New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-11-15

~OR the first time in the remembrance Of
H this or the previous generation Canada
finds itself in state of war. We have
passed through the various phases which
are concomitant with such conditions. First wild
and unthinking enthusiasm. then, undue depres-
sion, and finally, a steadying down 10 business and
serious effort TO aid, to the best Of our power,
the Motherand
Early in August, when declared, the
crowds before the bulletins immense. News
papers used lanterns 10 fash on huge sheets the
reports received from England and the Continent.
From dark 20 midnight crowds waited, jamming
the streets for the latest news. Then came the
declaration Of war by Great Britain and the sub
sequent outburst Of enthusiasm. In The evenings
the crowds stood before the newspat Offices and
between bulletins sang Rule Britannia" and the
"Marseilaise" and even made horrifc attempts
at the Russian national anthem. Then toward 10
or II o'clock, when the bulletins became fewer,
some one would shout Lets have parsdel" and
score or more would form the nucleus Of q
tinpan banging, flag waving, shouting, singing
and cheering throng, which would march, four
abreast through the downtown streets. FIRE.
quently fife and drum corps usually from one
of the Orange lodges would join the procession,
with the immediate effect Of doubling the num-
Der Of the four-abreast marchers
THE MEANING OF WAR BEGINS TO BE
REALIZED.
This phase was however, Of short duration.
Soon factories started TO close down and men
began 70 realize what the meant, and our
dispatches from England showed that this was
no mere parade of armies, but something which
was vital 10 Canada and not only TO Canada but
TO the whole North American continent. Then
came the depression of spirit. Men out of work,
o,,I
closing down.
Following this depression there the settling
down TO business and the serious effort to aid
the empire TO the best Of our ability, rot only
in supplying men and money, but to join with
the United States in carrying the commerce
of the world
Quietly and without demonstration a call for
volunteers was issued. And the result was sur
prising to peace lovers and miltarists alike. The
armories of all the cities of Canada were overrun
nv men and bows anxious 10 be part Of the over
seas force One perspiring recruiting sergeant
remarked 10 me, Il say y'know, if / try to take
all these blokes' I'll jolly well be ere all
night" He was But did one ever know British
army ex-non-com who would not growl and
erYmble and protestant do all that neces-
sary and little bit more?
Our recruiting system in Canada is however,
one of the regimental company rooms at the ar
mories: a printed form is filled out by the re-
cruiting sergeant, giving name, address, etc,
which form is handed over to orderly, who &C
companies the applicant to the regimental orderly
room where the applicant IS measured as to
height and chest circumference, and is asked by
the orderly commanding for details Of previous
service, il any. At the present time, of course
men with previous service records are given the
preference over raw volunteers for the over
seas forces.
Following the formality Of the orderly room
the applicant who qualities becomes a recruit ana
is passed on to the regimental Instructor Tor
grounding in the ordinary routine drill The re-
crut goes through drill instruction for two hours
on three nights Of the week, and this period OF
instruction lasts for from three weeks to one
month. Though the recruits are not supplied with
uniforms they are supplied with the regulation
army rife and are put through not only the
regulation parade and company drill but are
trained in skirmishing and picket duty and IN
the use Of the rife
Having completed this primary course Of IN
struction, the recruit is sworn in, taking at the
same time the oath of allegiance to the King and
empire, and becomes private of the Canadian
militia This is the regular routine which every
mlitiaman encounters in joining infantry reg-
ment in peace time, and which is followed by
weekly regimental drill and two-week period at
camp. The camp is made from the ground up.
The troops 90 over and establish themselves, liv-
ing as though on a battle front, nearly as
possible to that condition; cavalry, infantry en-
gineers and medical crops all practise to the best
of their ability at the annual camp
At the present time, however, the usual drill
rife practice and training only the beginning
Of the making Of the member of the overseas
force. Each week end regiments march mot ride)
from their local srmories TO an encampment
ground some ten or twelve miles from the city,
where they pitch their own tents, make proper
sanitary arrangements and establish themselves
as a base camp. During the next day or so the
detachment entrench themselves against supposed
attack, with the aid Of the sappers Cor engineer.)
extend in skirmishing order, defend themselves
against cavalry, practise the rife ranges, and
so on. The artillery usually have their own