When A Beaver Gets Its Sea Legs [Alternative History]

[Odyssey]

Act 1.1​

"...one of the most critical events in the life of Henri Bourassa before entering politics would be his transfer from the École Polytechnique to the Montreal branch of the University of Laval.

In December of 1885, Bourassa was experiencing extreme mental exhaustion, caused largely by his own overworking of himself. In addition, he was facing a crisis of faith, finding himself doubting whether or not he was faithful to the Roman Catholic faith. According to his own memoirs and letters, he was considering his options, including the option of dropping out of the institute to collect himself. Having made few friends at his school in the month he had spent there, Bourassa had few to turn to in at that dire time, a fact that he knew all too well.

He was not, however, a fool; as much as this decision was his own, he could not simply just drop out of the school without giving it some thought. It would be on December 8th that he would attempt to consult with Raymond Préfontaine, whom he had been speaking with on an irregular basis for the past two weeks. The two had decided upon meeting together at a local cafè several days prior, a factor that had influenced his decision to speak to Préfontaine about his predicament.

As stated in his published memoirs, L'Homme de Montréal, Préfontaine recalls listening to Bourassa essentially profess to him his mistakes and problems during his time at the École Polytechnique.

He says, "Henri told me that he was ready to drop out, for the sake of his own health. However, at the time, I thought there was more to it than that; Henri was a man whom I knew to be heavily interested in politics, high-level thinking, and debating, and yet here he was at a school specializing in engineering.

The École Polytechnique is a good school, no doubt, but I knew that there was a better place for him; the Université de Laval à Montréal. So then and there I told Henri about my plan, which he approved of rather glowingly, thanking me endlessly in a rather embarrassing display. That aside, I informed him that I would attempt to get into contact with the proper authorities to facilitate his transfer."

Within several days of that conversation, Préfontaine had sent letters to the École Polytechnique and Université de Laval à Montréal, requesting the transfer of one Henri Bourassa from an Engineering program to a major in Law. While he was only just an alderman at the time, he still had some rather considerable connections, most importantly with then Mayor of Montreal Honoré Beaugrand and Senator Joseph-Rosaire Thibaudeau. Letters confirming his request would be received within a week, stating that Bourassa would begin his tenure at his new university in early January.

Bourassa was completely elated once he heard the news, a welcome change of personality after weeks of exhaustion and near-depression. He would decide on his own to spend his brief respite from schooling in Montebello, where his family traditionally stayed in the Summer months. He used his time there wisely, choosing to rest and recuperate in order to prepare for what was essentially a new beginning for him. By the time January 6th came around, Henri Bourassa was back in Montreal, a completely refreshed man.

Many historians regard this event in his life as a victory for not only him, but for Préfontaine as well, as his actions had done much to cement the friendship between the two men, one that would last well-into the 20th Century. More importantly, with Bourassa now in Montreal for the next four years, Préfontaine had the opportunity to mold the young man's views on politics, both at the Municipal and Federal level..."

- Excerpt from The Navy's Patron Saint by John Diefenbaker, retired Admiral of the Royal Canadian Navy.
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Once again, I'd like to thank all of my readers for being awesome! I know that this is still the beginning of the story, but I do hope my writing is getting at least a bit better. Please do not hesitate to give constructive criticism!

This short update is gonna be followed up by a much bigger one. It'll probably come on Friday, largely because of school (French homework in particular, ironically). I wrote this smaller update just to see if I could follow up on the first post in terms of quality


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[Odyssey]

Act 1.2​

"...over the next four years, Bourassa studied and worked towards his Bachelor of Laws undergraduate degree. While he would ultimately turn away from a profession in the Judicial System, his experiences at the Université de Laval à Montréal taught him a variety of things that he would utilize in his future career as a politician. Knowing how to use the law was an advantage all on his own; often, Bourassa could advise people on matters of property law and contracts.

However practical his education on law may be, another equally important development would be his social life and growing network of friends. In the numerous social gatherings and parties he attended while in university, Bourassa got introduced to the many different individuals who Préfontaine had befriended as a result of his position on the Municipal government of Montreal. The interactions and conversations he would have with these individuals were often about politics or something in the news, meaning that he would often come across varying opinions on the same topic.

Over time, Bourassa would become something of a moderating voice in these discussions, often waiting to hear the opinions of others before stating his own. Experiences such as that would be of much use in his political career, as a moderating voice was urgently needed at a time of extremely differing opinions between English and French Canada..." (Diefenbaker 44).


"...shortly after graduating in July of 1889, Bourassa made the decision to return once more to his ancestral hometown of Montebello to run for Municipal government there. While the position of Mayor was not prestigious, it was remained an important stepping stone on his path towards Parliament. He would arrive back in Montebello in late-September, shortly before elections were to occur, giving him enough time to campaign around the small village for support. Bourassa was already a well-known person there, due largely to the fact that his success-story of a family had originated there.

