Canada at War

Canada at War BY FRANK C. STEELE

"Goodby, Dad goodby. Mother ! So long Sis ! -

, ! Be sure and write. I'll send you the first German flag I capture. Goodby, everybody! Come on, f el lews. Let's have 'Tipperary.' And as the troop t ain pulled out of the little red station, and crept faster and faster eastward over the frozen prairie, the strains of that catchy marching song of Tommy Atkins, were borne to the ears of the group on the platform. "Poor Jack ! He's got a heart of steel. Cheer up, Mother. Somebody must part with their sons, and we're no better than anv one else. Besides the lad comes from good old fighting stock. His grandfather died at Sebastopol, and his old dad went through the Mutiny. God bless the boy He'll come out all right, !

Mother." But Mother did not see things like Father. Great tears streamed down her burning cheeks. Longingly, she gazed after the fast disappearing train, that carried her only son, the pride and joy of her life, to the. training camp at Valcartier, then, then to the front. This phrase may now be heard in every nook and corner of Canada. It seems to have some magic charm. From Halifax to Vancouver people are talking about "the front." Everyone you meet, whether in a fashionable Montreal hotel, at a Toronto hockey match, or on the prairies of the West, has a brother or a cousin or an uncle at the front. He is not at all backward about informing you of the fact, either. Even the Winnipeg waitresses look grieved if you don't care to discuss the latest letter from "her friend" who is with the army in Europe. Newsboys take great delight in describing the exploits of "Brother Fred at the front," their sturdy chests expanding to the bursting point. It doesn't matter so much whether Brother Fred is at Salisbury Plains, or Valcartier, or any other concentration point. He is invariably at the front. War is a new business for Johnny Canuck. But he has taken itup with his characteristic zeal and dogged determination to win. Johnny's jaw is set just as firmly as is Dad's, away across the sea, — — and he is going to fight yes, fight and die, if needs be for "Can- ada and Old England." Johnny is thrilled in every bone and muscle and sinew of his virile body. He has blood in his eye. Canadians are aroused. Again, but with a fierceness a hun-

530 IMPROVEMENT ERA dred-fold more intense, may be seen that swaying devotion to the Empire, that prompted the sons of the Dominion to answer the call of the imperial government in the Boer war, and inspired them to willingly lay down their lives on the silent veldts of that far-off land. The recruiting offices are crowded. The ease with which the first and second contingents were recruited, was most gratifying. But the response to the third call for men is nothing short of re- markable. Men of all classes are joining the colors. In this respect, the present war is in a distinct class. Lawyers, doctors, merchants, bankers, clerks, mechanics, farmers and day laborers, swarm and jostle about the stations, waiting their turn. Especially is this true in the cities. Often a figure of national repute is seen

ARRIVAL OF WESTERN CONTINGENT Valcartier Camp, Canada

chatting familiarly with Mike or Jack or Bill, who ordinarily are pick and shovel artists. Men in khaki are seen everywhere. Civilians give them the road, and pretty girls cast admiring glances at the keen eyes, the broad shoulders and easy carriage. Occasionally, a group of I lighlanders pass by, their brawny knees peeping out from be- neath their beloved kilts. Over yonder, reading the latest war bulletins, are two privates from a western regiment. One, a strap- ping fellow of six feet if he is an inch, was fed in his youth on corn bread and home-cured bacon. He originally hailed from Iowa. This possibly accounts for his fine physique. He now has become a thorough Canadian, and owns a splendid ranch in Alberta. When the war broke out, he was among the first to enlist. His companion's old home was undeniably in Old London, as betrayed in his inimitable "cockney" speech, which savored plainly of Piccadilly and the Strand. On investigation we discov- ered this to be true, and that he had been a trusted employee of

CANADA AT WAR. 531

the American for the past four years. A Belgian stands near them, anxiously waiting news from his distressed fatherland. We sympathize with him and shake our fist. And Leo understands, and a light kindles in his eye. Bands are playing martial airs. People are singing them. "Tipperary" is by far the biggest favorite. It has taken sleepy

•HllilH!

