been the giving of a preference in their markets over the foreigner to all British goods, of one-third the duty. This was done without any return or advantage or quid pro quo. Canada saw the danger coming and tried to do the best she could to help the cause of the Empire. The sugar duties were put on to meet the commercial war waged upon their fellow-subjects of the West Indies. Imagine the disappointment, the astonishment of the Canadian people, after the sacrifices they had made for the Imperial cause, when they saw the Mother Country put on sugar duties and refuse any preference to the West Indies, and subsequently agreeing with the foreigner and binding herself not to give advantages to her own people. Is this any encouragement to Canadian Imperialism?

We have seen Great Britain increasing in population, opening up great avenues of trade in Burmah, Africa, and elsewhere, all of which should have added to her trade and increased her exports. What are the facts? Her exports in 1872 were 314,000,000l., twenty-nine years later her exports had only risen to 348,000,000l., the difference being nearly made up by increased exports of coal, which is a mere sale of national capital or assets, besides 9,000,000l. for new ships sold to foreigners, a class of export which was not included in the returns for 1872.

A careful inquiry will show that, as a matter of fact, the British export trade is about at a standstill, in spite of many additional markets secured at large cost to the British taxpayer, and then thrown open to the free competition of the foreigner, whose manufacturer is not burdened with the cost of securing the market, and therefore has that advantage over the British subject. This may be magnanimous, but it is not business, and certainly it is not the way to defend ourselves in the bitter commercial war in which we are now engaged.

While Great Britain has only been holding her own, consider what Germany has been doing in the way of increasing her exports. In 1895 they amounted to 171,203,000l., in 1901 to 237,970,000l.

Then take the United States. In 1871 her exports amounted to 442,820,178 dollars (about 90,000,000l.), the balance of trade that year against her being about 15,000,000l. In 1901 her exports had increased to 1,487,764,991 dollars (about 300,000,000l.), while the balance of trade had turned in her favour and amounted to 664,592,826 dollars (about 136,000,000l.).

Another point not to be forgotten is that the British Empire contains a population of about 400 millions, of which less than 50 millions are of British blood. Among these latter of course there are the strongest ties of race and kindred, but every effort should be made to bind our fellow-subjects of different origin by self-interest. They cannot be expected to make great sacrifices with the same

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spirit as those of our own race such as the English-speaking people of the great Colonies.

All these points have been carefully considered by the Canadian Imperialists, and the proposition which has been adopted in various centres in Canada, by many of the leading newspapers, and by leaders of thought of both political parties, in fact, the only definite proposition that has been publicly discussed, is to the following effect:

'That a special duty of five to ten per cent. should be imposed at every port in the British possessions on all foreign goods, the proceeds to be devoted to Imperial defence, by which each part would not only be doing its duty towards the common defence but at the same time be receiving a preference over the foreigner in the markets of the Empire.'

If this proposition or something on the same line is arranged for at the coming conference, it will enable the defences everywhere to be greatly increased. It will help to secure the food supply on British soil, it will help British trade in every part of our possessions, it will give the direct bond of self-interest to all the diverse races which go to form our Empire, and it will tend to preserve our population, capital, and resources, to build up and strengthen our own power, instead of having our wealth frittered away in developing and fostering foreign, rival, and possibly hostile nations.

We have seen the opening of a direct attack upon our shipping supremacy. The combine of the Atlantic steamship lines is only the beginning of what may spread in other directions if some direct and bold measures are not taken at once to save our interests. The condition in the agreement which ties up our greatest shipbuilding establishment with all its plants, machinery, and the skilled and experienced ability of its staff from building any ships for British use, shows the cloven hoof of the whole arrangement, and exposes its direct and positive hostility to British interests.

Our manufactures are also being slowly wiped out. The tinplate trade has gone mainly into the hands of the United States. The boot and shoe industry will very soon be entirely absorbed by American competition, for even now English manufacturers are beginning to fill their orders from their customers with boots and shoes made in the United States. Can this sort of thing be in the interests of the British workmen or the British people or the British Empire? The manufacturers of foreign countries with their enormous combinations, with the full support and encouragement both financial and moral which their governments and peoples accord them, with their own markets safe and the British markets at their mercy, must soon ruin many other industries, unless the leaders of political thought of both parties in England forget their petty squabbles, and unite and use their best efforts to defend their country

in the dangerous and vehement war which is being waged commercially against her.

One slight step in the right direction can be made by adopting some such suggestion as the imposition of a defence or war tax, which will add greatly to the defensive strength of the Empire both in a military as well as a political and commercial point of view. Canadians cannot believe that the people of the Mother Country will not see the force of these arguments, or that they will refuse to accept such an offer if it comes from the Colonies. The colonial view that this proposition is required far more by the Mother Country than by any of the Colonies may be wrong, but it is certainly very clear and decided.

The Empire must be combined for defence, and an agreement can only be arrived at by mutual concessions. The Colonies can provide a defence fund if a war tax is levied all around the Empire. They will be content to pay in that way, when they might not be willing to do it in any other. The influence of British subjects of foreign origin would probably be in favour of such a plan, while they might object to a direct contribution in cash to a fund which would secure armaments, but would leave out essentials in the shape of food supply and the preservation and increase of trade.

