Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-09-23
GARDINER MAN
HAS INTERESTING
CANADIAN TRIP

James Blair of this city. and War
rem Tozier of Gardiner, are back from
a trip to Canada, and they are de-
lighted with their experience, said
Mondays Portland Press. They were
especially at Montreal, going and re-
turning and at Ottawa, and they
found themselves even before they
reached Montreal surrounded by evil
dences of the existence Of the great
war in Europe, because all bridges
are guarded, and as their train cross
ed the great Victoria bridge over the
| st. Lawrence soldiers We're to be seen
on each side and the numbers of
tents at st. Lambert, and Point st,
Charles, showed that the militia were
there in considerable force
They found the water front well
guarded, and when they tried to cross
they were stopped by a sentry who
said, Il am very sorry, but l can't let
you pass without an order from the
harbor commissioners" He was very
courteous, but there was an unmis-
| taxable air of Il shall obey orders,
and not having any business on the
water front but only a desire to look
around they went to other parts Of the
big city.
They felt the everywhere present
| splendid enthusiasm In favor of the
war. Recruiting was going on rapidly
and the very cream of the young
Canadians are either in the service or
ready to go if they are needed. As
yet only unmarried men have been
taken except that in a few instances
soldier has been allowed TO enlist
with the consent of his wife. They
found that Col. Hughes and his Of
ficers are rapidly getting all the
Canadian troops ready to do excellent
work at the front, and they are al
anxious to be forwarded as soon a.
F! possible.
They saw some men who were fin-
ally rejected after enlisting and being
! sent to the Canadian concentration
camp at Valeartier. The wedding out
process Is still going on and men who
will be available for military duty al
| home will not be taken abroad. One
man said with a good deal of feeling
! that 1t was too bad that he was not
| allowed to go with his comrades. He
/ had, he said, been hard at work on a
! farm all summer, and was rejected
| because of slight varicose trouble
/ in one leg He was bitterly disap-
! pointed.
! They found a general feeling OF
| confidence in the government. and
while of course the railroad officials
/ must know a great deal about the
sending of troops across Canada, nc
one admitted 1t, but others who have
no connection with the militia OF
| transportation lines were more ready
to talk. AT ottawa they saw many
militiamen from further fest, They
We're coming in rapidly and were from
there sent to the general camp.
They were naturally very much In
! terested in Ottawa and while there
had a good opportunity to see His
Royal Highness the Duke of Con
naught, the present governor general
He is fine looking man with the
manner and bearing of soldier, anG
he courteously acknowledged the sa-
lutte of the men from Maine. They
| saw the consul general from Japan
| to Canada, a quiet man with appar-
: entity a pleasant way of meeting ev-
erybody.
They saw the great Dominion fair
and in the evening witnessed Il fine
| and arousing display of friendly feel
| ing on the part OF representative Can
| adam people for the United States. Al
least 10000 were present in the grand
stand and there was very attractive
! display Of fireworks ending with the
| showing in the air of the colors of the
! United States and Canada, while
.One Hundred Years OF Peace" was
! flashed out Then the three bands
| played the National anthem of the
| United States, and the great crowd
rose as one man. 1t was a sight never
to be forgotten.
They saw the result of the wal
everywhere. The regular commerce
has of course fallen off, but there is
an evidently increased activity in rail,
| road circles caused by the demands
made upon all lines Of transportation
! by the department of militia. They
were impressed with the practical an6
| business-like way everybody connected
in any way with the military or rail-
road service are working out unex-
| pected problems The vast resources
/ of Canada are fully at the command
! of the Imperial government They
saw no evidence of the existence Of
any party feeling but only unity OF
| thought and action.
OF course there must be some re-
strictions like the guarding of the
water front and of the rivers already
referred to, but otherwise the Cana
dian people seem to be taking the wal
| quietly and with absolute confidence
| in the final outcome. Mr.. Blair coul6
not visit the barracks of the military
organizations, and so did not see some
of his friends among the officers, mer
| who are known to very many here
| Mr.. Blair and Mr.. ToZier were much
/ pleased with their trip to Canada, and
they found the display of military ac-
tivity very interesting and pictur-