DEFENCE OF CANADA

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 4 December 1940, Page 3

DEFENCE OF CANADA

PACIFIC COMMAND ESTABLISHED OTTAWA. 27th October. A further step in the organisation of the defence forces in Canada was recently revealed when the Minister of National Defence. Colonel Ralston, announced the establishment of a Pacific Command. This command will be to the Pacific Coast area, what the recently created Atlantic Command is to the maritime provinces and Newfoundland. The area will comprise British Columbia and Alberta. This new command, under MajorGeneral R. O. Alexander, D. 5.0., will be responsible for all operational matters which aff?ct the Pacific defence and will work in the closest co-opera-tion with the equivalent commanders of. the Royal Canadian Navy and the Royal Canadian Air Force in that area. It will control coastal defences j through fortress and area commanders! and all mobile land forces which may I be detailed for operational purposes in defence of the Pacific Coast. Thisj command will also be responsible for internal security measures and protection of vulnerable points defined as military responsibilities in that territory. Major-General Alexander, who was born in Ceylon, is 52 years of age. He joined the Royal Canadian Regiment in 1910 and served with this regiment up to the time of the Great War. going overseas as Adjutant of the 24th Battalion. C.E.F. He had a distinguished war record, winning. the D.S.O.