The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1909-11-19
CANADA TO BUILD
SEVEN WARSX|PS
Program Agreed Upon at I'm
perial Defense Conference
on Table at Ottawa

ottd"d, NoS. lo.-l H6 plans SUD-
mtted by the admiralty and the war
office at the Imperial Defence confer
ence of last summer for the naval and
military defense of Canada in CO.
operation with the imperial force and
on which the proposed action OF the
government is based. We're laid on the
table of the house this afternoon by
the Hon. l.. P. Bordeur.
In brief. the naval program adopt-
ed by the government involves the
construction of three cruisers of im-
proved Bristol class. and four de-
stroyers of improved river class cost
ing, for the cruisers, about five and
three quarter millions and for the de-
stroyers about a million and half
with an annual outlay for mainten-
ance of something like two million
dollars. Two Cf the cruisers will he
placed on the Pacific coast and one
cruiser with the four destroyers on
the Atlantic coast. The total number
of officers and men for this nucleus
of a fleet is estimated at LAOS. with
payroll of about 100000 with an ex-
ira 100000 for victualling.
In respect to the military propo-
sails a provision is made for the en-
tension of the plan of cooperation al
ready under way in connection with
the imperial general staff; the ex-
change of officers and the training OF
the Canadian troops upon a common
system of imperial organization.
Suggested a Conference.
The precis of the conference papers
and official correspondence was pre-
sented in a blue book form of fifty
pages. The first part is taken up
with the correspondence relating to
the summoning of the conference, in
Guiding the letters between the over
seas dominions of New Zealand, Aus
tralia, with the African colonies and
Canada and the home government.
The first proposal for conference
was made on April 80 last by the
prime minister of the United Kingdom
and was transmitted to the various
governments for the consideration of
the self-governing dominions. The
reply from Canada adopting the invi-
tation to attend the conference was
received on May 5. and it suggested
July as the most convenient date.
Proposal for Canada.
AS regards Canada it was consid-
cred that her double sea border rem
dered the provision of fleet unit of
the same kind as that of Australia un-
suitable for the present. 1t was pro-
posed, according to the amount of
money that might be available, that
Canada should make start with
cruisers of the Bristol class and de-
stroyers of an improved river class,
part to he stationed on the Allan
tic seaboard and a part on the Pacific.
In accordance with the arrangement
already made the Canadian govern
ment undertook the maintenance of
dock yards at Halifax and Esquimalt
and wireless telegraph service, esti-
mated at $25O.000 per year.
Australia agreed to ultimately un-
dertake the maintenance of dock
yard at Sydney.
No conference was held with the
representatives of the South African
colonies, an expression OF opinion
from them being impracticable pend
ing the formation of the new govern
ment of South African federation. The
representative of Newfoundland init
mated that the existing provision
made by that colony would be con-
tinued.
Many Considerations.
In the admiralty memorandum SUBJ
United to the colonial representa-
tives, it was stated that eff the prob
lem of imperial naval defence were
considered merely as problem of
naval strategy, it would he found that
the greatest output of strength for a
given expenditure is obtained by the
maintenance of single navy with
concomitant unity of training and
unity of command. The maximum of
power would be gained if all parts
of the empire contributed according
to their needs and resources to the
maintenance of the British navy. 1t
has, however. long been recognized
that in defining the conditions under
which the naval forces of the empire
should he developed, other consider
ations than those of strategy alone
must be taken into account. The cir
cumstances of the various overseas
dominions in respect to population.
wealth and power and the different
stages of growth, geographical posi-
ton, history and physical environ
ment, and individual and national SEN
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