Los Angeles herald., 1910-08-13
CANADA DEFENDS HER
MILITARY ORGANIZATIONS
Report of Gen. Sir John French'S
Adverse Criticism ArouseS
Dominion'S Protest

OTTAWA, Ont, Aug. 12.-The publ
cation in the London Times Tort
night ago of a special correspondent
alleged resume of General Sir JoHll
Frenchs criticisms of the Canaolall
militia on his return to England aIter
two months careful Inspection OF t tne
various forces of the Dominion, mas
evoked from newspaper military CRITICS
throughout Canada commentator on
the one hand of Sir Johns salutary
frankness, and on the other hanu III
dignant denials that there is anythlne
radically wrong with the general ei-
fciency and organization Of CANADA
defense forces.
Meanwhile the general trend OF Gen
eral French's report is known only TO
Sir Frederick Borden, minister OF
militia, and a limited number OF MS
headouarters staff. Sir Frederick Bof-
den is authority for the statement that
General French on the whole mas peen
impressed favorably with the physique
intelligence, spirit and general Ell
ficiency of the kings volunteer forces
in Canada. The London Times sum-
mary says Sir Frederick is wholly mis-
leading and grossly inaccurate.
Serious weak spots there are, IL is
admitted, in the practical preparedness
of the Canadian forces for actual war,
but that immense progress mas peeh
made during the last ten years In rem
edying the anomalies of few years
ago in the general organization of the
militia department is also recognized
bv every military man in Canada. Ten
wears ago there were not enough rlneS
in stock to arm the $4,000 men enrolled.
There was not enough ammunltlon TO
last a single. day of real war. Moplll-
cation facilities and the details of army
equipment were in an absurdly lnaue-
quate state.
Since then there has been gradual
and steady improvement. The public
expenditure on defense has doubled. IL
is now about seven millions year.
The troops nearly all have been re-
armed with the Ross rifle, made IN
Canada and said by experts to be one
of the best military weapons IN the
world Ammunition supplies nave
been put on something like an equal
basis. The general organization and
training of the force based on British
models is rapidly becoming efficient
and, though much remains still to be
done, the plans of the headquarters
staff, as evolved from the advice and
experience Of General Sir Percy Lake
and other officers loaned from the
British service, now are nearing
practical realization.
Parliament and public sentiment are
averse to the development of mllltar-
ism in Canada, as they have it, lin
the armed camp of Europe" The an
nual increases for militia expenditure
have toNbe "coaxed" from the repre-
sentatives of rural constituencies. Sir
Frederick gradually is getting his way,
but it is a slow process. II war We're
declared tomorrow there undoubtedly
would be many weak points found in
the complex machinery of the modern
army. Mobilization plans, tactical fit
ness of officers foc command, equip
ment, ordnance, all still are recognized
to be far from perfect General
French, with the model of the British
army before him, doubtless mas dls-
covered many glaring defects, but at
the same time it is known that While
in Canada last month he expressed
himself on more than one occasion as
being agreeably surprised with the
progress now being made.