Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-10-17
TROOPS FROM CANADA
CHEERED IN ENGLAND
Many Naturalized Americans in
Ranks-Ragtime Popular
With Bands.

stations within a radius of ten miles
Canadian troops have been pouring
Into camps prepared for them on the
rolling Salisbury plains near here.
First came q long transport train COM
posed Of wagons drawn by traction en-
gines. then the motor trucks and lastly
the Communicated London motor Buses
The cavalry and the artillery followed
Long before dawn the sleepy old vii
lagos scattered over the country were
awakened by the cIang of hoofs on the
hard roads. which. incidentally. have
been revelation to the Canadians ac-
customed to their own muddy highways.
Those who listened heard a strange
medley. The notes of IT'S A Long,
Long Way to Tipperary,' mingled with
the the spanish-American war favorite,
'There1l Be Hot Time in the Old
Town Tonight" and other ragtime re-
sounded in the quiet English dales.
Troops Enthusiastically Received.
Along the roads the troops every
where were received with enthusia SIN.
The people expecting wild west dis
play. however. were disappointed, for
with the exception of the sombreros
worn by the cavalry the uniforms of
the Canadians are much the same as
those of the English troops.
Several English territorial regiments
have been engaged in preparing the
Canadian camps and acting as convoy
corps. The greatest contrast between
these forces and the Canadians is the
difference in physique, the Canadians
being on an average much larger and
stronger locking than the English.
Riding at the head of the supply con-
voy was a small Montreal newsboy
who had slowed away on a transport.
This little chap in spite of the fact
that he was almost lost in the folds of
an army coat loaned him by a good
nearly frozen, but he insisted on prac-
ticing the bugle. proficiency in which
he hopes will give him a chance to so
to the front.
found themselves camped on a lonely
rolling plain Of great extent, which
must have reminded the western troops
Of their own pratries. This camping
grounds. SO unlike the England they
had been taught to expect, was some
what of disappointment to the native
born Canadians.
Many Americans in Ranks.
There is surprising number of nat
uralized Americans among these Cana
dian forces. A sergeant of a Montreal
regiment. asked concerning his pre-
vious war experiences, replied in an
American drawl.
Incidentally, he mentioned that he
was veteran of Admiral Dewey's
flagship in the battle of Manila bay
In many regiments social distinctions
have been obliterated, and men of for
tune with degrees from American and
Canadian colleges are serving as pri-
Yates.
Travel Only in the Night.
Before noon the Canadian troops
ceased to reach camp here. as they are
travelling only in the night time, in
order not to dislocate the railway serv-
ice. Lord Roberts will review the Cana
dams Monday.
The only incident marking the first
day of the Canadians in camp was
broken leg received by trooper when
kicked by horse. The horses. reaching
the camp after the long sea and train
journey, were so skittish at being on
the ground again that they gave the
recruits as much as they could do to
handle them. The animals are a strange
mixture of the solid farm horses of
eastern Canada and mustangs of the
west.
Were Used to French Language.
According to a lance corporal of the
army service corps. who until a short
time ago was a brakeman on a rail-
road in California, the farm horses
caused the most trouble because they
understood only the French language
and refused to obey orders given in
English.
An aeroplane flying over the camp
almost caused a stampede among the
horses. The troops showed much inter-
est In the heavier-than-a air machines.
AS the Canadians are travelling only
at night and have long march to
camp at the end of their railroad jour
ney, 1t is not expected all the contin-
gent will reach here before Monday.