New-York tribune., 1917-07-18
Canada's Gravity and Efficiency
in Training Men Amaze Outsiders
Practice Is as Realistic as War Itself and Changes in Con
dtions and Methods Front Are Immediately
Acted Upon-Al Ceremony Abandoned

, TALON headquarters at certain dis
tance in the iear-all duplicate closely
the trenches in France and Flanders.
Battalions take their turn on the
opposing lines, and sometimes will
spend all night in them. Raids are
carried out and surprise attacks, wire
cutting expeditions, etc, all have a
part in the proceedings. mo Mans
Land" may be the meeting place of
opposing patrols operating under
cover Of night.
According to Laws of War
All is conducted strictly in accord
ance with the laws and hazards Of
modern warfare. The careless ex-
posure above the parapet Of a small
part of a head or arm, for even a
couple Of seconds, may draw the fire
of watchful snipers, and the referees
men who have actually served at the
| front-declare the careless one a casu-
atty.
1t may look like play, but it is con-
Quoted with amazing efficiency. After
seeing the system in operation one Is
not surprised to learn that changes
| in conditions and tactics at the front
are promptly communicated 70 COM
manding officers in Canada. and altera-
tions in training are made accordingly.
Shortage of equipment for a long
time hampered the training Of Cana
dian recruits, but that was fully over
come many months ago. Complaint
was also heard that there were too
many ceremonial parades. involving
| interference with serious training. An
| insufficient supply Of competent Off
! L kn
pective officer attached himself to
militia regiment, secured a commits
I sion, and then qualified for a lieuten-
ancy in course lasting about two
months. Such men lacked the techni-
cal knowledge which an officer ought
to have.
Special courses were provided later,
and often training of the battalion
Jagged with non-commissioned officers
doing the work of platoon commanders.
while the latter were supplemeLting
their regular leutenancv course. A
charge was made several months ago,
and men are no longer taken out Of
civilian life and converted directly
into officers.
An Excess of Officers
For some time an excess of officers
has been available, and the principle
of promotion will supply others, If
they should be needed.
The major part of the general mill
tary training of the Canadian soldier
takes place in Canada, and there is gen
eral agreement that such a practice Is
sound. Early in the war England was
lacking in training facilities, and the
/ 1st Canadian Division had 10 be held
for four months before reaching France,
although the Princess Patricias, being
veterans, left England two months in
advance Of the other units.
/ The period for which succeeding
troops have remained in England has
varied greatly, depending upon n large
number of circumstances. Some drafts
| have been dispatched across the Chan
mel after only about one month. The
time spent in England ia devoted 10
completing and consolidating the train
/ ing, final musketry practice and round
! ing off of organization. Even after
reaching France the troops are put
through short. but important, disci-
pline and training behind the lines.
The new plan Of training for the
| Canadian troops now being tested is
based upon a skilfully prepared syl
| labus calling for fourteen weeks of
/ concentrated training in Canada. The
days work is arranged so that no more
/ than forty-five minutes at time will
| be spent on any one subject, and rests
! are frequent. Under the plan new re-
cruits and backward men will not delay
/ the more proficient. If the schedule
/ can be carried out, Canadian soldiers
should be ready for the battlefront
within two months after leaving Can
ada.
Costly Armies
! GE proportion TO their size, the Cana
/ dian and Australian armies are the
most costly TO maintain of any of the
forces engaged in the war. Early in
/ 1915 the Canadian government notified
/ the British authorities of its desire to
assume the whole cost of the Canadian
contingents sent for war service. That
cost is estimated at an average Of about
$1,000 a year for every man in the
/ Canadian expeditionary force.
I This country makes its own issues of
| pay and cash allowances in every case.
/ Certain expenses in connection with
| the supply of rations, forage, clothing,
stores, etc, for the Canadian troops in
| England are borne in the first instance
| by the imperial government, but re-
covered by the latter currently through
/ the ordinary medium Of accounts. No
charge is made against Canada for &C
commodation in England in hutments
or billets provided by the War Office.
In the field the imperial authorities
provide practically all the supplies and
| services for the Canadian troops, in
common with the other British forces,
and under an agreement reached be-
tween the two governments charge
| Canada at the rate of six shillings
! GLAD day for every man in the field.
This charge is based on the average
cost Of maintaining imperial troops in
| Fiance.
The difference in the maintenance
cost Of Canadian and British armies is
duo very largely to the difference IN
pay. cash allowances and pensions. The
prediction is frequently heard in Can
| ada at the present time that the new
United States army will cost consider
ably less on the average per man than
that Of Canada to maintain, because II
will have larger proportion OF un-
married men without dependents, thus
reducing the obligation for separation
| allowances and pensions.
four years ago the British government