, 1886-08-12
Esquimauft and Victoria FOrtifica-
fiOUS.

fiOns.
The Montreal Herald says: "lt Is
now proposed TO sortify Esquimault in a
manner worthy OF its Importance as a
protector of the Canadian Railways
port. A first class fortress will be
erected there "a a set off TO the formidable
naval station constructed at Petropolaski
in Kamschatka by the Russians, and the
formidable Russian military and naval
station at Yladivostok, in the southeast
ern part OF HaEchovria. The English
will have one great military depot at
Halifax, and one great fortress ard
several stIcIIcr fortifications at Esqai-
mault and Victoria Capable of quarter ns
10000 troops"
"The British Government" says the
Standard, SIS deeply interested in seeing
| that the railway harbor on the Pacific ls
properly protected. There is something
| in the air which says it is not improbable
that immense sums will be expended
almost Immediately in that quarter by
| the Imperial and Canadian governments
| jointly; arinamepts will be shipped from
| England before winter sets in, 1t IS
also reported that in connection with the
defences there will be a most effective
| torpedo service; the most recent Inven-
tious will be utilized and torpedoes Will
be laid in the entrances from the ocean,
both north and south, on Vancouver
Island"
The fact that Sir John Mcdonald, the
Canadian Premier. is IN British Co
lumbia, and that Sir George Stephen
and Mr. Van Horne. accompanied by the
Earl of Durham, are on their way tiither,
also that Colonel O'Brien and his cngi-
neers will spend some time there, are
not without special significance.
| In view of these stupendous military
movements being made in Victoria,
within sight from the elevation of Point
Wilson bluff at Pert Townsend, it is
humiIiating to reflect that nc. shoveltul
Of earth has been turned or Il single step
taken by Congress to fortify the approach
| III uStb bOouHu IAby oiS "a NSN
insignificant South American Republics
upon a very slight pretex. could send
gun boat and injure our commerce on
the Pacific. The Chilian iron clad
Huascar could take every city on tie
coast OF California, and destroy every
mill and town On Puget Sound. and we
would be as utterly helpless as flock OF
pigeons attacked by a hawk. We hope
that the demonstrations of the British
and Dominion Governments to fort;fy
Esquimault, will wake up our members
of Congress before the next session in
December, and induce them to take
vigorous measures to close our barn
door before some thief comes in and
steals our horse.
The Americans seem to be utterly
0blivious to the fact that tho key of
Puget Sonnd and the only place where
the approach to our territory can be
safely depended is so near the great
works of .he British that every night we
can see the electric light of Victoria
illuminating the sky, our fancy that we
can hear across the straits the ''click and
bang of hammers closing rivets up" in
the great military and naval preparations
SO shortly to be inaugurated on the
tother side Of Fues Strait.
A fleet of British and Russian war
vessels could base naval combat on the
straits in full sight from Point Wilson
bluff, or they eould steam into our har-
Dor and beat tattoo over each others
heads while we would have to nit and
twirl our thumbs in silence, not having
even one of those old naval hulks now
rotfisg at Benicia, on which to hoist our
national colors, or even make display
OF wooden guns as evidence of our
prowers. We hope that some of fhe
many tourists who will visit the Sound
and Alaska this summer may eompre-
bend the situation and on their return
use their endeavors to wake up the
members of congress from their shameful
lethargy, and induce them to spend
some of the surplus millions in our
treasury to fortify the entrance to Puget
Sound without delay.
|