cona had also presented Commander Macdonald with a silver service. On board the Niobe Mr. Brodeur delivered an eloquent address: "In welcoming our first Cruiser and training ship in the name of the Government and people of Canada, I must not omit to point out how important this initial step in our great project of self defence is to the Empire of which we form such an important part, in the glory and security of which we see the future stability and strength of our own Dominion." After stating that his own son was joining the ship, and pointing out that Canada was now prepared to share in the responsibilities of preserving her autonomy the Minister continued in these ringing words:

We must consider that our interests are so interwoven with those of Great Britain that her supremacy on the sea and her perpetual command of the great commerce of the world appeal to us and awaken a responsive echo in our country-an echo that springs from gratitude as well as from self-interest. Her rule has been a blessing to civilization, and has shielded us from the fate that barbarism and ignorance twine around the less fortunate peoples. If then, we can assist, even in a small way, but in proportion to our strength and resources, in the solidifying of her power, the maintenance of her influence and the safeguarding of her supremacy, it becomes our duty to do so and in this establishment of a Canadian Navy, for the protection of our commerce and the defence of our coasts, we are displaying to the world our readiness to do our fair share in the upbuilding of the Empire to which we are proud to belong.

Commander Macdonald stated in his reply that when he advertised in England for officers and men he received 10,000 applications, and that the Imperial Government gave him every trained man he wanted even though on Foreign service at the time. The Rainbow-it had already been decided that the letters H. M. C. S., standing for His Majesty's Canadian Ship, should precede the name of these and succeeding vessels-arrived at Esquimalt on Nov. 7th and was officially welcomed by the Lieut.Governor of British Columbia, Hon. W. Templeman, Minister of Mines, Mr. Premier McBride of British Columbia, and Mayor Morley of Victoria. At a banquet in the Drill-hall on the 10th further celebrations took place and Commander Vivian of H. M. S. Shearwater, one of three British battleships stationed at Esquimalt, warmly welcomed the coming Canadian Navy as a sign of strength added to Britain in its struggle for supremacy on that sea which was the life of the Empire, the basis of its power and union.

An incident in this general connection was a speech delivered by Commander Roper, R.N., as Chief of the Canadian Naval Staff, at an Exhibition-luncheon in Ottawa on Sept. 13th. It was a straight defence of the Government's policy in Naval matters and as such aroused considerable Conservative criticism. It was contended by the Opposition in Parliament and in the press that if Lord Dundonald, as a military employee of the Government,

had no right to criticize the Militia Department in its administration of affairs so Commissioner Roper, as a Naval employee of the Government, had no right to defend the Marine Department and Naval policy of the Administration. His speech was political in part but it was, also, a valuable contribution to the discussion of the question. Speaking with the authority of expert knowledge and experience, he alleged a great lack of true appreciation of Naval conditions on the part of those who decried the new Canadian Navy as a "tin-pot" navy. He declared that the proposed cruisers and destroyers would form a most useful addition to the Imperial Navy and were, under existing conditions preferable to Dreadnaughts, of which Britain now had plenty. Trained men, scout-ships and naval dockyards such as Canada was to provide, . were what Britain needed most. He urged the immediate training and enlisting of men, spoke of the Canadian Navy as a "branch of the Services of the Empire," and mentioned the preamble to the British Articles of War: "The Navy whereon, under the Providence of God, the wealth, safety and strength of the Kingdom chiefly depend." Letters in Le Devoir attacking the Marine Department were referred to as "the imaginative vapourings of a pessimistic soul" and Lord C. Beresford was quoted to prove the need of more cruisers ready to act with and in the Royal Navy. Some incidents of the year in this connection were as follows: Jan. 29.-Le Canada, the leading Liberal organ of Quebec City, says: "We have no business to prepare a defence against attack from the United States, our friends and allies. A powerful hostile fleet could not attack us coming from Europe without having vanquished the Imperial Fleet-an impossible contingency. Therefore, we are only exposed to raids of hostile cruisers, isolated, or at least, left outside of any naval concentration to run upon the seas and harass British commerce."

Mar. 29.-A mass-meeting at Vancouver addressed by G. H. Cowan, M.P., and J. D. Taylor, M.P., passes the following Resolution: "That we disavow the principle of Independence embodied in the Naval Service Bill and declare in favour of a navy built, equipped, manned and, as far as possible, officered in Canada and as much an integral part of the British Navy as Canada is a part of the British Empire. In the meantime we believe the immediate duty of Canada and the impending necessities of the Empire can best be discharged and met by placing without delay at the disposal of the Imperial authorities, as a free and loyal contribution from the people of Canada, such an amount as may be sufficient to purchase or construct two battleships of the Dreadnaught type." June 25.-It is notified by the British Army Council that they are prepared to exempt, from the Army Qualifying Examination, candidates for commissions in the British Cavalry, Foot-Guards, Infantry, and Army Service Corps who have qualified for admission to the Royal Military College, Kingston, Canada. In the Royal Artillery, however, a special examination in Mathematics is required.

Aug. 17.-Lord Brassey, in an address at a Luncheon, tendered in Montreal by Mr. G. W. Stephens says: "Nor let us fail to take account of the latent Reserves for the reinforcement of the Navy which we possess in the States beyond the Seas."