When the election finally came around in the late Fall, it was painfully obvious that Bourassa had an insurmountable lead. Though his opponents had initially put up a fight against the so-called "young fool", they acquiesced soon after he demonstrated his abilities as an orator during several publicly-held debates, winning every single one. He would formally become the Mayor of Montebello in January of 1890, a position that he would hold for the next four years..." (Diefenbaker 47).


"...While his terms would prove to be largely mundane, he was still able to use it to pursue several personal interests of his, namely in the fields of business and writing. 1892 would be the year that he became the "publisher-owner" of the newspaper L'Interprète, which had been created to voice the opinions of the people of Montebello and the surrounding areas.

He used the position to publish several articles covering a wide range of topics, the most notable of which included that of the role of French Canadians in an increasingly English nation. It would be there that he demonstrated his talent in writing, demonstrating a clear understanding in the use of both rhetoric and word-play..." (Diefenbaker 49).

- Excerpts from The Navy's Patron Saint by John Diefenbaker, retired Admiral of the Royal Canadian Navy.

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"I made the decision to run for the mayorship of Montreal in the Spring of 1893. Up to that point, I had been the chairman of the city's Roads Committee, wherein I had [admittedly] developed a reputation among the populace through my extensive work in expanding our infrastructure. With each new road, each refurbished park, and the addition of a streetcar system, Montreal was quickly transforming into the modern metropolis it was meant to be.

Of course, such work gained the approval of the newspapers and those who were affected by it, especially as my modernization program often provided significant local employment. Popularity aside, it was really the opinion of my political allies and friends that caused me to make the decision. Many of them, who I had financially assisted in their previous campaigns, had pressed me to run in order to capitalize on the recent reforms to enfranchisement in the city.

I remember being constantly reminded that a substantial portion of these new voters were located in districts where I had a hand in developing, a statistic that I could not ignore. Additionally, I had also realized that mayorship would be the only way I could continue my modernization programs to some degree; I had faced some resistance in 1892 and 1893 to the high spending of my committee, much of it led by George W. Stephens (the unofficial spokesman for the English wards of Montreal).

I decided to resign from the Committee on April 21st, which was a clear sign to many that I was going to run for mayorship. I made my intentions officially known the week after, on April 30th, when I held a small public meeting announcing them. For the next few months, I campaigned diligently throughout all of Montreal, including the English speaking wards. I was able to achieve a huge victory in July when I made an agreement with George W. Stephens stating that that he would become the Chairman of the Finances Committee if he assisted me on the campaign trail.

With George's much-needed help, as well as the financial backing of several businessmen of the day like Louis-Joseph Forget and James Cochrane, it soon became clear that I had the upper hand in the race for mayor. My aims for mayorship, like the continuation of the modernization program (albeit at a slower pace) and my promise to reform the government, had found staunch supporters throughout Montreal. Though there were still others attempting to run for mayor by the time the election came around, I had still been able to win it comfortably with 64% of the vote.

I was completely elated at the news, something that filled me with much excitement for my new position, similar to how I felt when was first chosen as alderman for the Hochelaga ward. It was like a new lease on life, as I felt confident that I could instill change in Montreal. In the coming years, this would play a key role in causing the Liberal Party [who I had ran for in the 1880s] to recognizing me as a formidable politician in my own right. In particular would be the attention that I would receive in the coming years from Wilfrid Laurier..."

- Excerpt from L'Homme de Montréal, the published memoirs and writings of Raymond Préfontaine.
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So here's that double-length update I promised you guys! I know that most of it is formatted as excerpts from fictional books, but please bear with me, as I will be using the typical story format soon for when it actually makes sense to use it.

Also, I know that this hasn't delved into the matters of the Royal Canadian Navy yet, but it is coming soon. Very soon, in fact, as the next update will be about that very thing. Expect it to come on Wednesday, because I have important tests to not study for and papers to procrastinate on.

Anyways, I'd like to thank all of my readers again! You guys are awesome and keeping me motivated to write this!

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[Odyssey]

Act 1.3
The Château Frontenac, Quebec City
August 11th, 1898
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George Edwin King was a rather notable individual in the Canadian judicial community, having been lauded and praised over the years for his excellent judgments in the court room. He had developed such a good reputation that his appointment to the Supreme Court of Canada in 1893 was applauded across the nation by those who recognized his name. He was also rather youthful for a man of his position, a fact that made the news of his death all the more strange for Sir Wilfrid Laurier, the Prime Minister of Canada.

His death could not have come at a worse time. Wilfrid was currently attending the Joint High Commission between Canada and the United States, a forum intended to resolve problems between the two nations. In addition to the pressure from gaining favourable resolutions from the Commission, he was now also under pressure to replace a Puisne Justice on the Surpeme Court, and a rather good one at that. Had this been any other time, Wilfrid would have been able to appoint Louis Henry Davies, a personal confidant and well-known member of the Liberal Party.

Unfortunately enough, he was already the Minister of Marine and Fisheries, and as such, was required to attend the Commission. With time being short, Wilfrid had spent some time at night after the Commission adjourned for the day to consider his options. With him was Louis, who was rather keen on gaining a prestigious position on the Supreme Court. Both men were in one of the few conference rooms at the Frontenac, away from the prying eyes of the members of the Commission.

