Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-06-01

The Duties and Achievements of
Canada's Notable Peace Force.
From the wInnIpeg lManitobal Telecrnm.


Canada's Notable Peace Force.
From the Winnipeg CNanitoba) Telegram.
The northwest mounted police is a pecu-
liarly western institution and one OF which
western Canada has every reason 10 be
proud. The force efficiently fulfils the var
iouS duties which II is called upon TO per
form In Canada, and wherever Ii is knoIn
the force has earned respect and admira-
ton. To the distinction which the north
west mounted police have gained in Canada
must now be added the excellent impress
sion which the gallantry and scldierly quail
tiles of those members OF the force who
served In South Africa have created.
In the report of the commissioner which
has just been published, II is stated THAI
In addition to the large numbers Of ex-ofIi-
GERS and men who volunteered for service
In South Africa. the police force supplied
1e officers and 100 non-Commissioned off,
GERS and men for service at the front with
either the I'd Canadian Mounted Rifles or
with Strathconas Horse. Owing to this
large number of members OF the force who
proceeded TO South Africa on active SER
vice. the mounted police have been some
what disorganized and short handed
large percentage of each division being
during the past year composed of recruifS
The condition of the horses, too has not
been satisfactory, 164 picked animals
We're sold to the militia department for
South African service, ard this loss out of
$500 INC al vi ooo "ds naturally
iouS
Nevertheless, the varied duties for which
the northwest mounted police are respon-
Sible have been efficiently fulfilled out II
l3ol cases entered 936 convictions about
al per cent, were obtained. In addition to
this, every constable on patrol Is a uuaran-
tine inspector, escorts are furnished to In
dian treaty payments and to treat COM
missioners in the far north, duties are col
iected for the customs department, timber
IN Manitoba and the territories is patroled
Tor the interior department, for the de-
paftment OF justice prisoners are held i'm
guard rooms and are escorted to the 3ani-
tentiaries, and countless other necessary
duties are performed by the men of The
force, who are to be found from Rosrau
river in southeast Manitoba to Fort Chin
pewyan in the far north; the Yukon detach-
mepts alone covering distance of SOC miles
from north to south.
Considering the great variety of Suties
falling to the lot of a northwest mounted
policeman it is not surprising to learn that
the efficient training of a recruit requires
twelve months, for the mouRted police
man must be, among other things, a SOL
der, police officer, veterinarian, a far
rier a cook, judge of horse and OF its
capabilities, and one who is able 10 find his
way over the praries and to attend to the
comfort of his horse and OF himself
The strength of the force Is now about
so, and there is an increasing demand for
police protection and number of new de-
tachments will have to be established i'm
the near future. The great influx of for
eign immigrants has widened the duties of
the force, and the presence of police among
them is recommended by the commissioners,
as it tends to prevent them from wiilfuliy
breaking the laws, to protect them from
the petty tyranny of some OF their own
people, and to avoid friction among them
and our own people, who are often mtoler-
ant of their manners and habits, and, In
fact, not inclined favorably toward them.
The commissioner reports that the health
Of the force has been good, and that the gen.
oil nnn dt1nf ha hoo ont To-
mendS that only good horses be purchased
for the police, and is of the opinion that
IL the imperial authorities establish a re-
mount station In the northwest the kind
Of horses required for military purposes
will be extensively bred. 1t is also rec
commended that the force be entirely re-
armed as the arIas at present in use are
generally quite obsolete. Other changes
are also recommended by the commits
sioner. At present when the revolv- is
worn ammunition for the carbine must
also be taken, whether the carbine is car
ried or not. This absurd state of affairs
necessitates an additional and useless load
for the horse. The saddle is also. in the
commissioners opinion, heavier than is
necessary.
Many changes in uniform have been APP
proved and came into force at the begin
ming of the year. and these changes are,
in most cases, advantageous. Pipe clay
and backing are discarded which is a par
ticularly desirable innovation in a force
such the northwest mounted police, es-
pecially II the change can be effected with
out impairing the smart appearance for
which the police have in the past been
well known. Many articles of uniform are
to be discarded including the helmet, for
age cap, white gloves and gauntlets. tunic.
black boots, cloak and cape, black fur cap,
black lambskin coat and moccaslus. Among
the articles to be adopted in their place
are the felt cap, service cap, brown gloves
and gauntlets, brown boots, field service
jacket and pantaloons, a fur cap of klon-
dixie pattern, elk mitts, felt boots and
black stockings, pea Jackets and siicker
and u'wester. The officers uniform Will
also be similarly changed.
The report states that, considering the
varied character of our population, the ex-
tent Of the territories and the sparseness
OF settlement in many districts, there Ia
little crime, and life and prop
erty are as safe as in any part of Canada"
and for this very satisfactory state OF az
fairs the northwest mounted police deserve
much credit. The commissioner regrets
that the identity of the force wes lost in
South Africa, and this regret is shared by
probably every resident of western Canada
The officers and men of the force were al
most without exception anxious for service
at the front, and while it would probably
have been impossible to dispense in Canada
with the services Of the entire force 1t is
to be regretted that the considerable con-
tlngent which the police did supply had not
Its individuality preserved. The force is
widely and farorabiy known, and IL is
pity that 1t had no special representation
among the corps which took part in the
South African campaign, for the northwest
police is a force whose services
are almost equally valuable in time OF
peace and In time OF war and is a thor
oughly western force in which the west
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