Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-07-15
SIR SAM HUGHES
OBJECT OF JEERS
BY M|LIT|AMEN
Soldiers ''Bo0" Canadian Minis
ter of Militia as They Pass in
Review-Bad Camp Location
and Poor Food the Grievances

Montreal, July 14.-Although generally
suppressed by Canadian newspapers, the
recent review Of 10000 Canadian troops at
Camp Borden, Ontario, where riot of
1000 soldiers from London, Ontario. broke
out on Monday night owing to the deplor-
able conditions under which they labored
and drilled at that camp was anything
but a ceremonial success, according to
those who witnessed the affair.
The moment Sir Sam Hughes, minister
Of militia, appeared on the field he was
greeted with "boohs' and again when he
was the reviewing stand for the
march past" The camp a fortnight ago
was a rough, sandy plot Of ground COW
cred by stumps Today it is cleared Of
stumps but the deep choking sand and
terrific heat remain. Soldiers have been
worked to the limit to clear the ground
and this overwork and lack of water to
drink caused the riot to start Monday
night. The soldiers. as usual, are said to
have had to work IA hours a day, begin
ming at 430 A. NJ.
Shortly after the review started a
party of soldiers passing by shouted
in chorus, What do we think of Camp
Borden?" Another party shouted It's
He'll" while others consigned Sir Sam
Hughes to a very hot place in no I'M
mistakable terms. While the review
was in progress, despite the efforts Of
many watering carts the troops were
many times too obscured in the terrible
dust to be seen except as phantoms in
a mist. Officers in charge of the men
paid no attention to the insults to the
minister of militia.
1t wasn't discipline Of course; but
somehow the onlookers could not help
sympathiZing with the men and their
bitter feelings, they feeling that I'M
der the same conditions they would
have felt the same way. Where there
was not sand the ground was COW
cred with poison ivy. Half of the men
marching by had straw hats but the
others We're dropping under the terrific
heat with none.
After the review Sir Sam Hughes
could not be recognized for dirt. After
the first march past the troops re-
turned to pass again en- masse and as
the former rioting London, Ontario
battalions passed by with ugly faces
they turned as one man and boohed the
militia minister, who sat on his horse
ard never moved, and this was fol-
lowed by other battalions until the
hooting could be heard the full length
of the line.
After the parade and Sir Sam went
to the station to return to Ottawa
several groups of London soldiers fol-
lowed him and made a personal ap-
peal to be sent back home to London,
but the minister stated that they were
going to the front soon and advised
them to stick to the work and make
themselves into hardened soldiers, and
he was then greeted with more boohs
which lasted until the train pulled out
and no officer attempted to stop it.
Shortly after the minister left the rail-
way station was rushed and all eata-
bles were taken by the soldiers, but
little damage was done.
Owing to the present trouble recruit
ing IN Ontario has received a black
eye and at the demand of the soldiers
they will be given weekend furloughs
every fortnight with reduced railway
fares beginning today