The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-04-17
TN IL wEATHk
PROTECT THE LAKE CITIES.

Among the curious relics of inter-
national agreements is q treaty between
the United States and Great Britain,
dated 1917, and which limits the
naval force to be held on our great lakes
to vessels snot exceeding 100 tons bur
don and armed with one eighteen
pound cannon" Another condition IS
that these vessels shall be limited in
number. Since that time the naval
force Of each country has consisted only
Of a few revenue cutters designed to
protect reyenue laws. The building Of
a new gunboat by the British govern-
ment, for use on the great lakes has
been known for some time but is only
within the last few weeks that the sub
ject has received any consideration from
congress. The full Importance Of the
question is not fully appreciated if the
very brief reference to the affair is an
indication of the way our national legls-
lators consider it. For all fighting pur-
poses, the United States revenue cutters
now in service on our lakes are not
worth the powder to blow them in the
air. All are manufactured of wood, and
the armament is hardly more than a
mere show.
A simple glance at the map ought to
show the Importance Of protecting our
interests on the lakes. Beginning at the
extreme eastern boundary on the north,
we find first, the city Of Ogdensburg on
the st. Lawrence river. 1t is but twenty
miles from the Canadian city Of King
ston, where a heavy British force is al
ways CHARTERED and which is protected
by a strong fort and heavy towers in the
bay. There are no troops at Ogdens.
burg and no protection. The next
American city on the western line is Os-
wego; a town Of $4,000 inhabitants
whose only protection is an abandoned
army post, while almost opposite is the
Canadian city of Toronto where troops
are always quartered. Then we find
the really great city Of Buffalo on Lake
Erie without 80 much as a torpedo to
drive away an enemy. The cities of
Erie, Sandusky, Toledo, Detroit, Mil
waukee and Chicago follow in success
sion, while on the northern boundary
there are smaller cities besides the i'm
portant town of Duluth. The only
point where there is oven a semblance
OF protection is at Fort Mackinaw, q
point we'll situated but not sufficiently
armed to prevent the passage Of war
ships through the straits. On the other
hand the British government maintains
q strong force at Fort William on the
north shore of Lake Superior. 1t will
be seen, that if war should be carried
on to the lakes the Americans would
have very little to gain in comparison to
what they might lose. The single gun
boat which is now being manufactured
by the British government for use on
these waters, could drop down in front
Of Chicago, Milwaukee or Duluth and
blow each town almost to pieces before
anything could be done to withstand the
battle. At the same time the Canadian
squadron of revenue cutters is larger
and better equipped than that of the
United States. While we are hearing
SO much discussion concerning coast
defenses it may be we'll to observe that
the cities on the lakes which are unpro-
tected are really quite as important as
the coast cities. The existing treaties
between the United States and Great
Britain would, of course, be ~abrogateG
in the event of wal between the two
countries and then tie British govern
ment would have a decided advantage
in a line of attack on u boundaries.
With these facts, it must in addition
be remembered that the queer's force
in Canada number more than $1,000
we'll trained men, besides the force i,
the northwest territory. They are no
scattered all over the dominion but ar
stationed at points like Quebec, Mon
treal, Rockville, Kingston and Toronto
where they could be massed in almos
a few hours notice and thrown acros
the border. II the United States prc
poses to enlarge it's armed force an
protect it's cities, it should begin b,
strengthening it's position on the grea
lakes.