Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-02-15
CANADIAN ROUGH RIDERS.
Character of the Men Enlisted TO
Service Against the Beers.

Service Against the Beers.
From the st. Louis Globe Democrat.
E. F. Hutchings, president of the Great
West Saddlery Company. limited, of Win
nipeg, Manitoba, was awarded the contract
by the British government for furnishing
the equipment for a large portion of the
10000 new cavalry troops called out after
Gen. Buffers reverse at the Tugela river.
The contract was a rush order and, being
unable to fill it, Mr.. Hutchings telegraphed
three leading army saddle manufacturers
of the United States. located at st. Louis,
l.Chicago and Cincinnati, for assistance. On
the basis of the replies received he awarded
half of the contract to the St. Louis house,
one-fourth to the Chicago house, and one
fourth to the Cincinnati house. All of the
saddles and brides had to be manufactured
complete. Mr.. Hutchings talked interest
ingly OF the Canadian rough riders, who
are being mobilized at Winnipeg and Cal
gary They are all sturdy horsemen of the
British northwest being Injured to hard
ships and accustomed to the style of war
fare the Beers arc waging. They are picked
men from the cattle ranches mounted po-
lice, ard similar callirgs. and will be COM
manded by Col. Steele, an officer of the
mounted police service, who is regarded
as a typical leader of the Roosevelt sort.
and possessing the full confidence of his
men. The men have been drilled at Win
nipeg and Calgary since they first began to
gather
be capable of much, said Mr.. Hutchings,
but 1 firmly expect these Canadians to
make their mark before the present war
is over. 1t would be better if 1.-The entire
10000 raised under the recent call were
of this type. 1t would make a magnificent
command. The men are all carefully Sc
lected, and are not only skillful horsemen,
but the finest shots in the world and Injured
to all sorts of hardships. They are &C
customed to scouting and can give the
Beers themselves points on how to stalk
an enemy and pick him off without unduly
exposing themselves. In my opinion they
will make some of those Beers wish they
had never been born.
England is learning a much needed fes-
son from this war; declared Mr.. Hutch
ings. She has found that she must have
officers who can meet the strategy of the
Beers, and beat them at that 1t is not a
question Of mere courage, but of skillful
leadership. We are learning, in fact, that
the sons Of dukes and lords, while nice to
see in parades, are not necessarily qualified
by high birth to command men on the field
of battle. Take Gen. French, who won the
first British victory in weeks. He received
a large part of his training while con-
nected with the mounted police of western
Canada. I know him well, having often met
him while he was stationed in the domin-
ion. In my opinion there Is no question of
the outcome of the war, once our men learn
to meet the style of warfare the Beers are
putting up
Mr.. Hutchings went to Winnipeg twenty
odd years ago, when it was nothing more
than a Hudson bay trading post. Now, he
says. it is an up-to-date city of 5000 in
habitants, with electric cars and lights
paved streets, and all the modern improve
ments. Manitoba is enjoying great pros
perity," he declared. 1.-The stock-growing,
wheat raising and dairy farming interests
of the country, which are the leading in
dustries, are all in excellent condition. We
look forward to even greater developments
within the near future. Within the last
year fully 10000 immigrants have settled
being mostly Of English, Scotch. Norwe-
gian, German or Russian birth. They are
all class of thrifty, able-bodied people
and are valuable to the country.
within the next few years it is expected
that the five territories to the west and
northwest of Manitoba, which are now gov
erned by one set Of officials will be organ
call them. each with a separate govern
ment of its own. These territories are As
siniboia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Peace
River, and what is known as the copper
mine country They cover an immense
stretch of territory, some of which has not
even been explored. Nearly all are rich in
minerals, fisheries, and timber, while for
years at your St. Louis exposition and at
the Chicago worlds fair the wheat grown
In the Peace River district took the highest
premium. 1t IS likely that separate prov
ince will be formed of the Dawson country.
bordering on Alaska, where some of the
richest gold discoveries of the last decade
have been made. Winnipeg is fine and
growing city. The falls of the Winnipeg
river, near there. furnish perhaps the best
natural water power for the generation of
the electric current to be found on this
continent. with the exception of Niagara
Falls"