New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-20
Kaiser Strikes at Home
of RadicaIism and
PuritaniSm.
BLOW STRUCK FELT
AS FAR AS CANADA
Effect on Englishmen with Mid
land Blood in Dominion
instantaneous.

Toronto. Ont, Dec. i9.-By lombard
ing North Sea ports Of the English
midlands Germany again showed her
entire lack of political knowledge or
instinct. Yorkshire and Lancashire oc-
cupy unique position in the British
Empire. They are noted not merely as
the most densely populated Industrial
area in the world, but as the home OF
the radicalism and puritanism which
has had a large influence both within
and without the British Empire. III
there is one section of the British ma
ton to which war in any form is re-
pugnant and thing to be avoided az
ANYTHING but the highest cost, seet'on
from which the Germans might have
looked for apathy in the long drawn
out prosecution of hostilties or for the
most favorable terms when peace VIII
be arranged, IL was this midlands popu-
lation and their descendants and rela-
tives in Canada and elsewhere IN the
empire. But little does the German
know of this type of Englishman y
he thought TO intimidate him. He has,
on the contrary, done the one thing that
would raise him for the first time TO
fighting pitch. There are tens of thou
sands of Englishmen with this midland
blood in Canada. The effect on them
was instantaneous.
This particular type of Englishman
has rarely had his heart in conflicts.
He was for the most part opposed to
the South African War. the Crimean
War and the minor struggles OF en-
pire. When he was not openly opposed
he was apathetic. Napoleon got under
his skin. hut in rs his heart was prob
ably with George Washington.
Germany could not have selected an
other point in the whole empire on
which an attack would have done so
much TO increase the strength of the
determination to see this thing through.
The resumption of naval activity has
revived discussion of Canada's naval
policy. The naval work now being done
is of a character beyond what local
Canadian navy could have accom-
plished, and accordingly the imperial
lists are having their innings. But in
the discussion there are signs OF good
temper, almost the first that have ap-
peared since the naval issue first came
on the political horizon.
Glow foolish were the arguments
that there was danger to the autonomy
Of the dominions in common imperial
navy" asks the Conservative Toronto
News"
And the Liberal Halifax Chronicle"
answers: How foolish were the argu-
ments that there was danger TO the
integrity of the empire in the creation
of dominion navies." To which "The
News" replies: Eve agree. The one set
of arguments was as foolish as the
other"
Surprising progress is being made by
the troops in training for Canada's sec
ond eXpeditionary force. At first there
was some fear that the second con-
tingent would be inferior to the first
in material, it being said that all the
enthusiastic soldiers, which would like
~ include most of the good ones, had
rushed to enlist at the first oppOrtu
nifty. But the second contingent is
rapidly demonstrating that it Will hold
its own with the best.
Cables from England assert that the
reason the first contingent is not get
ting to the battle line more quickly is
not because Of any backwardness in the
rank and file, but because the officers
are not competent. II is charged that
a large proportion of them were abso
lutely ignorant of modern warfare and,
more serious. that in few cases after
getting to England they were more
anxious to enjoy themselves than to
get equipped for the grave duties
ahead of them.
An important project inaugurated
before the war to provide a supply of
adequately trained officers has since
received a great impetus. 1t is a sys-
TEN Of establishing officers training
corps at the leading universities, the
work being undertaken by the Militia
Department in cooperation with the !
universities. The idea is to give under /
graduates a military training fitting
them for commissions, but not neces-
sarily involving service either in the
militia or in any expeditionary force.