CANADA FOUGHT FOR THE EMPIRE A CENTURY AGO.

Rodney and Otamatea Times, Waitemata and Kaipara Gazette, 17 February 1915, Page 3

CANADA FOUGHT FOR THE EMPIRE A CENTURY AGO.

Pew people will remember that one hundred years ago Canada did hard fighting for the Empire, on water as well as land. The men and ships then provided, however, were not for the high seas, but for Canada's own mighty lakes.

In 1812 America declared war against Great Britain. The time was ripe, in the view of President Madison, for wiping off soras old scores. England, having her hands full in crushing "Boney," an excellent chance offered itself of wrapping Canada in the folds of the Stars and Stripes. England could do little to help Canada, but she sent out five hundred picked seamen under the command of the most brilliant officer she then possessed—James Lucas Yeo.

When he arrived in Canadian waters, Yeo found the Canadian squadron on Lake Erie, a motley affair, composed of a flotilla of six vessels and about 350 men—untrained seamen, old soldiers from the garrison, a few Indians, and so forth. A pitched naval battle took place here on October 8, 1812. "What happened js. not pleasant reading, except as an instance of British bravery against enormous odds. Most of our officers were wounded before our squadron finally fell into the hands of the enemy. The remaining officers were court-martialled at Portsmouth for the loss of their squadron, but were "most fully and honorably acquitted.'* Other battles followed; but whilst these were being fought the peacemakers were assembled at Ghent.