The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-04-03
Canada and the War.

The Boston Globe says the following letter
from Canada has been received by the firm of
Thomas Rigney & Co, who conduct in that
city trade mainly in Canadian produce. The
writer is a prominent member of the Canadian
bar. and a few years ago occupied position 10
the Dominion Cabinet. "The Imperial Govern
ment anticipates that Canadian contingent
will have to be furnished in case of war with
Russia, now almost deemed inevitable, amount
ing to fully 100000 men. The Dominion un-
der pressure could furnish about half the num-
Der, as during the four years of war between
the Northern and Southern States there were
$4,000 Canadians enlisted in the Northern arm
les; and as times are exceedingly hard here,
there would be but little difficulty in obtaining
fully that number here at only small bounty
1t is currently reported in military circles, both
here and 10 Ottawa, that on the first announce
ment of declaration of war, recruiting offices
will be opened along our border, aud we an
ticipate collecting no inconsiderable portion of
that large floating restless, and adventurous
population of the United States, which was in
a measure drained by your destructive war,
but which in the lapse OF time has again be-
come numerous. Should hostillties be-as
think they are-beyond peradventure, i'm.
agine we can afford you solution of the prob
lem OF the tramp nuisance. Send your able
bodied Migrants over here and we will speedi-
ly transform them into soldiers, as our British
drill-sergeants ATE provervial for making ex.
cellent soldiers out of the most unprom Using
material. Our service will offer an excellent
opportunity to the trained and experienced
officers who served in the late war. Many of
your West Point graduates will find immedi-
ate employment in our army, as its STANDARD
is acknowledged to be one of the highest in
the military schools of the world.
I'm conversation last night with General -
he said that the Minister of War has under con-
sideration recommendation to the British
Government to organize the Canadian lines on
the plan OF the American and French armies,
making promotion the award of merit. l am
OF the opinion that this would reconcile many
OF your intelligent, ambitions citizens to accept
service under the Crown, and who knows but
that some American soldier may be the leading
hero in the forthcoming struggle. Many of our
people are out of employment, and chance of
getting regularly clothed and fed will be availed
OF by many. 1t would be rather singular if the
large quantity of arms your manufacturers sent
to Russia should be used against Canadians
and Americans The General was confident
that bounty of $40 would be given each re-
cru1t on the cutstart, and that,if the war con-
tinued and became particularly destructive, as
It promised to be-, it would be increased to $50.
The Imperial Government, in my estimation,
overlooked the fact that the Sepoys and other
Asiatic soldiers would have to be acclmate
before they could resist the rgors of Russian
winter, whereas our hardy Canadians and your
staiwart lumbermen and yeomanry from the
North would find themselves at home and be
quite match for soldiers of the Gear on their
own soil'f