The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1909-11-03
PRESENCE OF GUNS ON BOARD
RESERVES BOATS EXPLAINED
Some Cities Of Dominion Apprehen.
sive Lest the United States Were
Ignoring Her Treaty But it is stat
ed Washington Has a Full Under
standing With Britain.

or interest to members and friends
| OF the Hancock Naval RI serves Will
| be the following Toronto and Wash
ington dispatches.
The Toronto dispatch says:
From reports received here from
Canadian cities and towns along the
great lakes considerable discussion
prevails over the question of the arm
ing of the Don Juan de Austria AMI
the Yantic, two vessels used by the
American naval militia. OF these, one
has been armed already. In an inter-
view, the Hon. George p. Graham.
minister of railways and canals, said
that the Don Juan de Austria was al
lowed to enter the great lakes through
the Canadian canals on condition that
she proceed through unarmed and to
be used only as a training ship.
Mr.. Graham would not specifically
say 1t was agreed that she should re-
main unarmed. and the fact that these
vessels have had guns placed upon
them after going through the canals
is perfectly we'll known at Ottawa and
elsewhere In Canada.
Most OF the vessels used by the Am
erican naval militia are armed with
thoroughly modern weapons. The
lake fleet, had their guns installed ut
Buffalo after she passed through the
Welland canal.
The Yantic Is at present wholly
unarmed. Before coming into the lakes
she mounted four heavy guns. Each
of these vessels has been allowed 10
enter by an express order in council.
The authorities at ottawa have been
quoted as saying that until the Bagot
treaty of 1917 can be interpreted by
and admiralty committee from both
countries II will be impossible to say
whether the United States has ex-
ceeded her rights.
The Washington dispatch is as fol-
lows:
officials of the navy and state de-
occasion for the discussion said to he
taking place i'm Canadian cities along
the great lakes with regard to the
arming of the Don Juan de Austria
and the Yantic for the purposes of the
naval militia of Michigan. That there
is any discussion is taken by officials
here to indicate that the Canadians
are unfamiliar with the arrangement
which the United States has with
Great Britain with regard to this mat
ter.
1t Is true that both boats named
are armed, and are being used as
practice ships by the naval militia.
At other great lakes stations there are
other boats, similarly armed. as Is the
case with the ship in use by the naval
militia of Minnesota at Duluth. To
all of this Great Britain has agreed
in a formal manner.
According to the naval officers In
this city who have charge of the naval
militia matters, the United States
has never failed to advise with Great
Britain when II has wanted to send a
naval militia vessel to the great lakes,
and in every case the consent or the
London government has been secured
in writing.
Here is the plan: At the time the
Don Juan de Austria was being pre-
pared for the use of the Michigan
naval militia, the navy department of
ficers communicated with the propsr
officers of the state department. and
requested them to lay the matter be-
fore the London foreign office, with
the request that permission be given !
the United States to send the ship
into the great lakes for the purpose in
question.
The data furnished the London Of
Ace included the name of the ship, |
its dimensions, draft, tonnage, arma-
ment and oil other Information of inn
portance. In due time the British |
foreign office signifed its consent 70
the arrangement. and then the Don
Juan de Austria was sent through the
canals to its station at Detroit. In
going through the canals all these |
vessels have been disarmed.