"So I take that the real issue here is finding a replacement for me?" asked Louis, stroking his chin in anticipation.

"There's no need to get excited just yet, my friend," said Wilfrid. "We've been at this for half an hour now, and we still can't think of any suitable candidates with experience in these affairs."

"Given that we're grasping at the air here, I believe we should change our criteria," he replied. "After all, I was not even that much of an expert at maritime law and I, in my opinion, have done a rather decent job with it."

Wilfrid paced around the room, carrying a glass of scotch in his right hand as he contemplated Louis' words. The man did have a point; his replacement did not explicitly have to be some kind of expert of the sea. In fact, the only real skill that was required was the ability to manage and organize a relatively wide-ranging Federal department.

"Though if we are going to appoint someone, we should at the least benefit from it politically," Louis added.

"Point taken. If we're going to go into that territory, then I believe I have a good candidate in mind."

"That being?"

Wilfrid sat down before he continued, placing his scotch on the conference table so as to place his full attention towards Louis.

"There's a certain man by the name of Raymond Préfontaine, who was Mayor of Montreal quite recently," Wilfrid explained. "He demonstrated his competency and skill in administration, given that he was able to garner the support of both sides of the language divide for his policies."

"I've heard of the name. Wasn't he the one that headed the 'urbanization' program there?"

"Indeed. I also know of the fact that he's developed quite a few connections in the business and political worlds, meaning that he bears quite a bit of influence outside of Montreal."

"If one thing is for sure," stated Louis, "having him as the new Minister could do wonders for our base in Quebec."

'He's a rare breed of French Canadian, being a Liberal just like me,' Wilfrid thought before answering.

"Of course. Plus if we can get him on our 'side', we could probably lure the support of his allies too. Just from the top of my head, there's that Bourassa fellow who is beginning to make some noise. He may be a Liberal, but he isn't quite as supportive as I'd prefer him to be."

"Judging by your tone of voice, I'm guessing you've decided then?"

"Yes. Préfontaine will be our new Minister of Marine and Fisheries. And you, Louis, will be the replacement Puisne Justice for King, on the condition that you remain as Minister for now and show our new friend the ropes. I believe we could use this Commission to our advantage, as he will get some exposure to maritime affairs and such, no?"

"Agreed," replied Louis, putting his arm out for a handshake.

Wilfrid returned the gesture, and shortly after, Louis left to deal with some other business. He, on the other hand, decided to get the ball rolling on this issue and began writing a letter to Préfontaine to request his presence in Quebec City immediately.​

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'Cher Monsieur Préfontaine,

Je connait c'est tres inattendu, mais...'

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If you're curious as to what that final text reads, it should say "Dear Mister Préfontaine, I know this is unexpected, but..."

Anyways, I wrote this literally the hour after the last update; I have no idea why, but I felt really, really motivated to write this. Perhaps it was the good reaction to it, or the fact that I was watching a really good movie at the time, but either way, this update came out way earlier than I thought I could write it.

Once again, I'd like to thank all of my readers, and say once again that you guys are truly awesome!

Also, just as a bonus, here's a picture of the current man of the hour, Raymond Préfontaine:​

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Spoiler: Raymond Préfontaine

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[Odyssey]

Act 1.4​

"In all honesty, my first experiences as the Minister of Marine and Fisheries were rather frustrating. Dealing with both the Americans and the British at the Alaskan Boundary Talks and other conferences in such a short span of time placed a rather large strain on me, both mentally and physically. Wilfrid and several other of my colleagues were there to help, but I still felt uncomfortable at the talks due to the fact that most of the negotiating on our part would be done by the British.

We did suggest courses of action and we did voice our opinions on the matter, but ultimately, I feel as though we were there nominally. Complaints were made by Wilfrid to our British liaison, but they did nearly nothing to placate us. To make matters worse, neither side could even come up with a suitable resolution, leading to many adjourned meetings with feelings of anger and vexation. After the failure of the 1899 talks in London, Wilfrid took me aside and advised me to consult the Admiralty about the feasibility of a Canadian Naval Reserve, something that had caught me off guard.

At the time, there were lobby groups across Canada pressing for our own naval reserve, such as the Navy League of Canada. However, Wilfrid's statement, which he told me so bluntly and unexpectedly, was something that I did not believe him to have even considered. The political realities back then when English and French Canada were still rather cold to one another was not the optimal situation for creating a naval reserve. Nevertheless, I followed up with his recommendation and scheduled a meeting with the First Sea Lord of the Admiralty, Walter Kerr..."

- Excerpt from L'Homme de Montréal, the published memoirs and writings of Raymond Préfontaine.
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26 Whitehall, London
October 13th, 1899​

Raymond Préfontaine had been waiting rather patiently for his meeting with the First Sea Lord, having arrived at his residence at around 9:04 AM. He had originally scheduled a meeting for 9:15 AM, but given the yelling coming from the First Sea Lord's office, he smartly surmised that he would have to wait at least a bit longer. Fortunately for him, he was not along as there were others sitting alongside him waiting for their own appointments.

