J. Passepartout, Fiftypence and das: If only it were that easy... 
We don't want to fight
But, by Jingo, if we do,
We've got no ships,
We've got no men,
We've got no money, too.
Part 38: The Last Scramble
Throughout the later part of 1898 and the beginning of 1899 the Canadian goverment was stuck in a funk, never more aware of the (lack of) Canadian standing in the world, which was depressingly low. Clearly, if Canada was to be anything other than a huge backwater something had to be done.
The problem was very little could be done. Action against the US was suicide. The ring of British possessions around Canada was very tempting (especially Newfoundland) but the British had just reinforced their garrisons - not that Canada could ever hope to contest control of the sea. Even Spain was still too big to attack these days, at least on their own...
In the end it was a tragic accident that drew Canadian attention to Africa. A popular missionary in Madagascar had died after nasty fall, and it naturally made the papers to be read by Halifax and his Cabinet, where in it was noted that there were still three as yet independent native African states: Madagascar itself, Zanzibar, and Ethiopia.
At once the chance was seen for a chance at glory, in the spread of European civilisation, and Halifax ordered General Williams to look into the possibility of an African Campaign. The Canadian millitary, only slightly less enthusiastic than their Goverment hastily set up a plan to send 4 full divisions (the bulk of the standing army) to Madagascar.
The expedition met with remarkably few objections in the House - all to many of the politicians were aware of Canadian weakness and desperately wanted to achieve something about it. Only Connolly and his Socialists objected in strident terms, but they were overuled.
Thus on the morning of the 12th of December 1898, General Williams and his troops landed on the Southern Coast of the island, encountering no resistance. Some of the Canadian men and officers were a little dissapointed at this the hope had been for some light resistance, broken perhaps by a sabre or bayonet charge. There were high expectations that there would soon emerge a group of heroic war celebrities in the newspapers - which some of the truly ambitous hoped to launch themselves into national politics.
It was not to be however. Even as the soldiers moved slowly inland an event on the 1st day of 1900 changed everything:
It was the crack of a single pistol shot in Montreal and the end of a life.
We don't want to fight
But, by Jingo, if we do,
We've got no ships,
We've got no men,
We've got no money, too.
Part 38: The Last Scramble
Above: Canadian envy of the Imperial expansion of the Great Powers was paticularly strong in the late 1890's
Throughout the later part of 1898 and the beginning of 1899 the Canadian goverment was stuck in a funk, never more aware of the (lack of) Canadian standing in the world, which was depressingly low. Clearly, if Canada was to be anything other than a huge backwater something had to be done.
The problem was very little could be done. Action against the US was suicide. The ring of British possessions around Canada was very tempting (especially Newfoundland) but the British had just reinforced their garrisons - not that Canada could ever hope to contest control of the sea. Even Spain was still too big to attack these days, at least on their own...
In the end it was a tragic accident that drew Canadian attention to Africa. A popular missionary in Madagascar had died after nasty fall, and it naturally made the papers to be read by Halifax and his Cabinet, where in it was noted that there were still three as yet independent native African states: Madagascar itself, Zanzibar, and Ethiopia.
At once the chance was seen for a chance at glory, in the spread of European civilisation, and Halifax ordered General Williams to look into the possibility of an African Campaign. The Canadian millitary, only slightly less enthusiastic than their Goverment hastily set up a plan to send 4 full divisions (the bulk of the standing army) to Madagascar.
The expedition met with remarkably few objections in the House - all to many of the politicians were aware of Canadian weakness and desperately wanted to achieve something about it. Only Connolly and his Socialists objected in strident terms, but they were overuled.
Above: A soldier of 1899 African Expedition
Thus on the morning of the 12th of December 1898, General Williams and his troops landed on the Southern Coast of the island, encountering no resistance. Some of the Canadian men and officers were a little dissapointed at this the hope had been for some light resistance, broken perhaps by a sabre or bayonet charge. There were high expectations that there would soon emerge a group of heroic war celebrities in the newspapers - which some of the truly ambitous hoped to launch themselves into national politics.
It was not to be however. Even as the soldiers moved slowly inland an event on the 1st day of 1900 changed everything:
It was the crack of a single pistol shot in Montreal and the end of a life.
