The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-07-05
Men-of-War of England and
Other Nations Likely to Be
Constructed There.
nY La MARuuIsE DIE FoNrENoY.

n OLONEL SIR PERCY GIROU-
ARDS recent visit to Canada
seems destined TO pave the way
Tor the Dominion becoming a great
centre Of the construction of men-of-
war, both for the British empire and
for foreign powers.
Sir Percy, who about a couple of
years ago resigned the lucrative and
important Eovernorship of British
East Africa. and his commission in
the army as colonel of the Royal En-
Sineers, in order TO become a partner
and active director Ct the great ship
bu!lding firm OF Armstrong, Whit
worth & Company, OF Elswick. came
over here at about Easter time, un-
der the prcteXt Of visiting his rela-
tives in Canada. where he was born.
He. however, turned his stay to good
account. For he has secured for the
Armstrong concern tract OF some
2oC acres on the south bank OF the ST.
Lawrence. opposite Montreal and near
St Lambert. Works are immediately to
he erected, the necessary plant brought
from England. and il is anticipated
that by this time next year the works
vii! be in operation. BY the second
year 1t is anticipated that there will
be employment for at least 1000 men.
Other English shipbuilding interests
have been led by tho Armstrong; eN-
ample TO likew Use move towards estab-
fishing branch works on the St Law
renee River, the idea being that Can
ada will in future build her own
steamboats, and also all the warships
of which the Dominion may stand in
need.
1t is astonishing that this piece OF
enterprise on the part OF the Arm
strongs should not have excited a
greater amount of attention in the
United States. The Armstrong; are,
next TO the Krupps at Essen, perhaps
the creates. ordnance and warship
construction concern in the world. and
on the ST. Lawrence they Will have
many advantag es and facilities which
they do not enjoy at Eiswick. 1t is
TO Sir Percy Girouards initiative that
this move of the Armstrong; is due,
and IL is he who Will be the moving
spirit of the works at st. Lambert.
Sir Percy has had an extraordinarily
brilliant career Born on this side OF
the Atlantic. AS a son OF Justice De-
sire Girouard. OF the Supreme Court
OF Canada. and lipeal descendant OF
Antoine Girouard. secretary TO that
CGmte dc Ran.eZay. who was Governor
of French Canada In 1900. he received
his military education at the Royal
Military Academy. at Kingston. he
was for n time employed on the en-
SineerinG staff of the Canadian Pacl-
fic Railroad, where he obtained a prac-
teal knowledge of railroad engineer
ing. which proved OF value to him
when later on he joined the British
army. that being the one branch OF all
others OF which the corps of Royal
Engineers. to which he was attached
was deficient.
In turn traffic manager of the rail
road belonging to the immense royal
arsenal at Woolwich. organizer and
constructor OF the thousand miles of
railroad on the Nile. by means OF
which Lord Kitchener was able To
reach Khartolm. and reconquer the
Soudan. president of the Egyptian
state railroads and telegraphs. n
charge of all the railroad transporta-
ton and construction in South Africa
during the ISoer War. he quickly won
his way up from lieutenancy TO
colonelcy in the army and TO a knight
hood with Il star ana cross of the Or
der OF ST. Michael and St George.
While in Africa he fell in love with
the daughter of Sir Richard Solomon,
the very wealthy legal adviser of the
Transvaal administration. and married
her. After that he was governor ana
comnanderin chief of the vast Atri-