Almost all of them were wearing naval uniforms, presumably that of the Royal Navy. A quick glance was all he needed to see that there were several captains and admirals in the room, at least judging by the insignia-emblems present on each person. The man to his immediate right was a captain, and a rather youthful one at that.

'Perhaps a bit of small talk will make the time pass faster,' thought Raymond.

"So you're a captain in the Royal Navy, eh?"

The man looked at him somewhat oddly before replying, "Yes, how astute. And you're a politician, I presume? Judging by your accent, I'd say that you're French, right?"

"I am not French, but I certainly am a politician," he replied. "My name is Raymond Préfontaine, the Canadian Minister of Marine and Fisheries."

The captain looked at him yet again, though this time with a rather prominent grin.

"Well I'll be damned, another Canadian in the British Isles!" the man said, extending his hand out. Raymond returned the gesture as the man continued, "It's a pleasure to meet you! The name is Charles E. Kingsmill, and I'm a captain in the Royal Navy. I'm Canadian too, just like yourself."

"Ah, a kindred spirit. What's your business here, if you don't mind my asking?"

"Well, I'm here to receive my new appointment. I've been teaching at the Royal Naval College for the past year now, and it's been rather relaxing actually," he stated. "Though, I am admittedly keen on getting a new command after some considerable inaction. Why are you here Raymond?"

"I'm glad you asked, actually. You see, the Prime Minster has given me his consent for the beginning of talks with the Admiralty about the feasibility of a Canadian Naval Reserve."

Charles stared at him with an intrigued expression, clearly thinking about what he said.

"That's... that's rather surprising. I guess the Canadian government finally reached its sens-"

"Not exactly. Only Prime Minister Laurier and I know of this, so I'd prefer it if you could keep this to yourself Charles. I do not want the press associating this proposal with the recent conflict in South Africa."

"Of course," answered Charles. "Though you'll have to excuse me for my surprise, as I didn't think of Wilfrid as the type of man to pursue such a thing. I've known him personally through correspondence for a while now, and yet he's never hinted at anything like that."

"I can't really blame you for not knowing. This only came about because of those cursed Alaskan Boundary Talks. All of that endless argument and bickering... It can really frustrate a man, no matter who you may be."

"I'd imagine."

Just then the door to the First Sea Lord's office opened, an admiral having come out after the end of his loud "discussion." He turned to face the line of appointees, an angry expression present on his face.

"Good luck with dealing with the fool sitting in there!" he exclaimed, loud enough for the First Sea Lord himself to hear. The admiral left soon after, having left a room in a state of confusion before Raymond got up and prepared himself for his appointment.

"It's been a pleasure talking to you Charles."

"And to you as well, my friend."

Raymond entered the office of the First Sea Lord, whereupon sitting down he saw first hand the tired expression on the First Sea Lord. The argument that he had with that man who had preceded him clearly took its toll upon him.

"I do apologize if I appear out of it, Mister Préfontaine, but dealing with that devil Fisher is rather tiring," he said, wiping the sweat on his face.

"That is fine, Lord Kerr, just take your time to compose yourself. We'll be getting into our discussion soon enough."

'Hopefully, he won't be too adverse to my proposal for a Canadian militia after that tirade of his,' thought Raymond.
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So here's another fast update. I've no idea why, but I feel really productive right now. In all seriousness though, do not expect an update for a while, like for a few days or so.

Anyways, the next individual introduced here is Charles E. Kingsmill, an actual member of the Royal Navy before resigning to lead the Royal Canadian Navy in real life. He had retired from the Royal Navy as an Admiral, and actually maintained a relationship with Laurier as mentioned in the story.

The events so far in this timeline of mine have been based off of actual events; for example, the proposal for a Canadian Naval Reserve really was made in 1899 in response to the Alaskan Boundary Talks. Also, we've finally started talking about the Navy! Still, it's gonna take a while for anything to realistically happen, so don't get your hopes up
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That aside, I'd like to thank my readers again for being awesome as always! Please leave behind any questions or constructive criticisms, because it'll help me make the story better

 

[Odyssey]

Act 1.5
Sandy Hill District, Ottawa
October 14th, 1899​

Even in the few days following the beginning of the Second Boer War, public opinion in Canada had already split into two different courses of action. To make matters worse, this split correlated directly to the language divide present at the time; English Canadians wholly supported the deployment of Canadian troops to support their British brothers, while French-Canadians believed that this war was a strictly British issue that Canada need not involve itself in.

It was a big issue, one that needed a resolution soon for both the sake of easing tensions within the nation and to placate the British. It was in this context that Wilfrid Laurier and several members of the Liberal Party found themselves discussing their options. They were currently residing in Wilfrid's home in the Sandy Hill District, far and away from the prying eyes of the newspapers and the public. While they all held varying opinions on the topic, they all regardless sought to end the problem before it became too big to deal with.

