Volume 2 - ElectricCanadian.com

THE BEGINMXC; OF WAR, 1939sweepers. Two ex-R.C.\LP. vessels, French and Lanriei\were doing x^/S patrols in the Halifax area, while the Ulna, aformer yacht, was employed as an examination vessel at thatport. Eight other government craft were also transferred tothe R.C.N, and allocated to Naval Control Service duties,harbour patrols, and other miscellaneous tasks.The west coast too was the scene of increased activity.H.M.C. ships Sootka and Comox remained on minesweepingduty at Esquimalt, while the Armenticres was being used temporarilyas an examination vessel at York Island, and sevenadditional vessels were requisitioned for examination ser\'icesat the principal western ports. The Skidegate took up harbourciuties at Esquimalt, and ten Fishermen's Reserve vessels wereat once assigned to patrol duties: four of them in the areas offEsquimalt, another tour in the vicinity of the Queen CharlotteIslands, and two on the west coast of \ancouver Lsland.'-*The requisitioning of auxiliary craft from other Departments,as well as from private companies and individuals, wasgreatly facilitated by provisions which had been made in theDefence Schemes drawn up by D.N.I, and P. in May 1937.Vessels capable of carrying out minesweeping oranti-submarineduties were listed at that time, and upon receipt of a prex'iousl)'arranged code word from N.S.H.Q., the officers in charge onboth coasts were to be authorized to requisition any of themwhich might be required in an emergency.-" Despite the factthat when the emergency came a large number of the previouslyselected vessels had so deteriorated that they wereincapable of carrying out the tasks laid down for them, thosethat could be used did memorable work in the first anxiousmonths of the war.The owner of any vessel requisitioned for H.M.C. servicewas guaranteedfair compensation by an Order in Councilpassed in September 1939, which authorized the setting-up ofan advisory board to consider each case. The three board-'*members, one for the Pacific coast, another for the (ireat Lakesand River St. Lawrence, and the third for the Atlantic coast,reported to the Director of Marine Services in the Departmentof Transport. Payment was made from funds available underthe War Appropriation Act, and while servingin the K.C.N.oh.28"Review of the Naval Keciuircmenrsof Canada."" Naval War Book: Special Message folder, pp. .'-iO-:}! :.AuNiliarv Monii.. folder, Id.App.s. A and B (D.N.IM. records).*»P.C. 281."), Sept. 22, 1939.