Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1845-07-02
From he RnLiimnro 1,nl,.ic.


which we published few DAYS ogo from y
Canadian paper stated that the British Admi
rdlty Builder. MIR. Tucker. had arrived by the
hast steamer on tour of military nSpcrtinu
ON tic Lake frontier. He is now yisitinp the
principal points on the British line with n
view Ia their being put in state of defence.
The means of defence however. and of of
fence also, on which England mainly relics
upon the Lakes are those furnished by her ca
nal communications with the ocean. By these
uect oi hight steamers and war vessels could
br conveyed from The moulh of the St Law
renee directly into Lake Erie and Ontario: and
mus the vast resources of the British Navy
could be- nmdc available tuany required extent
WI 'il' lilldlli waters which separate Us from
Canada
LIEUT.. MAuRr has called the public aticn
ton To- the suhjcct nG our Lake dcIencss i'm a
series oi articles the last of which. accomn,
med 10y map, appeared recently i'm the Wash
mgion papers. The views set forth by this
sensible officer are cmincntly practical and Ia
the point; they are also comprehensive and
national. In the event of a war with Enu.
land hc contends that hostilities on the Lakes
would inevitably be carried on by ships. and
that by ships only can we defend ourselves
ii Is IDLE tn talk of building these after the
war snail nave commenced, for England has
sup canal to the Lakes, wholly within her
control, through which she could send her
fleets ready Tor action aud prepared to swecp
the Lakes and tn dcmolish at once every navy
yard or naval station that we might aitemnt
Ia establish
IL Is urged by Lieut.. NAURY, and with great
lorce, that a ship canal of our own. conuecting
Lake Michigan with the Mississippi, and thus
enabling us To bring our naval resources to
bear upon the Lakes would he the only ellac
tual mode OF meeting and battling the hostile
designs OF England. Lake Michigan is the
only one OF the Lakes wholly within our terri
tory. BY suitable deicnccs ON the North il
may be made securely ours. Here. then. ON
the waters ot Michigan secluded and safe. we
should have place convenient for supplies
and out oi the enemy's reach, where we could
collect our lorces, equip our vessels. and 90
forth IN strength to contest the supremacy ON
Erie and Ontario, or to invade the cncmy's
country. "Thc straits of Mackinaw." saws
Lieut.. MAURy, care narrow and NAV be rem |
dered lmpregnablc. Fortiiy thcm-they are |
your Gibraltar. Tap this Lake with shin
cana lit Is your McditcEncaa. Erect vourI
naval magazines at Chicago-ths is your Ton !
Ion. DO these, and Lake Michigan becomes
9 cmphatically our own sea-" where no flag
can enter except the "s,ars and stripcs %
Here then is the key fine Eakes-uour ninth. |
'ody TO The British P,orinces; me place M
nhlch M aodr, our forces urt 10 be COLLECTED. |
and from Which orr expeditions against Can,
ada arc TO be ftted ont and 10 setSaH.n
AS Il sort OF permanent preparation it is
suggested that the snag boats of the Western
rivers, III the employment of the Government.
Should be so constructed as To be readily con-
verted into armed cruisers: TINT the mails
should be carried i'm boats of similar consiruc-
uonr and that naval depot should bc estab-
llslcd at Chicago. Lieut.. MAuRY then adds
In two or three weeks after the commence
ment oi hostIlitles these vessels together with
as many light steamers as the navy affords. |
III all To a fleet of some twenty or
thirty sall, could appear ON Lake Michigan i'm
complete order Tor action. Following these
would come, crowded with men and mimi
uons oil war, as many river boats as the wants
oi the nation would require. Entering this
Mediterranean, the same vessels would then
serve as transports, and might sail immediate
ly, II the 81. Clair and Detroit were inn
passdblc, as they are not, for Nottawasca Ray
and the invasion OF Canada.
DISSEMINATING here. am American army of
Western Inarksmen would be i'm the heart of
the cnemy's country, in the rear of his strong
holds, and within one or two days march OF
Toronto, on Lake Ontario. Now threaten
montreal with Eastern militia, and amuse the
enemy IN front. With his attention Tins di-
vided, Upper Canada must fall. The penins,,-
la thus becomes ours, and we have clear uas-
sage into Erie, if not into Ontario also. ToI
say the least, d successful manmuvre of this
KIND would give complete command of the
Lakes and the entrance To them"
a general summary of the measures propos-
ed Tor the Lake deienccs presents these as the
prominent features A ship canal from the
Mississippi TO the Lakes naval depot AT
Chicago Navy Yard for repairs near The
straits OF Mackinaw with forts to command
them; another on Lake Erie either at Erie or
Buffalo, or some other convenient harbor ca |
pablo OF being strongly fortified and another
on Lake Ontario. These two latter establish |.
lnents would be mainly important as auxiliary
10 the rest of the system.
CO Since the above article was written the
following item has come under our notice
copied from the Toronto (Cauada) Globe:
Mr.. Fucker the Admiralty Builder. who
came out in the last steamer has given in
struciions for the building of fro Var Steam
crs on Lnke Erie, oih The utmost despnich
We understand that the Niagara Dock Compa-
nv are fine eoutragfprs