The danger of irreconcilable views makes one alarmed for the result of the conference, for if no agreement can be arrived at and the conference ends in a deadlock, the effect in the great selfgoverning Colonies will be disastrous, and disintegrating influences might at once arise, and the Imperialists in Canada would have no arguments left with which to meet the attacks of the disloyal, or the renewal of the attempt to involve Canada in commercial union with the United States. It would be said that in spite of everything, including the advice of the Prince of Wales to the British people to 'wake up,' we are to drift on to decadence as a great Power.

GEORGE T. DENISON.

THE FIGHT AT 'ROIVAL (50)'1

'Nemo me impune lacessit.'-Motto of the Scottish Horse.

AT dusk on the 10th of April the columns of Rawlinson and Kekewich were laagered along the Hart's River, facing south. Kekewich's column (made up of Grenfell and Van Donop) was on the right of the line. At dawn on the 11th all these columns turned to their right and marched along the spruit towards the east. The leading column, Van Donop's, which had camped by the farm of Doornbult, was being closely followed by Grenfell-so closely that the screen of scouts shielding the front and flanks of Van Donop's column was doing duty for Grenfell's column as well.

The valley of the Hart's River by the farm of Doornbult runs through a defile, being flanked by a low mound on its southern and by a higher bushy hill on its northern side. At about eight o'clock the scouts covering Van Donop's advance were approaching the trees around the farm which is marked 'Roival (50)' on the staff maps. The main body was still some two miles in rear, and was then emerging from the defile about Doornbult. At this moment a girl of fifteen ran out of her home-the white farmhouse of Roival-and waved her apron; and immediately the flanking patrols of the screen, after reporting the approach of a large body of Boers, retired at a gallop on their supports. Simultaneously a crowd of mounted men appeared over the rise which lies to the south of Roival Farm. As they did so they turned to their right and formed a long line, so as to enclose the left and left front of Van Donop's column. They were then advancing steadily at the trippling pace of African ponies, and they immediately absorbed the entire left of the advanced guard. Van Donop's 'pom-pom,' coming into action, jammed immediately, and the remainder of the advanced guard, flankers and supports, hurriedly fell back on their main body. Here and there small parties of the screen made a stand where they stood. An officer and a few men took ground in a donga, but were galloped over by the Boers. One of these tarried to take the officer's hat, and another had

1 'Fight very hot while it lasted. Enemy were repulsed by Yeomanry, Scottish Horse, and South African Constabulary, who fought admirably.'-From Lord Kitchener's telegram, Pretoria, the 13th of April, 1902.

just taken his watch when a shot fired by the main body killed the Boer instantaneously. The owner then repossessed himself of his property and laid quiet where he was till the fight was over, when he had the curious fortune to find his hat as well, clenched in the hands of the other Boer, who had also been killed.

Meanwhile the close approach of Grenfell through the Doornbult defile was unseen by the Boers; nor could the Boers be seen by Grenfell, who was passing through the low ground, and relied for his security on Van Donop's screen of scouts.

It was a lovely autumn morning, and the Scottish Horse, who were at the head of Grenfell's column, were riding at their ease. Koran,' the African grouse, disturbed from sleep, rose protesting in front of them. Men were smoking and talking of the 'Peace Conference' and of news from home. One 'flip-flop' on the left front was no unusual thing, and did not break the course of their talk. A few moments later, as they were emerging from the defile, a loud uproar of riflefire burst out a thousand yards ahead of them, and immediately almost the entire flank and advanced guards could be seen galloping back towards them. At the same moment a staff officer to Colonel Van Donop came hastening from the left front. He pulled up by Colonel Grenfell and Colonel Leader (commanding the Scottish Horse), who were riding at the head of their column. Those men are all Boers on the sky-line,' he said; there's nothing now ahead of you except Boers-two thousand of them. I've ridden right through them myself.'

The men at the head of Grenfell's column looked in the direction indicated, and saw, some thousand yards away, a long line of mounted men advancing. The line stretched for about two miles and was working round the left of Grenfell's column. It was a line of men in very close formation-almost knee to knee-in places four or more deep. It was slowly moving forward at a walk, as it seemed. From it came a distant roar of shouts. Behind it galloped men who waved their arms and used their whips.

At this minute the Scottish Horse came under a heavy but inaccurate fire. Troops were dismounted, while the fire intensified, and horses and men were freely hit. The first troop climbed the mound which stands to the south of the valley, so as to cover the left front of the column. The following troops (with the Yeomanry) wheeled to their left, so as to protect that flank, and occupied the best ground they could find on a slope which rose gently towards the advancing Boers. The 'South African Constabulary' extended the line to the right, and eventually joined hands with Van Donop's men, who took up a position on their right. The Maxim of the Scottish Horse was sandwiched between troops covering the left front. The 'pom-pom' and guns came into action behind the recumbent S. A. Constabulary.