All of them were in his dining room, sat around a table with various papers and drinks spread across its surface. Wilfrid, as always, sat at the head of the table. To his right and left were Frederick W. Borden (Minister for Militia and Defence) and William S. Fielding (Minister of Finance), respectively. In the chair directly opposite to Wilfrid's sat the Henri Bourassa, newly-appointed Minister without Portfolio. To his left was Joseph I. Tarte (Minister of Public Works), while the chair to his right was occupied by Richard R. Dobell, the only other Minister without Portfolio.

So far, the arguments as to whether or not Canada would send troops was still relatively amicable. Frederick led the arguments for Canada's involvement, arguing that it was their duty to help the Empire and that they could use the opportunity to reform the Canadian militia. Joseph was fully against the idea, citing that Canada was its own country and had no obligations to fight in such a far-away conflict. Wilfrid and some of the others were still largely undecided, as both sides have their own merits.

"...which is why we must provide support for the British. They, at the very least, would provide concessions of some kind in return for our help," said Fredrick. "Seeing one of their own dominions fighting alongside would paint a very positive image of us to them."

Fredrick showed them a newspaper from The Globe, the headline on it being the staggering defeat of the British by the Boers at the settlement of Kraaipan. "I'm sure you've all seen the news. A British defeat at the hands of a few rebels, probably the first in a very long time. If we can help them turn it around, they'll be grateful!"

"While I cannot deny the possible goodwill we'll receive for fighting there," replied Joseph, "I need not remind you of the fact that this fight is one that is much too far for us to engage in. If this was, say, a policing action in the Caribbean, I'd have no qualms with it but this is South Africa we're talking about."

"We could probably ascertain a means of transportation for our troops from the British," he answered back.

"You don't seem to understand. Transporting our troops is one thing, but how are we going to gather together those troops in the first place? And who says that they will be willing to fight in the first place?"

A short silence fell upon the table, as Fredrick could not rebuff that last point. He decided to ask someone else for their opinion, in an attempt to salvage his position.

"Henri, what do you think of this whole debacle? I've yet to hear what you have on your mind."

Henri shuffled in his chair somewhat, having been caught off-guard by the question. He took a quick sip of the glass in front of him, before he began to speak.

"To put it simply, I believe that both of you have made rather valid points. While I'm inclined to agree with Joseph that we can't send unwilling men to fight, I also think that we should render some form of aid to the British."

"So what do you propose?" questioned Joseph.

"I am no expert on the matter," he admitted, "but I'll say this; if there are men willing to fight, then we should allow them the opportunity to do so, supporting them with the proper equipment and transportation.

"Hmm... I believe I can agree with that," stated Fredrick. "I'll put out a notice to the militia to seek out men who are interested, as well as a notice in some of the papers."

Nods from all around the table showed their agreement with Henri's proposal, though Joseph remained adamant. All eyes turned to him as he prepared to respond.

"As fair as this compromise is, gentlemen, there remains the issue of the opposition shown to any sort of Canadian mission to South Africa. If we bring this to Parliament, it might be seen as the English Canadians trying to force their will upon the government."

"Then put my name on it," answered Henri. "Make it known that it was me who came up with the idea across the newspapers and memos. If they know it was me, then perhaps we can stop the tensions from rising any further. Especially if I can convince some of my acquaintances in Montreal to vocalize their support."

"Are you certain you want to do this Henri? If this ends in failure, you'll be blamed for it," said Wilfrid.

"Do it. The sooner we can get this bureaucracy out of the way, the sooner we can get those troops over."

"I think that's something we can all agree upon. We'll go through with your plan then, Henri. You're all dismissed."

As his Cabinet ministers said their good-byes and left, Wilfrid took another look at that newspaper that Fredrick had shown earlier.

'Oh God, I hope I haven't made a mistake. Otherwise, the blood that will be on our hands will kill us where we stand,' he thought.
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Sorry for the delay, but I've had to focus on school-related matters recently (specifically because of Advanced Functions. Damned variables).

This is only the first of few updates dealing with the Boer War. This first one was written to establish Bourassa's disposition on the matter, which is radically different from OTL in that he actually supports the deployment of volunteers this time around. The next update will deal with some of the more subtle effects of the Boer War in my story.

The Royal Canadian Navy will be the focus of the next few updates after that. Plus a Kangaroo, if you know what I mean (look at the title).

Once more, I'd like to thank my readers again for being awesome as always! Please leave behind any questions or constructive criticisms, because it'll help me make the story better ​

 

[Odyssey]

Act 1.6
The Globe
Toronto, Wednesday, February 28 1900

VICTORY AT PAARDEBERG!
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Boer troops surrender at Paardeberg after nine days of fighting
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London, February 28 - Field Marshall Roberts has declared to the press that British and Canadian forces have successfully forced Boer forces under the command of Piet Cronjé to surrender. This comes after nearly nine-days of endless fighting, wherein the Boers were besieged with an endless barrage of artillery fire. Despite an attempt by Cronjé to call for a cease-fire in the aftermath of General Kitchener's failed assault, Roberts was able to order a continuation of the battle. There were several occasions when a withdrawal might have been a suitable option for our forces, but Roberts and his subordinates saw this as an opening for the Boer forces to escape their clutches.

