War of 1812 Bicentennial

Preface

Since the Imperial Defence Conference in London of 1909 closed its proceedings, many of the questions which it was convened to consider, its recommendations, and their result, have been widely discussed; but in connection with the defence of the Dominion of Canada—a chief link in the chain of Imperial defence—there is much which has been but little, if at all, touched upon, yet which, in the interests of the Empire, should be more completely understood by British subjects generally.

It is in the hope of contributing in some degree to explain the general nature of the problem of Canadian defence that these pages have been put together by the writer, a great part of whose early life was spent in Canada.

The solution of the problem should, it is conceived, be sought, and will be found, by considering the character of the frontier of Canada; the lessons of the last war (that of 1812–14) fought upon it; the changes, affecting Canadian defence, which have since taken place; the circumstances and position of the Dominion to-day; and to what all this points.

An effort to do this is here made; and it may be added that the important issues both for Canada and the Empire which may, some day, hang upon successful Canadian defence, are very apparent.