The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-12-23
AYE MAR We SSEI 6.

| CHICAGO. Dec EFT Canada has built
and armed three vessels for service on the
lakes, as described by the officers of the
revenue marine service at Washington, it
amounts to a declaration of war;" said
General Nelson A Miles yesterday, allud-
ing to the report that the Dominion had
increased its armed force on the great
lakes. The matter stirred up much inter-
est at army headquarters, and while the
general has 10 desire to circulate war
rumor-and. in fact, while he does not be-
lieve that war will result-he does not
hesitate to term the action OF the Canadian
authorities direct violation of the treaty
of 1917, and to confess that ne cannot see
what good reason the Canadians have for
so doing.
II do not want to be quoted as saying
that Canada or Great Britain means war,
said General Miles. Indeed, Great Bri-
tain is the last country [ would expect TO
see begin war with America. The fact
is, though, that these three vessels are IN
direct violation of the treaty OF 1917, which
limits the war vessels that either our gov
ernment or Great Britain can maintain on
the lakes to certain number aud Inn is
their gun power. The action OF the Cana
dian authorities in building the three
vessels described by the officer of the rev.
both particulars.
The treaty reads like this: The naval
forces to be maintained Ou the American
lakes by Eng land and the government OF
the United States shall hencefOrth be con-
fined to the following vessels on each side;
On the waters of Lake Ontario, one vessel
not exceeding 100 tons burden and armed
with one lS-pounder, on the waters of Lake
Champlain one vessel Of the same deScrip-
tion, on the waters of the upper lakes, two
vessels of the same description. All other
armed vessels on the lakes shall be forth
with dismantled, and no other vessel or
war shall be built or armed for service on
the lakes. If either party should here
after be deSirous of annullIug this stIpu-
lation, and should give notice to that effect
to the other party, it shall cease to be
binding after the expiration OF SIX months
from date of notice. The naYaI force 50 TO
be limited shall be reserved for such ser
vices as will in no respect interfere with the
proper duties of the armed vessels of the
other party
Now" said General Miles, eff Canada
has built vessel having 20-pOund gun
she has violated the treaty, and she GER
tainly has in putting These additional
boats on the lakes. England can send "A
large number OF light draught war yes
Sels up the ST. Lawrence river luto the
great lakes which could burn every town
from Duluth TO Detroit. And the slngu-
lar thing is that the Uuited States could
scarcely do anything by way of defense, SO
far as doing battle on the water Is con-
cerned. for while we have some light
drauk kht war-ships that could get through
the canal, we could not get them to the
upper lakes for the reason that they
would have TO push through British pos
sessions, and that Canada or Great Brit
ain would not allow. They would not
permit our vessels to enter the 81. Law
renee We could not get our war craft TO
the great lakes either very well.
"W hat do you think Canada means by
putting these additional war vessels on
the lakes?" General Miles was asked.
1T is not for me to say" be answered.:
81 have no opinion to express. You have
the facts, draw your own conclusion.