The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-09-14
FRONTIER.
Lord Chelmsford Studying the Canadian De.
rences Against the United states.

From the Boston Erening Transcript.
MONTREAL Sept. s.-The Right Hon. Lord Chelms-
ford. G. C. B.. q retired General in the British Army,
arrived in Montreal from London yesterday on an in.
terestins mission. This mission Is an inspection OF
the lines of defence between Canada and the United
States. and a general survey OF the means which
Canada could command to resist invasion from the
south in the event OF possible war between the
United States aud Great Britain. His lordship dis.
claims any onhcial character for his mission.
"of course. the probability OF a war between Great
Britain and the United States is. perhaps. not very
great" he said to the reporter. but there ia always
the possibility. We have had several illustrations of
that fact OF late. when IL seemed that not much was
wanted TO precipitate q struggle between the two
countries. I was curious. on my own personal score,
to see how Canada would be prepared to meet an In.
vasion. aud SO I am informing myself as much rs
possible as TO your resources and rs to the physical
conditions OF the country"
"Do you not think IL probable that the United
states, with its great population. would be able to
pour its troops IN overwhelming numbers into Can.
ada Immediately on the declaration of war. and over.
run the country before the mother country could
come to the help of her colony ?" I asked:
MOI do not think that could be done. OF course,
It would depend very largely upon the Canadians
themselves. Every mothers son OF them would have
TO throw down his pen or his shovel or whatever else
he might have in his hand. ana grasp the sword or
tho musket. Canada would have to mass her forces
AT the crucial points along the border. especially
along the Niagara frontier and the welland Canal,
for the latter must be preserved at all hazards. One
thing that l believe would help Canada TO repel the
nrst invasion OF her territory. or at any rate keep II
back TIL assistance would arrive from England,
would be the fact that the war would not be popular
In the United States. There would always, l believe,
be q division OF sentiment In the United states as to
the Qualification OF any war that might spring I'D be.
tween Britain and America, aud this division OF sen.
timent would result in a lack of enthusiasm, and the
consequent unenthusiastic prosecution OF the cam.
paign. the same as In the war Of 1872"
The defence of the Canadian frontier east OF Mont.
real Lord Chelmsford believes would be an easy mat.
tor. The st. Lawrence River as far rs this city ia
~navigable for battleships with a draught of twenty.
two feet. even at lowest water. and England with hsr
superior navy would be able TO patrol the river with
q Meet that would make navigation impossible. In
this connection his lordship referred to the fact that
the British North American squadron is now very
strong. having received several very formidable ad.
ditions during the past eighteen months. Treaty
stipulations between the two countries now limited
the number OF %gunboats which might be kept on the
lakes to three. and the only way In which England
could mako sure OF having n supply Of these ready
for an emergency was to have them attached to the
squadron at Halifax.