New-York tribune., 1916-04-23
AVE WAR" is a worlds subject OF

'u' seldom mentioned. even though Its
We 'o- r,en Of every craft and walk of life
10 eight hours day to preparation Tor
Sst they show no inclination to talk
shout ot
-. ,o.st the 100000 or more troops that
81 Canada has already sent to the front
IA tho mother country. The war news
!. tbe newspapers and magazines is read
!. .ha men with avidity. but the talk sell
-, uanders into war channels.
!. would be futile, indeed. to look for a
-. cosmopolitan gathering than that
.,ovn on the attestation roster Of the 10th
p..sl;on. There are men who have de-
- their entire life 10 the war game.
- than the nominal roll showing who
A.. former service men are, the men wear
~,.sl ribbons. naming campaigns engaged
= :, all parts Of the world under the
British flag.
7. has been said Of circus life that a
..-former can persuade himself TO never
i..rs the business. Various theories have
hssn advanced as TO the nature Of this at
...r.;on-some say the smell of the tan
,.,t responsible. But what there is about
~. business Of soldiering-because busi-
,sss Il is-to hold a man who once enlists
/, even more Of q mystery.
In camp. with over 1,10O men eating and
.l.sping together, friendships are formed
,,.. onlv death will break. The soldiers
80 Is a life not Of abandon, but of hsppi-
nose and buoyance. From the first sound
- -eveille in the morning until lights
ont. at night, more fraternal crowd
could not be found.
Mobilization Of the 10th Battalion
started in August of 1915. The unit was
fortunate in its appointment Of officers.
Lieutenant Colonel R. I. Towers. whose
tivil home is at Sarnia, Ontario, was asked
70 take command.
When not on duty, and particularly In
ccld weather. life in the barrack room
reaches its zenith of enjoyment. An inter
change Of good-natured banter is innocent,
md there can be but one result when sons
o, lands noted for their wit engage in
rpsrtee. III feeling between the men is
seldom openly manifested. and though
countless arguments arise it is rare occa-
sion when two men come to blows.
Il is interesting to listen to a crowd Of
former service men talking. Hear half
dozen war veterans, for instance, discuss
the campaigns in which they have taken
part. Drawing at his pipe contentedly, one
will talk of the Boxer rebellion. He will
Be interrupted after time by interesting
talk on India and Egypt and the observa-
tons Of men who did service in those coun-
tries. Here sits another who tells of life
With Lord Dundonald's Galloping Colts. He
sa sergeant in the machine gun section,
and knows the military business from A to
z. as is sttested by his medal with five
cssps that he wears on his tunic, or coat.
Abig broad-shouldered man to the left will
listen for time and then contribute to
the conversation by telling of his expert
ences at Gibraltar. A rather youngish-
boxing man, with three stripes and a
crown, a sergeant major, will fill in with a
story Of the coronation Of King George V.
He had been detailed as one of the hon
orary escorts sent from Canada for the
ceremony.
The bugle sound Of lights out" is heard.
The party breaks up and the men go to bed
quietly. The Canadian troops know the
meaning Of discipline.
The Canadian soldier is the best paid
man wearing a nations uniform. The
wage is Sl1O a day for a private. The
government, in the case of married man,
or an only son who is the sole support OF
widowed mother, monthly sends check
for $50 TO the dependent. This is separa-
ton or sole support allowance. The ma
iorty Of the Industrial concerns, including
the railroads, retain the names of former
employees who left their work to enlist at
one-half pay during their enlistment, with
the promise Of positions at the conclusion
Of the war.
For the most part, Irish, Scotch, English
and Canadian born make up the unit, with
goodly quota Of the recruits from the
United States, every States city Of size
'ontributing contingent. Many OF the
nen saw service in the Spanish-American
Var.
That there were many Canadians, Eng
asn, Irish and Scotch, native born, VINO
helped the United States to victory in 1898
evident, and to see the quota OF States
porn soldiers here gives one the impression
nat some Of the States recruits are paying
esek the debt contracted during the Span
sh.American War.
30 liberties of the men are entirely,
" use popular expression, "up to- them
selves. II man carries out the rules OF
olscipline il is with no difficulty that he
'Sn obtain a pass, for midnight, an