TO MOBILIZE IN WEST

Published Aug 13, 1914
Aylmer Express Newspaper

Military Base Is to Be Established in B.C.

Col. Hughes, Also Announces That a Whole Regiment of Servians In Detroit Want to Join Canadian Forces – Russians and French Would Enlist – Atlantic Ports Are Closed – Patriot Fund.

OTTAWA, Aug 1. – Col. the Hon. Sam Hughes stated last night that mobilization would start at once on the Pacific coast. He also announced that Servians resident in the United States had asked to be allowed to enlist with the Canadian troops. A whole regiment of Servians in Detroit wish to be allowed to join the contingent which will sail from Canada. The mobilization points in British Columbia will be Vancouver, Victoria and New Westminster. While no definite reason was given for the mobilization out there it is known that there has been some anxiety at the coast on account of the presence of German cruisers on the Pacific.

The closing of all the Canadian Atlantic ports, including Montreal simultaneously with the closing of the British ports has started speculation here about the possibility of a big naval battle having taken place and some German warships having escaped. There has been no report of any such conflict, however, and the closing of the ports is generally taken as only precautionary measure. When the German cruisers on the Atlantic have been removed, there will be no danger to British ships and the ports can open again.

The requests from the Servians in the U.S, who want to join the Canadian troops come from various parts of the country. They are reservists and are anxious to join in the fight in defence of their country against the Austrians and Germans but find it impossible now to cross the Atlantic. The Detroit regiment has drilled and is all ready to leave. The request of the Servians is being considered by the Government and the advice of the Imperial authorities will be obtained. French reservists especially in the west, are also anxious to join the Canadian contingent also and their case is being considered as well as that of the Russian reservists.

A suggestion which is being made, and which has support in every important circles, is that it would be well to establish a patriotic fund for the relief of the families of men who go to the front and for the men who are taken sick or wounded, the same as was done during the South African war.

During the South African war, a fund of some $500,000 was secured and $150,000 of this was never paid out. This would do as a beginning of this new fund, it is suggested.

The expectation now at militia headquarters, is that some of the Canadians troops will begin to assembly at Valcartier, near Quebec, about the end of this week, while the first contingent will all be there in two week’s time and it will sail for the scene of the war in the first week of September. There will be about 14,000 in all, including the first army division of 20,000 men, the regiments of a thousand men each to be equipped by New Brunswick and Manitoba. Hamilton Gault’s regiment, the automobile battery, which has been offered and accepted, and the battalion of 500 mounted men offered by the City of Calgary.

The Government has closed the port of Montreal as well as the port of Quebec and as far as any invading ships entering the St. Lawrence are concerned there is not felt to be much danger. If they came up to Quebec they would meet the battery of heavy guns of the embankment, which have a range of ten to twelve thousand yards. Then if they turned to leave again, they would find themselves trapped by British cruisers, four of which are now on the North Atlantic and can be often reached by wireless. Invading ships would be trapped in the same way in the Bay of Fundy, if they tried to reach St. John, and as for Halifax the entrance of the harbour is well protected by powerful guns. In addition the St Lawrence and the maritime ports are protected by mines.

__________