As the siege gradually escalated over the next several days, a decision was made on the night of February 26 to have the Royal Canadian Regiment of Infantry (RCRI) advance towards the Boer position. The result of such an action was the discovery by the Boers in the morning of a substantial number of troops with guns aimed directly at their camp, thus forcing them to surrender to prevent what could have been a massacre. The surrender of these troops marks the first real victory for British forces in South Africa, and the first victory for the Toronto and St. Jean companies of the RCRI.

It is estimated that with the loss, the Boers have lost a substantial percentage of their troops as well as the loss of one of their major generals. It is hoped by us here at The Globe that this victory will rally our troops to fight harder, and with it, achieve a final victory over the Boer menace once and for all.
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"...If a man is willing to fight alongside the British, who are we to tell them they should not? If we were to restrict them from doing so, we would be acting contrary to the established freedoms and rights that a citizen of Canada would have. It is for this reason that we should send any willing man to fight in South Africa; to do otherwise would make use hypocrites in the eyes of our own law."

- Excerpt from Henri Bourassa's open letter to the Canadian public, published in newspapers across the country.

"The risk that Henri Bourassa took in openly admitting his role in the decision to send Canadians to South Africa cannot be understated. Many of the modern accounts of his political career state how the fallout he experienced in Quebec did not ultimately derail his career. What they do not state is the extensive work he put into what was essentially a 'media blitz', which he began with his open letter to the public published on October 21st, 1899.

Appealing to the public at large, he would mention of how they were not in a position to prevent willing men from fighting, not to mention stating that the financial costs of such an endeavor were well-within the budget of the Ministry of Militia and Defence. Though his letter was aimed at French Canadians, it also led to his development of a reputation among English Canadians as one of the few from Quebec who understood their opinion at a national level.

In Quebec, though there were several dissenting voices that called Bourassa a traitor, many more would come to accept the compromise and see Bourassa's 'moderate views' as something they could tolerate. This was further emboldened by several speeches he gave in Ottawa and Montreal, stating once again his support of the Volunteer Force and expanding on his earlier points by saying that it was "better to have willing men fight than to have the British force them to."

This was merely the beginning of his reputation as a moderating voice between English and French Canadians. It would only be with his appointment as the Minister of Marine and Fisheries in February of 1906..." (Diefenbaker 59).

- Excerpt (MLA Format) from The Navy's Patron Saint by John Diefenbaker, retired Admiral of the Royal Canadian Navy.

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Here's a bit of a shorter update regarding the Boer War! This one merely covers how it affects Bourassa's political career, in addition to the initial Canadian involvement in South Africa (the only difference being that the initial contingent of troops are bigger than OTL and include a French-Canadian company). There's one more to come, though it will be a part of a much bigger update that I am working on.

Once more, I'd like to thank my readers again for being awesome as always! Please leave behind any questions or constructive criticisms, because it'll help me make the story better

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[Odyssey]

We're rapidly approaching the dreadnought era... excited!

Click to shrink...

Don't blink, it's coming real soon

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Act 1.7
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"...The proposed Naval Militia Bill of 1904 was a culmination of two year's worth of work by Raymond Préfontaine, who traveled to Britain numerous times to speak and negotiate with the Admiralty. It was first proposed in the aftermath of the Boer War at the 1902 Colonial Conference in London. It was approved by Prime Minister Laurier as national pride was at an all-time high and when relations with the United States were souring due to the Alaskan Boundary Dispute. Additionally, plans for a Militia-related bill were already underway, meaning that a proposed Naval Militia Bill could ride on the momentum caused by the passage of that.

Préfontaine had decided upon an 'open' approach to the Bill, publicizing its goals and clauses rather than keeping it a temporary secret in fears of a public backlash. He had a reluctant supporter in the form of Minister without Portfolio Henri Bourassa who believed that a naval militia would allow the Canadian government (not the Royal Navy) to actually patrol their own sovereign waters. The 'failure' of the Alaskan Boundary arbitration in 1903 only fueled the support for the plan, as many felt that the only reason the US was able to gain a favourable result was due to its ability to project a naval force into its territories.

It was in this climate that an outline for a 'Fisheries Protection Service' would be made. A glorified patrol service, it was to be comprised of several 'fisheries cruisers', which were nothing more than a re-designed version of a successful British torpedo boat design. Six vessels were planned, with the first two being outfitted with men who had served on older ships under the Department of Marine and Fisheries. More men would be recruited to man the rest of the vessels, with an upper limit of 800 officers and men in active service. A Canadian Naval Academy would be established in Halifax to facilitate the training of more men for the Fisheries Protection Service.

The assets of the Fisheries Protection Service could be deployed to assist the Royal Navy in times of war, but only with the approval of Parliament. This clause was justified by Préfontaine with the fact that such vessels were nothing more than gunboats, and as such, would not see service on the front lines. The passage of the Australian Naval Agreement Act on August 28, 1903 (which allowed the Royal Navy to completely withdraw the ships of the Australian Squadron) prompted Préfontaine to create that clause to allay any fears of such a thing occurring with this new service.

