The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1910-01-14
CANADA WILL
HAVE FLEET Of
ELEVEN VESSELS
Measure Providing for Naval
Defense of Dominion In.
troduced by Premier
NAVY TO CONSIST Of FIVE
CRUISES AND SIX DEsTROYERS

Eleven Million Dollars TO he Exnend.
ed In Construction AIone-Fleet to
Be Placed at Disposal Of England
In Case Of Emergency.
Ottawa, Jan. 14.-The first field day
over the naval policy of the govern
ment undoubtedly resulted in tacti-
cal advantage for the ministry. The
Oil itself was of simple nature that
IL might have been allowed by wise
statesmen to have passed with the or
dinary formalities of first reading.
But after the simple and perfectly
frank explanation by the premier, in
the regretted absence of the Hon. L.
+. Brodeur, the leader of the opposi-
ton felt compelled to make an at
tempt to square himself" with all the
divergent wings of his party.
MIR. Borden was heard to poor ad-
vantage. In the first place he had q
set speech before him and he found
that some of his fireworks had been
spoiled by the governments simple
measure. which has as its principle
the safeguarding of Canadian auton-
omy. Secondly, Mr.. Borden sought to
set himself square with those men,
bers of his party who want dread
noughts or nothing, and he essayed to
contend that the resolution of March
20 last left loophole by which the
Dominion could in case of emergency
make a contribution.
Mr.. Borden worked the German
peril as effectively as If he had been
a campaigner for the opposition in
Great Britain, and he wound up with
the declaration. half hearted it SEEM
ed. that 1t avs the duty of Canada to
make a contribution at once in order
to save the empire.
Monks Exposure.
The unity" of the Conservative
party on the naval issue was strik-
'insly iilustrsted Just ass soon as Mr..
Monk, the leader from Quebec, took
the floor He laid bare certain party
secrets, and told the country that he
had been assured that Mr.. Fosters
resolution of last session would not
be pressed and practically accused his
comrades Of deception. Indeed he
went SO far as to intimate that they
had been made the victims of a panic
created in England for political pur-
poses and made 1t quite clear that SO
far as he was concerned he was op-
posed to any Canadian navy at all.
DIR. Monks speech was a veritable
bombshell in the ranks of the Conser-
vattve party and it Is difficult to see
how 1t can escape complete disin-
tegratiOn on tn eissue. 1t is quite
evident that the Quebec wing of the
party is in open revolt, and it is also
apparent that the dreadnought-Or-
nothing wing is equally dissatisfied
because the leader had not gone far
enough.
Ono Surprise.
The program as enunciated by the
premier contained one surprise. 1t
was announced that the government
had decided that Canada's initial navy
shall consist of eleven vessels instead
OF seven vessels as was semi officially
announced some weeks ago. The
eleven vessels will he made up of four
cruisers of the Bristol class. one of
t.,e' Bodicea type. smaller class. and
six destroyers of improved river class.
The annual expenditure for mainten-
ance will be about $3,000.000.
Sir Wilfrid expressed the hope that
it would be possible to construct the
navy in Canada, explaining that 1t
would probably cost thirty-f five per
cent more to build ships on this side
of the Atlantic
The bill which Sir Wilfrid intro
duced and which is entitled IAN act
respecting the naval service OF. Can
ade" follows the lines of the militia
act. one radical difference being that
Canadians are not compelled under
any circumstances to serve in the
navy.
The bill was given a first reading.
Premier Introduces Bill.
In introducing the bill respecting
the naval service of Canada, Mr.. Will
frid Laurier said:
"Alr. Speaker, it was understood
when the house adjourned for Christ
mas recess that upon resuming our
sitting my honorable friend, the min
lister of marine and fisheries, l.. P.
Brodeur. would introduce the naval
bill which was foreshadowed in the
speech from the throne and explains
the policy of the government in re-
gard to 1t. Unfortunately NV honor
able friend is today in such a condi-
ton Of health that he cannot be pres
ent. but with Il view of not disap-
pointing the house and of expediting
its business he has asked me to intro
duce the measure for him today. He
hopes and still more hope that when
the bill is brought up for a second
reaoding early next week. he will be
able to be in his place to move the
second reading. and to then go into
the whole question and all the details
of the policy of administration con-
nected with it. My object therefore
today will be simply to introduce the
bill and give the mouse its salient
feature, reserving for the second read
ing the more general discussion of
the navy.
Will he Naval Board.
ut provides that there shall he
director of naval service who must be