Sept. 29. In an open Letter to the Prime Minister Admiral Lord C. Beresford reviews the Naval situation: "The British trade routes of the world are at this moment almost wholly unguarded; and there exists no practicable arrangement whatever for providing increased defence in time of war. British trade in the event of war would, therefore, be exposed to the attacks of privateers on all routes. The immediate results would be:

1. A sharp rise in the rates of Insurance.

2. A sharp rise in the prices of raw material and the necessaries of life.

3. Refusal of shipowners to allow their vessels to leave port.

4. A heavy fall in the price of securities.

Oct. 19. In a great speech before the Imperial Club, London, Mr. Balfour sums up the Naval situation as follows: Imperial defence is the necessary basis of any Imperial policy no matter what its character or complexion; we hold the strategic gates of defence for the whole Empire, and it is from that point of view that we have to consider the immense responsibilities which now lie upon us. The present Government's calculation of our superiority over the next greatest naval Power in Dreadnaughts in the year 1913 is only four; I do not believe that the margin in British strength has ever in our history through the last 100 years sunk so low as that."

Oct. 21.-Lord Curzon at Hanley sums up the Defence issue in these words: "The international situation has enormously changed; the waves of the Channel are no longer a genuine protection; the leading Continental Powers have not only great armies but are creating powerful navies for themselves; meanwhile, the two-Power standard on which we have been taught to rely seems in danger of shrinking to a one-Power standard; it is not the spirit that is wanting, but the conditions. We need compulsory service for home defence."

Nov. 26.-Mr. S. S. McClure, of McClure's Magazine, New York, says to the Canadian Club, Ottawa: "If I were able to give you advice I would give it to you on the following lines. First, I would make it a matter so clear and so plain that every man, woman and child should know in his heart that the most important institution in the world to-day for human peace and justice and maintaining of the great highways of trade is the British Navy. That is one point. Second, I should regard the breed of men as important as the breed of horses and cattle."

Dec. 3. It is stated, according to estimates by the Berlin Tageblatt, that German Naval expenditure will increase from the expected maximum of $115,425,000 in 1911 to $127,925,000 in 1914.

Dec. 4. The List of successful candidates for entrance to the Royal Naval College at Halifax numbers 21.

Dec.

6.-Hon. L. P. Brodeur states in Parliament that no tenders for ships have yet been asked for though the Admiralty plans and specifications have been received.

Dec. 19. Mr. C. C. Ballantyne of the Montreal Harbour Board states that: "Montreal is to have a first-class dry-dock with a lifting capacity of 25,000 tons, at a cost of four millions. The dry-dock will be built at Longue Pointe by a British firm. It will be ready by September next. Thirty acres of land are to be reclaimed from the bed of the river for the dock. This work has already been commenced. There will also be a ship-repairing plant equal to any of the largest repairing plants of Great Britain."

Dec. 29.-The New York Tribune says: "There is, perhaps, nothing else quite so noteworthy in the military state of the world to-day as the rapidity and extent of British naval construction. An array of fighting ships is being built which never before was approximated in a single programme and the speed of construction which is being attained is one which provokes astonishment. It is a tremendous programme. But it is an Empire with tremendous interests, dependent upon the control of the sea, that is essaying it. As long as things are as they are among the nations of the world, it seems necessary for Great Britain to do these things."

Dec. 31.-It is stated that at the close of this year the nations of the world have under construction 70 battleships and cruisers of an aggregate tonnage of one and one-half millions valued at £140,000,000.

Dec. 31.-The following table shows the 1909 standing, establishments and strengths of the British Regular Army:

The Laurier Government and Public Policy of the Year

III.-DOMINION PUBLIC AFFAIRS

The Liberal Administration in Canada continued during 1910 in the most complete control of public policy and affairs. Its normal majority in the Commons was from 40 to 45; by the deaths of Conservative Senators its majority in the Upper House was about the same. In this latter connection there were some interesting statements during the year. The Montreal Herald, the Kingston Whig, and the Toronto Globe-all Liberal papers came out in vigorous protest against the continued appointment of only Liberals to the Senate. Since the Laurier Government came into power in 1896 it had appointed 60 Senators-all Liberal in politics. On Oct. 21 The Globe said: "If it was wrong to have a Senate composed almost entirely of Tory partisans prior to 1896 it cannot be right in 1910 to have a Senate composed almost entirely of Liberal partisans." On Nov. 14 it continued its comment as follows: "There is no doubt at all in the public mind at present that the present method of appointing Senators by the Government of the day, exclusively from amongst its party friends, cannot be continued. The real difficulty arises when the question of appointment or election is faced. On the whole opinion seems to incline toward election for a period of about eight years, from large constituencies, at some time other than that at which the Commons are chosen."

Sir Wilfrid Laurier remained during the year the dominant figure in his Government. Many deputations assailed him; many issues confronted him. In Toronto, on Jan. 5th, he heard the representatives of 3,800 veterans ask for a two-year extension of time for the taking up of their land grants. On the following day he opened the new Ontario Club-a Liberal organizationand on the 7th was entertained at a non-party banquet at the National Club with Mr. G. T. Irving in the chair. The President closed his remarks of welcome by expressing admiration of the Premier for "an utter absence of self-seeking or personal aim, for your honesty and your common sense." In his address Sir Wilfrid Laurier commented on the American's love of country and hoped for more of that sentiment in Canada; spoke of the Dominion's vast resources and coming development from the Peace River to Cobalt and the Porcupine; described it as not only the country of the 20th century but as, unquestionably, for the next 100 years" the magnet of the civilized world"; spoke of Canada's