The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-12-24

Indeed they have always been deemed from the days Of
od far traders, through tho wars with Great ifitr
q " tn present day, as tho key to Lake Michigan,
unlike most Of the other points suggested by us nre
tey our own, presenting upon both sides, within
r own tarritoy positions admirably adapted for forti
Lcation and defence.
TIE necessity OF comprehcadng tho Straits In defcn-
sye plan IN erendent Of any contingencies which may
hprea 10 fortified places on tho owcr lakes and rivers
Georgian Bay whsh opens into the head Of Lake Huron,
y entirely H. British territory and is nnited by rail will,
the lower lakes and saaboard II uses formerly % be said
that at pantangnshnc, npcn that bay, tho Inslfsh
government maintained navy yard for in case OF
hses with tho United states II Ia certain at least
that the bay amid It's twenty thousand Islands, forms
tho bcs, haihor IN the world. IN which tie Combined
hees Of all Christenaom might ridc with safety and be
ou'ltted with great secrecy. Iheso who have never
ocasted among is sar ds form idea Of what hly
rnths thy present. From the Old iruce Mine down TO
tho Hudson Say trading forts Of Lacrosse and Msssssago,
channels hra,oh out all drections requiring great
prence on the patoi the ec9esT TO prevent his iosiaC
Godcrch on the Canada sde OF Lake huron. is also
connected by to nla.o and Lake Huron Raircad with
the lower parts Of Tho prevace. The road crosses IN,
Great Western road 20 Paris and Is thcreicse an easy
communication with Toronto. These facts prove that
the oc; atiols OF the English government in Of hos
tiles with the United States may be pursued indspcn-
IDENTIFY ~ different parts Of the lakes ~ the time.
Twill therefore be for the protection of the
expcsl ast OF Lake Michigan TO fogty tho Straits Of
Mackinaw, thr9s gh which alone naval expedition can
reach the ake towns ard cities Of Illinois, Wisconsin aud
Western Michigan These three States have therefore
common interest IN the erection OF works at that point,
and II would proper that their respective aHhori-
ties should meet and devise common plan Of defence,
IN which proper proportion should be PAID hy each
The circnir OF Secretary Seward must be taken In
earnest. The ad!nst alton would not advise defensive
measures nn!ess they apprchend resson for them
MEETING OF orricERs IN TORONTO.
meeting Of the officers Of the Fifth Military district
was held IN Toronto the 18th inst. 70 dcr tho
present condition OF tho Scnderlay militia and 70 sug
gest some mode for its efficient organxa Jon:
Colonel Chatterton laid before the meeting paper
the subject they had inbcd consider He proposed
that 10 oaers Of militia shcud be appointed who would
not make ,hrasclves thoroughly acquainted with drill;
that two Bank companies TO each regiment should be
raised, catcd Gni driInd that all officers of Sedcntary
militia should be called out periodically and put through
battalion movements along with the flank companies
The paper gave rise to much discussion, In tho
OF wlc the Solicitor Genera Lieutenant Colonel tho
Hon. j. C. Morrison stated that twenty Ave thousand
rifles had been placed tho disposal Of the government
by the military authorities. IL also transpred that Il
tho militia Is clothed, the uniform viii be the
that or the line.
II wis then moved by Lieutenant Colonel Crawford,
seconded by MAJOR I. W. Smith, and
Resolved, That this meeting having hearJ read tho
paper of Colonel Chatterton Of opinion that II
tains many valuable suggestions, and recommend that
due consideration be given to those suggestions in the
framing Of any bill which may be introduced for the
amendment OF the Militia law; and that copy Of such
paper and Of this resolution be transmitted by tho Colo
mel Commandant to the Attorney General for Upper
Canada.
HOW THEY ARE KEEPING THEIR NEUTRALITY.
correspondent at Portertown, Nova Scotia sends q
second letter to the Philadelphia Inquirer, showing bow
British subjects In the Bay OF Fundy, violate the British
neutrality laws The Splre, vessel he mentioned in
September last fitting out for Southern port has
turned, having accomplished her voyage successfully
Size is loading again for q similar voyage The May
in Canada the feeling OF the inhabitants in Nova Scotia
strongly against the United States.