THE CANADIAN NAVY

Southland Times, Issue 19516, 16 May 1922, Page 5

THE CANADIAN NAVY

REVERSAL OF POLICY FISHERY PROTECTION SERVICE (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Reuter’s Telegrams.) VANCOUVER, May 14. “Smacking of ‘Pinafore,’ ” says a leading Canadian newspaper with reference to Canada’s plans for a fishing protection cruiser service taking the place of Canada’s navy, which in turn is to be practically scrapped. The Minister of Naval Defence, speaking in the House of Commons, said that the five new ships which Britain a year ago presented to Canada, would be laid up and the bulk-of the crews would be sent home, Britain replacing these with a fishery cruiser and two trawlers which would be placed in the Atlantic and Pacific. Four officers from the Royal Navy now in the service would be retained to train a sort of naval militia for two or three weeks of each year. It was hoped to train 1500 youths annually; they later being candidates for the fishery protection service, if they wished to join. It is expected that noxt week this outline of the Government's naval plans will be fully discussed in Parliament. Meantime, an explsmation on behalf of the Government says the action proposed is in view of a general suspension of the great expenditures throughout the world and of Canada’s financial position and the burdens she has to carry. She must face the situation in the light of the declaration by leading world statesmen that there must be a suspension of abnormal expenditure.