Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-01-08
ST.LAWRENCE
FRANCE HAS THE ADVANTAGE or
ENGLAND IN EVENT OF WAR.
The Fortress of st. Pierre-Menfer's
Purchase of AnticOsti May BE =
Crafty Move by France-The
Advantages of the Place.
From the New York Journal.

From the New York Journal.
Should wal break out between Eng
land and France a decisive battle for
supremacy will be fought in the Gulf Of
st. Lawrence"
This was the statement made by a
statesman who is in the confidence OF the
Dominion government. He drew quite
an alarmist picture of the position in which
the eastern seacoast cities of Canada, ex-
elusive OF Halifax. would be placed by
war between the two great powers.
1T is not generally known" he said.
that St. Pierre de Miquelon is very
strongly fortitied-quite as strongly forth
fled. in fact. as Halifax In case of war
between Great Britain and France 1t wouiC.
be possible for Il French fleet. unless
thwarted by a stronger British squadron.
to seize St. Johns. Newfoundland; st.
f. l.. and other points along the North
American coast.
The treaty between France and Great
Britain. concluded early in the present
century. forbade France terrifying st.
Pierre or keeping a stronger guard at the
port than fifty soldiers. 1t was also agreed
stationed there. When the Crimean war
broke -out- however, France became Bril-
tain'S ally against Russia. The French
republic took advantage of the opportuni-
~ to fortify st. Pierre. and obtained the
consent of Great Britain. The mother coYn-
try could rot very well refuse at that time,
seeing that she was acting in concert with
France.
|. That move o n the part of France dis
played considerable foresight. She vio-
lated the treaty when acting as an ally
of Britain, and instead of limiting the
number of defenders of St. Pierre to fftv.
has kept as many as n thousand troops
there. No British consul is permitted to
reside at st. Pierre. and on the ground
that the British did not object to the build
ing Of Notifications the treaty to all in
tents and purposes is a dead letter.
A Strong Garrison.
"Frarce. having built the Qualifications.
claims that it would be an absurdity TO
attempt to defend them with the aid Of
only fifty men, and hence maintains a
strong garrison at the port all the time.
But that Is not the most serious fea-
ture of the situation. The seafaring
population of France numbers about 3d.
0N. OF this number there are at least
10000. or one-third of the whole. scattered
along the western shores OF Newfoundland.
In case a French fleet came out to New
foundland imperfectly manned, 1t could
French fishermen. and would be able to
move without delay against the port Of
st. Johns. or the undefended ports Of Nova
Scotia.
"In case OF hostilities the possession Of
Anticosti would be an important factor.
I should not be surprised to learn that
eminent Certainly from its ~strategical
position, Anticosti would command the
Gulf Of st. Lawrence. and therefore is
possession would be n great thing for the
French feet, Newspaper dispatches state
that NJ. Menier has landed guns on Anti
cost. Should the statement turn out to
be true. 1t will show that NJ. Menier's
purchase of the island Is a mere subter-
fuge, and that he 10 really acting In the
interest of the home government.
There Is no doubt that as things stand
at present the French threaten Quebec,
and several important points in the mari
time provinces. The only relief for tho
situation is to bundle them bag and bag
gage of this continent"