HISTORICAL EVENTS THAT TOOK PLACE ON THIS DAY IN CANADA

10 July

Maritimes Relieved - Rival "Mosquitoes" Fight

When the American Revolutionary War began in 1775, parts of Nova Scotia had been settled by people brought from the colonial states to replace the Acadians. Naturally, there was a great deal of sympathy for the American cause and an organization was set up to support it.

A delegation to the Congress at Philadelphia gave the names of 600 people who were ready to join the rebellion, and Nova Scotians even attacked Cumberland. They were easily defeated, however, and the uprising in the Maritimes never became serious.

One of the rebel leaders in Nova Scotia gave the Americans advice on how to win the Maritimes, urging them to equip small ships that could run up the tidal waters of Nova Scotia and attack the settlements inland. This ^was done very successfully. The American raiders sailed close to shore, where heavier British warships could not catch them, and a great many communities were raided and plundered.

Eventually, however, the operation backfired. Many of the American ships in the "mosquito fleet" were little better than pirates, and Nova Scotia soon turned against them. The leading citizens of the fishing village of Lockeport sent a protest to Massachusetts saying: "the scoundrels took 19 quintals of codfish, 4 barrels of salt, 3 salmon nets, 60 pounds of butter, 1 green hide, 5 dressed skins, sonic cheese and other things . . . These things are very surprising in that we in this harbour have done so much for America, that we have helped three or four hundred prisoners go along to America and have given part of our living to them. If this is the way we are to be repaid we desire to see no more of you without you come in another manner . . ."

They came back in the same manner. However, this time, as most of the menfolk were away, the women and children, living up on a bluff, wore red coats and carried broomsticks which looked like guns. One woman marched up and down with a drum. The raiders thought they were soldiers and departed.

The Government of Nova Scotia organized a tiny navy to oppose the rebels. Rebel strength was further depleted by battles, such as the one on July 10, 1780, between rival members of the "mosquito fleet."

10 July

-1920    Sir Robert Borden resigned. He was succeeded by Arthur Meighen.

              New Brunswick voted for total prohibition.

-1943    A Canadian army invaded Sicily.

-1951    Canada ended the state of war with Germany by royal proclamation.

-1958    A Canada-United States Joint Committee was established for defense.

-1960    Roger Woodward, age seven, survived a167-foot drop over Niagara Falls.

-1963    The Federal and British Columbia Governments agreed on a Columbia River Power Treaty.