Everything seemed to be in place for the Naval Militia Bill, especially with the passage of the related Militia Act in November 1904. Unfortunately for the Department of Marine and Fisheries, their plan would be torpedoed long before it would even get into Parliament. The first obstacle to its passage was the withdrawal of support from the Department of Militia and Defence, largely due to the financial and manpower strain they were feeling from garrisoning the military emplacements at Halifax and Esquimault. This was an unforeseen consequence of the Militia Act, as it had approved the replacement of the British Army garrisons at those two locations.

To make matters worse, the opposition in the government was beginning to grow as the financial realities of a Fisheries Protection Service were realized. Minister of Interior Clifford Sifton (a friend of Préfontaine) had voiced his disagreement with the bill, citing that the government could not hope to pay for it in the aftermath of the Militia Act. Support from the public was also decreasing, meaning the likeliness of its success was getting lower and lower. As such, Laurier killed off the bill for the time being, an act that would prove detrimental to the health of Préfontaine.

On December 11, 1904, Raymond Préfontaine would be struck with a case of angina pectoris. It originated from the stress caused by the preparation of the bill, its subsequent cancellation, and his upcoming trip to Britain to speak with the Admiralty yet again. Fortunately, he would be treated quickly in Ottawa, allowing both him and Laurier to discuss a replacement over several private sessions. The two men eventually decided to have Henri Bourassa replace Préfontaine in his capacity as the Minister of Marine and Fisheries, as he was seen as a neutral choice that both English and French Canadians could agree with.

Bourassa accepted the offer, but with one condition; the meeting with the Admiralty would continue, albeit with Bourassa taking on the leading role and Préfontaine remaining present as an advisor. Laurier found this acceptable, thereby allowing Bourassa to be appointed as the Minister of Marine and Fisheries on January 17, 1905. However, as the meeting with the Admiralty would not be until October, Bourassa worked with his predecessor to partially implement some of the stipulations of the now-dead Naval Militia Bill.

In March, he succeeded in convincing the government of the need for his Department to supplement its current 'fleet' of patrol vessels with two examples of the 'fisheries cruisers' outlined in the Naval Militia Bill. These two ships, named Canada and the Vigilant, were ordered and built in Canadian shipyards, making them the first metal 'warships' to be constructed in the country. Both Canada and the Vigilant would be put into service by June, which was followed up by their participation in training exercises with the British squadron in Bermuda and the West Indies from August to October.

The crews of both ships were praised by the Royal Navy squadron for their hard work, an occurrence that would be reported in newspapers across Canada. The positive reaction to such news encouraged Laurier to allow Bourassa to make new agreements between his Department and the Admiralty during their October meeting, given that they were within reason. With that in mind, Bourassa was able to lobby and convince the Admiralty to transfer the possession of the dockyards and naval facilities at Esquimault and Halifax to Canadian jurisdiction, to which he argued was a mere continuation of what the Militia Act had entailed.

Bourassa also attempted to gain the opinion of the Admiralty on the establishment of a Canadian naval militia, responding with a mere request to have the power to deploy such a force under their control in times of conflict. While he privately disagreed with their request, seeing it as a way to get Canada dragged into war, he still interpreted it as their approval for such an organization, he would return to Canada in November with the goal of pursuing the very same thing that his predecessor had planned. Unfortunately, work on a new Naval Militia Bill would be delayed by the transfer of the Royal Navy facilities at Esquimault and Halifax, preoccupying him for the next few months.

Once that was completed, Bourassa started up a draft on a new Naval Militia Bill. While he did look at its 'predecessor' for inspiration, he nevertheless knew that submitting an exact copy of the bill to Parliament would face stiff resistance. In light of that, he sought out different ways of getting the stillborn Canadian naval militia out to sea. It was around mid-April 1906 that he would be informed of the recent Australian attempts to create a naval service of their own.

Sympathizing with their situation, Bourassa realized that this was the opportunity he needed; if he alone could not get a Canadian naval militia created, then perhaps cooperating with the Australians would be the way. Following that realization, he sought out a meeting with the man who was behind the plan for an Australian naval forces, William R. Creswell. He informed Laurier of his intentions, seeking his consent. Though somewhat hesitant, Laurier gave way as he saw no possible consequences from it, allowing Bourassa to get in touch with the Australian government and planning a meeting for May of that year.

The Beaver and the Kangaroo were finally on their way to getting their sea legs..."

- History of the Canadian Naval Militia Act, taken from the website of the Commonwealth Encyclopedia.

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Just to get things moving, here's a big update (which I worked on foll explaining the route towards the creation of the Canadian and Australian Navies. I'll be filling out the details in future updates, namely those regarding Raymond Prefontaine and what he is doing now in retirement.

Once more, I'd like to thank my readers again for being awesome as always! Please leave behind any questions or constructive criticisms, because it'll help me make the story better

 

[Odyssey]

Act 1.8
Melbourne, Australia
May 17th, 1906
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The Grand Hotel was one of the premier landmarks in the City of Melbourne, having been designed by architect Charles Webb at the behest of a local shipping mogul. Opened in 1884, the hotel has since accommodated a variety of individuals and events, the most notable so far being the Constitutional Convention in 1898 to finalise the Australian constitution. Though events such as this were typically publicized by the hotel or the media, the meeting between Henri Bourassa and William Creswell was not.

