of the battalions into brigades and
divisions, and that thesevin mercaalcpsorpfosrsheoxuelrclisebe. be as-
sembled,A if practicable,
inort
tehdisfoorrtglaiis
purpose. 21. The perm -
,
brigade and division stafflsnheonutldchbaeragpepos f
nisation would
be the pay of the adjutants, the
sergeant-instructors ; the cost
sergeant-majors, and
of erecting storehouses ; the provision of arms,
the pay of such bat-
talions as might be called out annuallyaccoutrements, and clothing
and the outlay requisite for the education o
fforoffidrceillrsi
and sergeants at the schools of instruction as already
established. 22. It is for consideration whether,
when not embodied, the principle of a capitation
grant in proportion to the certified eficiency of the
Volunteer
members of the several companies would not be de-
sirable.
Ar-
ticles 269 to 278 of th
(See Order in Council, pages 36 and 43 of
Regulations for Great Britain ; also Ar:
tributed). 23. It is bethr
the rules under which the capitationeveed
ragagnantrifaartdisi
odn.s
t In 1863 two militia acts wer
Legislature—one, "An
Act
re passed by the Canadian
other, "An Act respecting the Volunteer tho 3" the
► Militia Force."
t h a regulations
n or
The word "militia)" when usod al
one refers to the former.