Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-09-27
CANADA woesIED.
Our Neighbers Apxious'y Looking
AFTER the Defences and the militia.


An Ottawa (Ont.) telegram says: The
members OF the Dominion Cabinet have
been summoned TO the capital in con-
sequence OF n dispatch received from the
imperial authorities through Lord Stan
lev, Governor General, asking for inior-
nation regarding the volunteer militia
force and the defences Of Canada. All the
members OF the Governmentare now In
the city, with the exception OF Hon. D..
A. Cbapleau, Secretary of State, who
is expected 10 arrive this week.
The British Government, it appears,
realizing thet Canada is IN a semi-de-
fenceless condition should any trouble
arise with the United States over retail
alton, have asked for an extensive re-
port of the armed resistance the country
could offer should there be any trouble.
The Cabinet Council will meet in the
course Of a week or so, when n report
which has been prepared on the subject
by sir John Thompson, Minister OF JUS
tice, will be submitted.
The Federal Government, since the
retaliation question has become 1--we
lbttt UCIt, ioh " hhhbf'h u w q nNiAA~ ~
their defenceless condition.
Sir John Macdonald, the Premier, has
ssked the people Of the counties border
inc on the kideau canal. which connects
the Ottawa river with the great lakes at
Kingston, TO petition the Government to
deepen that canal. which was built by
the British Government after the war OF
1910 I,,,t hor hnnnrro en- chuiinr n
that u gunboat could not pass through
it. The object of this move is to open
up an inland water communication from
Montreal 70 the great lakes, in conse-
quence of the liability OF the st. Law
renee river route and the Grand Trunk
railway being closed by American forces
immediately on the outbreak OF trou-
bic.
The Acknowledgement of the Canadian
forces, Colonel Powell, is receiving re-
ports from all parts Of the country con-
corning the condition of the volunteer
forces, and it Is understood that at the
next session Of Parliament the Govern
ment will increase tine vote for militia
purposes 30 as to admit OF additions 10
INC fIGhtut NOluuAttl iOIttes
Don't WALK On TEE Beavers TAIL.
An Ottawa (Ont) letter says The
bombast one hears on this size OF the
line rs to what Canada would 90 If Presi-
dent Cleveland carries into effect any re-
taliatiOn against the Dominion which
Congress may empower him to dc re-
minds one OF the story in which the
dminutive ant asked the elephant "who
be was SHOWN 2" In view of the i'm
pending danger which an invasion from
Canada threatens the United States
frontier, II may not he amiss to glance
into the military proves OF the young
Dominion. with whose military force the
ambitious young lieutenant at Chatham,
named Douglas, threatens to capture
Detroit and play havoc among United
States troops generally across the Dor
der.
On the withdrawal Of the British
troops from Canada the British Govern
ment handed over to the Dominion a
vast amount OF ordnance property. in
consideration of which the Canadian
Government was to expoDd annually
81. 900. 600 in keeping up her military or
Ranization. Since the confederation Of
the British North American provinces in
1867 S24. 776, Sos has been laid ont in this
manner on the Canadian militia OF this
amount 1922, $50 was expended on the
maintenance OF the staff 8. 1866 on
military stores, clothing. and ammuni-
ton S821.5 on drill instruction, and
S5,679, TAT on annual drills.
According 10 the DOminiOn-militia act
the militia consists OF all the male iu-
habitants of Canada OF the age OF eigh-
teen years or upward and under sixty,
not exempt by law The number Of
men to be trained and drilled Annually
is limited to A., 000, except rs specially
authorized, and the period OF drill is six
teen days and not less than eight days
every year. In 1873 tho strength Of the
active militia was IS, $50, all of whom
put in their annual drill Of sixteen
days.
According to the last annual report Of
the muster OF militia this had been re-
duced to an actual strength OF IS, 1872, of
whom only 70. 2Jj were authorized for
drill. The reduction OF the force was
made IN 1874, when the actual strength
was lowered from 45, $50 to 10000 men,
by reducing each troop, company, and
garrison-battery from iifty-fve non-com-
missioned officers and men to forty for
drill purposes. The total strength OF the
active militia rs st present organized IS
IS, lj2, divided according to the several
arms Of the service as follows: Cavalry,
1887 field artillery, !. 40; garrison ar
tilleTy, 210l engineers, lI9 infantry,
81, ll5. The total strength OF the force
by provinces is rs follows Ontario, H.
81 Quebec, II. 1888; Novascotia, 3, 646
New Brunswick, 1865; Prince Edward
Island, Gil ; Manitoba, l,115; British
Columbia, go; Royal Military College,
Kingston, and Schools of Gunnery, com
pris.ug the regular force, 9G4.
According to the various arms Of the
service the force by provinces was dis
tributed as follows Ontario--Cayalry,
l,Ol7; field artillery, 500; garrison artil-
lery, ~ infantry, u, Quebec
Cavalry. 5l5 field artillery, 800; garri-
son artillery, CIT; engineers, 50; in
fantry, 10, i54. New Brnswick-Cayal-
~, 324; field artillery, 100; garrison
artillery, $50 engineers, - infantry,
LII. Nova Scotia Cavalry, 45 ; field
artillery, 80; garrison artillery, $50; il
fantTy, 1852. Mamtoba-Cayalry, A. ;
field artillery, so; infantry, l,1l5. Brit
ISL Columbia artillery. $50 ;
infantry, 90 Prince Edward Island
Garrison artillery, 230; engineers, IS ;
infantry, 3l2. The regular force is COM
posed of 43 cavalry. 1873 garrison artl-
lery, and 4S8 infantry.
In view OF this formidable array of war
material and military talent confronting
him along the border it will be we'll for
Uncle Sam to twice consider before he
attempts to twist the beavers tail.
q.