This fact was not lost upon either men, with William in particular taking note to make sure that their discussions took place at locales other than the Grand Hotel, if only to ensure their privacy. With this in mind, William had taken it upon himself to use his motor carriage to pick-up Henri from his lodgings to a local office of the Commonwealth Naval Forces. Though the car would attract some attention, being a rather well-equipped Russell Motor Carriage Model B, he didn't expect anyone to recognize who he or Henri was.

As his vehicle pulled up to the Grand Hotel, he could see a man waiting in the distance, wearing a suit similar to his own and sporting a formidable mustache. William could also see him carrying a rather small, leather briefcase, presumably carrying a variety of documents from Canada. Stopping just some distance away from the man, William stepped out of his vehicle and approached him, assuming him to be the man he was scheduled to meet with.

"Good day to you sir. May I assume you to be Mr. Henri Bourassa of Canada?" he inquired, speaking with a relatively soft voice.

"Indeed I am," Henri replied with a slight accent. "You must be Sir William Creswell then, no?"

"Of course, of course. Before we get on with our conversation, I'd like to get into my motor carriage so that we can get underway to our destination."

A nod from Henri led to both men walking over to the vehicle, getting in once William's driver opened the door to the rear passenger door. They settled into their seats as the driver did to his, starting up the engine and getting the car moving along the ever-busy Spring Street.

"Our motor carriage trip should last about 10 minutes, sir," stated the driver.

"Good to know Joseph. Anyways, how has your time in Melbourne been so far, Mr. Bourassa?"

"It's... It's been great. The weather's nice, the people are nice... In a way, it's like Canada, but far more south," Henri replied, smiling as he did.

William chuckled at his remark for a bit before continuing. "Ah, that's good."

"Shall we get on with our business then?"

"Indeed. So why exactly have you come here to Melbourne?" William questioned. "From what I've heard, you've been doing good work up north. Getting the Royal Navy to transfer two of their bases is no laughing matter."

"I'm fully aware of the fact that both of us are rather capable men in our own right," he stated with conviction. "However, I fear that the Admiralty will laugh at any proposal to have a Dominion naval reserve, much less a navy."

He stopped there before opening his briefcase and taking out a sheet that read, The Imperial Conference of 1907. He gave it to William, who quickly skimmed through it, noting several dates and names of attendees.

"I know of the conference. What does it matter to our business?"

"Well, we both know now that we're both attending the conference. Though it may focus on the matters of the Empire, like India or some other far-off place, I believe that it could be our avenue to present a case to the Admiralty for our goals."

"Hmmm... So a united front, then?" William asked. He stroked his chin as he considered the possibilities of such a move, during which Henri waited in anticipation for a positive response. "It certainly has its merits."

"Which is exactly why I am proposing it. If we were to show to the Admiralty, and more importantly, to the British government of our common cause, then surely they must consider any proposal we put forward. If they didn't, we could bring it to the press and try to raise some concerns in the public."

"It is a sound plan, that much is true, but we'd need to make a proposal that is a compromise for both sides. If we don't present some sort of advantage from it, then the Royal Navy will dismiss it outright regardless of any backlash in the press."

"That right there, my friend, is why I am here. I've been granted a sufficient space of time to spend here, about a month at the longest, which should be long enough to come up with at least an outline for a proposal," Henri answered. He took out another document from his briefcase, albeit one with crude writing that seemed more like a list of ideas than a coherent write-up. "Those are just some of the clauses I had in mind for our proposal."

William read through each one carefully, raising his eyebrows at some points and occasionally looking to Henri as he did. "You want the Admiralty to have permission to use our fleets from our Parliaments? Do you know how that will sound to the boffins at Westminster?"

"It is audacious, I know," Henri admitted. "But we need to show that we are willing to call the shots, as some of my younger colleagues would say, or else they may push us around. If we don't, then we could be looking at the continued hegemony of the Royal Navy in the defences of our waters."

Before either of them could continue, however, the driver opened his mouth once again. "I don't mean to interrupt you two gentlemen, but we have arrived at our destination," stated the driver. He got out of his side of the car and proceeded to head over to the passenger door on the right to let the two men out. They followed suit, nodding and thanking Joseph for driving them before looking forward and seeing the modest CNF office.

"Let's head in. I'm sure that the rest of the staff will want to hear your ideas, Mr. Bourassa," William stated, leading the way into the office.

"I'm sure they'll be pleased. And just call me Henri; if I'm going to stay here for a month, I'd rather not hear my last name repeated all the time."

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Sorry for the delay, but school has been keeping me busy. Anyways, the update here is just some interaction between Henri Bourassa and William Creswell, as well as some ideas they'll use later on.

Once more, I'd like to thank my readers again for being awesome as always! Please leave behind any questions or constructive criticisms, because it'll help me make the story better