The Minneapolis journal., 1903-04-18

ficient in all sailorly craft and can handle
boats and small craft with unequaled
skill. They are stout oarsmen and mas
ters Of compass, logine and lead, and they
have little to learn about the internal
economy of sailing craft. The more intri-
cate naval material they acquire readily,
and they pass about 95 per cent of their
number into the grade Of qualified sea-
men" after a six months cruise There
is a total seafaring poulation of nearly
$4,000 in the island to recruit from, and
the admiralty aims to put thru 600 men
every year, which will be all that the
squadrons in North American waters can
accommodate.
This will give a trained force of 5000
men in ten years, and if Canada's scheme
prospers to a similar extent, the result
will be the formation of an auxiliary to
the imperial forces which will be very ac-
ceptable in the day of trial. Last year
the British navy had a total effective
force of 1856, 900. Of whom 100000 were at
sea, 900 in the reserve. 1000 compos-
ing the coast guard. Within five years
swollen to 100000. which will be about all
the naval recruiting that the British isles
will stand, owing to the simultaneous need
for the enlargement of the army. For this
reason, an overseas reserve of 1000 or
10,O 900 men will be very satisfac ctory, more
| especially when composed Of such ap-
proved material as the Newfoundland
branch has shown itself. The prospect.
| indeed, is that the port Of st. Johns will
| be fortified within few years, and con-
yerted to the more effective safeguarding
Of the Atlantic grain route which passes
across the Grand Banks almost within
sight of st. Johns, and is dominated from
this port. At present the only naval
strong hold of Great Britain hereabout is
| Jo1if u I,,%s ~, cI,3 ,3r,S
whether from American ports or plying
via the st. Lawrence, do not approach that
place, and are utterly devoid of protec-
| ton or shelter when east of Cape Race
against an enemy in midocean.
1 NewfoundIand's Need.
For this reason st. John is being con-
| sidered as a suitable site for. another
i stronghold, because it already has a
! squadron of British cruisers stationed
| there In summer; owing to the French
| shore dispute,s and the reservists could be
! more easily mustered there than else.
i where, while the natural features Of the
i port are such that it can be made inn.
! pregnable at a very small cost The har.
4 Dor is almost landlocked, enclosed within
Il high hills crowned with batteries, which
command. the whole sea force, and which
i could, with modern artillery, be rendered
4 so effective that the port would become
i ocean. The advantageous geographical
\ position Of Newfoundland has been made
:. more manifest, lately, than thru the
i discussion about fast lines and ocear
4 routes, and the further fact that all the
ocean cables cross the Grand Banks anC
Il could be cut without hindrance as thing!
now are, accentuates the need Of station
{ ing warships here and adopting adequat,
defenses so that an aggressive or de
fensive course could be taken as cir
cumstances warranted.
4 The cruisers could be used to scout be
, yond the Grand Banks or sweep thos.
, waters Of an enemy's shipping. The por
could be utilized to fall back upon, t,
shelter merchantmen or to refit war Graf
and recrew them from the reserve. Th
men of this force would be gathered ther,
| II war impended, and would be employed
Ito partly man the batteries, and witt
!, st. John and Halifax so provided the de
Tense of the western ocean would be vir
! tuallly assured.
, The British Point OF View.
Moreover, 1t has no ships Of It's ow
: except the fishery cruisers, which are no
! larmored and cannot be regarded as ef
. fective, judged by the standards of mod
: tern war craft Likewise 1t has no expe
< lrienced men whatever, no sea drill, un
3 der actual. conditions Of warship life, n
: Familiarity with the contingencies {
4 scouting and fighting work, and would b
. fworthless If. set to act for itself. It
! contended that 1t could be employed I
> defend the st. Lawrence route, but tn
2 faIlacy of this Is obvious, as it could d
: nothing without the aid Of the Britis
!. navy, and the contention of. the Britis
s authorities is that it should be organize
las an imperial force and part OF the co.
OF itss 1naSntenance borne by Canada 8
la contrfbliti ton toward the war fund. tt
e admiralty supplying ships in which to trail
: the men,sand. the whole scheme being a.
3 (sinnflated with that for imperial defens
/. lin which the other colonies are all enliste,