New-York tribune., 1917-07-18
Supplementary Fund

The Canadian government allowances
are supplemented by the Canadian Pa
triotic Fund, which aims to see that a
soldiers absence does not entail any
want of support to which his depen-
dents have been accustomed. To date,
more than s33,OOO,OOO has been raised
for this purpose by voluntary subscrip-
tions, and the funds monthly disburSe-
ments are about S1,250000. Moreover.
an effort is being made under govern
ment auspices to place discharged
Canadian soldiers in good positions.
Civil service posts are kept for them.
The Canadian scale of pensions Is
the most liberal that has been estab-
lished by any country. Toronto and
number of otner municipalities have
insured the lives Of all residents enlist
ing TO the amount of $1,000. These
considerations, together with the
knowledge that the auxiliary services
Of the Canadian army are exceedingly
well conducted, have made it easier to
keep the soldiers contented and cheer
full.
The training of the Dominion troops
has been directed by competent officers,
and politics has played no important
part. The Canadian authorities have
been kept advised of developments at
the front, and frequent adaptation of
methods has been found necessary to
meet the actual requirements at the
front.
Training the Recruit
When a recruit is sworn in, passes
the medical examination and receives
hts uniform, the first two weeks of his
life in the army are taken up for the
most part with inoculation, vaccina-
tion and light military work, drill, etc.
Musketry practice begins during this
period and is increased in amount with
the third week. During some weeks as
much as eighteen hours is spent in
musketry training, while the average is
from ten to twelve hours week.
Musketry, bayonet fighting and phys
ical training are the items most stressed
in the preparation OF q Canadian SOL
der for oversee serviceo The Swedish
exercises, with some modihcations, are
usedsfor physical development. There
is much less squad drill now than Tor
merly, but more Importance has been
attached to lectures, each Of hall an
hours duration, which are given upon
forty or fifty different subjects. 1t Is
Of the utmost Importance that the Of
ficers and commissioned officers
who give such instruction should be
thoroughly competent soldiers.
A visit 10 one of the great Canadian
military camps before the last exten-
sive movement of troops was revela-
tion 10 the civilian. One came away
impressed above all things with the
seriousness and efficiency with which
the training for war is conducted. The
dental corps, for instance. has fitted
hundreds of men for military duty,
while thousands of soldiers have re-
ceived. without cost 10 them. first class
dental treatment, which they could
never have afforded while in civilian
life.
Bayonet Practice
Bayonet practice, with gunnysacks
stuffed and suspended to represent
Germans. is one of the features Of the
davis work. Much attention is also
given to grenade throwing, and select
ed men practise with live bombs dl-
rected against certain objectives.
When Valcartier camp was first
opened, in August, 1914, it boasted a
line of rifle targets three and one-halt
miles long, at that time the longest
rife range in the world. Some Of the
newer Canadian camps are fully as
well equipped.
But for realistic preparation for war
one could not desire more than the
elaborate systems Of trenches con-
structed in these camps, true even in
minute details to conditions at the
front. The barbed wire before each
linz Of intrenchments, dugouts, listen
inc nosts. communication trenches, bat