Our Navy Has Made Good

Announcement that a substantial Canadian naval. force will soon join the British fleet in the Pacific will be gratifying to all Canadians who have thrilled with pride over the magnificent achievements of the Royal Canadian Navy. The development of our navy under the direction of Zion. Angus L. Macdonald has been phenomenal. It has grown from a prewar 'strength of 1,700 men to a present strength of 90,000, including 5,000 women . But that is only part of the story, the statistical proof that what was jocularly referred to as "our tinpot navy" has now become a most effective striking force. The Royal Canadian Navy discharged bril-

liantly the duty of safely convoying hundreds of troopships across the Atlantic. Yet it also has reached out into the Arctic and the Medi. terranean. It played a creditable part in protecting prefabricated harbors that were towed to the Normandy beaches in preparation for D-Day. It includes battle-tried ships which convoyed precious argosies en route to Murmansk. It figured in the landing of British troops in Greece, and participated In the invasion of Normandy and Southern France. With the war in Europe now in its closing phases, the . Canadian Navy is planning to carry the fight into the Pacific, and the announcement made by Naval Minister Macdonald that our war against Japan will be made by considerably more than a token force will be welcome news. The policy of our navy is to concentrate upon the establishment of an ef. ficient force of ships of. the light cruiser, destroyer and frigate classes rather than to attempt to compete with such Powers as Great ' Britain and the United States. It is a policy in which the Canadian people should take great pride, for it means that we have accepted what was so long ignored-direct responsibility for our own security . One thing now is certain : The young men who have fought our ships in the present struggle have proved their mettle and Canada's ability to make a fair contribution to world security. Before the war ; many of those who will remain with the navy. i had never seen the sea, let alone sailed on it. But whether they came from the Prairies or the Maritimes, all alike have shared the hardships and contributed to the glorious first chapters of Canada's naval history.