Ie*>*~

FIFTH ROYAL HIGHLANDERS DETRAINING Valcartier Camp, Canada

French Canadian villag'es by storm. One enterprising biscuit manufacturer in the east has called a new line of crackers "Tip- perary." And now thousands are daily eating the "Biscuits of the Bull Dog Breed." The schools are no exception to the rule. The military spirit has seized teacher and student alike, and there is scarcely a reputable university, college or high school in the coun- try, that isnot vigorously pushing military drill and rifle practice. While Canada will be expected to furnish her quota of men to keep the lines intact, an even greater duty is bearing down upon her. She must feed the Mother Country. And Canada feels this mighty responsibility. "Patriotism and Production" has become a national slogan. The farmer who is preparing to sow two acres where he formerly sowed one, is looked upon by the leaders of public life as equally as true a patriot as the man who fights in the trenches. Tommy Atkins and his allies must have full stomachs or they cannot fight. Canada must supply much of their bread and meat. And if the elements are favorable she will do it. The government is prosecuting a vigorous campaign in favor of in- creased production, and in the drouth-stricken areas of the West, they are even distributing seed grain.

532 IMPROVEMENT ERA Canada is preparing for a long war. Ten or twenty contin- gents may be called for by the imperial government, and if such is the case, ten or twenty will answer the call. General Sam Hughes, Canada's fighting war minister, recently toured the prairie prov- inces, inspecting the western units. Everywhere he was greeted with tremendous enthusiasm. All classes and all nationalities took part in the ovations. At Lethbridge a veteran of the Civil War, Colonel Page, of Minneapolis, proposed the toast to the war min- ister. The warm reception accorded General Hughes is a safe index to the sentiments of the West, and if it is true in the West, where so many are only now undergoing the process of adoption, how intense must that loyalty be in the eastern provinces That the fire of patriotism has been truly lighted is evidenced in the wonderful outburst of poetry inspired by the war. Poets have been born in a night. And alas! many have died in a clay. Some real poetry, however, has been written by our Canadian writes, in which fire and vigor, so essential to good war poetry, are not lacking. The national magazines capture most of the real,

^Jk. '

S^» * A ## .J^'^t j^B^H tfc± msr*^ SBOB- " -^ttT ? X'-j-gfi-

™n^ f )% J* '

Jj*V.

' ;

PST ' is*

CLEANING THE DINNER DISHES Valcartier Camp, Canada

live matter, and it falls to the unhappy lot of the innocent editors of the great city dailies to wade through the voluminous produc- tions of budding poets in every village and hamlet in the Dominion. For every village and hamlet has a poet, and they are all wasting precious oil and energy writing war songs. Imagine, if you can, and you cannot unless you have experienced it yourself, the trag- edy in a curt note, neatly printed in black type that burn like acid, telling a meek but faithful follower of the sacred Muse, that his work is "very creditable but cannot be accepted at the present time." The reason? The poor poet looks everywhere but the right place for the reason. War poetry is unmaking more patriots in Canada than any other one thing.

CANADA AT WAR 533

While Canada is true and devoted to the Empire, and is re- solved to see the business through successfully, her people are not slow in wishing for a speedy restoration of peace. War, with its untold horrors, finds no support in the innermost recesses of the Canadian heart. Canadians have imbibed the spirit of the New World, which is a spirit diametrically opposed to war and the makers of war. Let peace be soon established, but only when Right and Jus- tice are vindicated. This, we believe, is the earnest disire of the Canadian people. They face the crisis with confidence of ultimate victory, trusting steadfastly in that ever-ruling Father, who has piloted the nations through many perilous seas to what has event- ually proved a haven, in which a greater measure of liberty and toleration is enjoyed.

RAYMOND, CANADA

COL. THE IIONT FAMUEL HUGHES .