The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-21
Secretary Manning at Last Kindly Pro-
vides an Office for Eb Henderson.
Object of Colonel Dudley's Recent Visit to In
diana-An Effort To Be Made to Call Up
the Interstate Commerce Bill To- Day.
PREPARING FOR WAR.
Sensational Statements About Increase of
British Forces In Canada

Sensational Statements About Increase Of
British Forces In Canada
Washington Special.
A writer in the Army and Navy Herald rep.
resents a member of the House SIS giving this
sensational information as to the increase in the
armament of Canada: "A prominent Canadian,
who was member of Lord Dufferin's Cabinet
when that gentleman was Governor general, said
to me the other day in New York Our people
are furious at the tone of the Presidents mes
sage, in his allusion to the relations now exist
ing between us and the States, and the senti-
ment is strengthened by the publication of your
ministers tPhelpss) letter to Lord Salisbury
upon the fishing question. We know we are
weak, but your government should 60 very
slowly 1t is a case where festina lente is a
wise injunction. We intend to maintain our
rights whether the New Enganders like it Oh
not But said / to him, for / saw he was
very much in earnest, we must protect
our fishermen whether they are New Englanders
or not You will see what will come ont of it,
he replied, and sure enough do see. | notice
an order in council that early in 1887 the entire
Canadian coast is to be examined in regard to
its fitness for defense Fortifcations are to be
repaired and new works constructed wherever
they are needed. They have route of their
own across the continent now, and are strength.
ening British Columbia, especially that part
near Westminster And this is not all. For
the first time IN twenty years Canada is being
garrisoned by line regiments from England.
Since 1870 there has been no military force IN
Canada but the militia. At Halifax they had
usually one battalion of infantry alone. But
when the Conservatives came into power in Eng
land they recalled Gen. Sir Patrick MacDougall
and appointed Gen. Lord Arthur Russell
1 H. sne 1G ~
America He has there now a force that would
be able to hold the Canadian coast for three
months against all of the militia in New Eng
land. Let me tell you just what troops are
there" and, opening his memorandum book, my
friend turned over some papers until he found
what he wanted. Now listen. There are at
Halifax the following troops: First--Lieuterant-
Colonel E. d. C. O'Brien--Royal Engineers
with four companies Of trained troops of that
corps. He has, besides one company---the
Fourth-of the famous submarine battalion OF
the English army, perhaps the most intelligent
and carefully y-trained corps of the rank and fle
OF any European army. Very lately Capt j. w.
Sills company of garrison engineers has been
brought to Halifax In artillery, two batteries
of the First Artillery Brigade, of the best gun
ners England has-the Fifth, Major
Stephen Simpson, and the Sixth, Major
W. V. Gregory-have been ordered
to Halifax at General Lord Arthur
Russells express request. The English batter
les are commanded by majors, as ours ought to
be- The rank is none too high FOR the COM
mander Of six guns ana over l50 men. Now,
let us see how much infantry General Lord Rus
sell has on hand For years as have Just told
you, there has never been any force at Halifax
but one battalion of infantry. but at present
there is the Second Battalion of the York and
Lancaster Regiment formerly the Eighty fouyth
Foot Lieutenant-colonel j. N. Simpson com
manding, and four battaions of the Duke OF
Wellngtons regiment, which is made up of tho
late Thirth. third and Seventy.sixth regiments OF
foot, each being two battalions strong The
Third Battalion is commanded by Colonel r. G.
Wemyss, a cousin of Lord Elcho and the Earl
OF March; the Fourth by Colonel j. Stanfeld
the other two battaons by Colonel Cav and
Major Low" l could not help showing some as
sonlshment in my face as | said, "Why, how in
the world did you get such exact information,
and for what purposel'
Let me tell you why got it, said he. with
earnest thoughtfuness in every word II am
REPRESENTATIVE in Congress from an important
constituency; one that would be most seriously
affected by sudden outbreak of hostilities be-
tween and any foreign power. am a mem
Der OF very important committee of the
House. My colleagues On that committee are
mostly from interior States of the Union. They
act as though they never dreamed that We might
have rupture at any time with some other ma
ton. possibly with England. One of these gen.
tlemen said to me the other day: Why, England
could not live month without our food supply
Just take that table, said |, handing him ta-
bic of abstracts from our export trade and see'
BY thunder said he. i notice our exports Of
wheat alone have fallen off 90, 000, 900 bushels In
four months Yes, said /, they have a through
line OF rail from sea to sea now, and are carry
ing their own colonial wheat to Liverpool while
spectators cut off our trade to Liverpool from
New York by adding a shilling bushel TO tHe
price Of wheat TO swell their own profits thus
bringing the actual trade in wheat for Europe
to standstill. These fellows in Chicago
could sell wheat for ten cents a bushel
less than they now ask and get so per cent more
for grain thao they paid 70 the farmers who
grew It, but this they won't do But TO answer
your question. felt that could not do mH
duty to the country and my people unless had
some information touching this movement Of
the English troops so much in excess of the
usual garrison. The War Department didn't
know why it was, or, at least. could not get it
if they really did Not word of what wanted
to know, or information as to the reasons for
strengthening posts or garrisons is ever permit
ted to be teleerapbed abroad by the British War
Office. So | had to go about getting the facts
have read you, and much other material of the
same import in another way, and it cost ma
quite a sum. | discovered that England for
some reason, bad quietly reinforced Capada
with full brigade Of her best troops at q cost
of almost $500,000. England is always practical
She sent those troops to Halifax because che
believed they might be needed there. There was
but one reason for their being wanted You can
see AS well as i. Another regiment of foot will
be added to the force at Halifax early IN 1887.
The question between the nations relative to tho
fisheries is still unsettled. This is difficulty
number one, which the State Department has TO
meet