South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-07-22
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THIS CANADIAN
GREAT SOLDIER
Sir Arthur Currie Lauded by
Writer Who Finds Him
Loved and Honored.
International News service:

International News Service;
LONDON. July 21.-Following a
tour Of the Canadian sector on the
western front. F. A. Mckenzie gives
his impressions of Sir Arthur Cur
RE. new chief of the Maple Leaf
contingent. and the reasons for his
popularity
Pointing out that but three years
ago Sir Arthur was a broker in
Canada. the writer adds that his
appointment 10 the command of a
British army corps is due solely 10
his ability TO deliver the goods"
There is full confidence among
all who know his work that Currie
with the Canadians, like SHUTS with
the South Africans. will prove the
right man for the post" says Mr..
Mckenzie. This confidence is
greatest Of all among the Canadian
soldiers Of all ranks who now serve
under him.
Here is a big man. a giant ply
sically. with big. clean-shaven face.
The eyes are laughing eyes. and his
face has the freshness and clearness
Of youth. A quiet man he is.
neither fussy nor a blusterer. genial.
a man 70 make friends and to keep
them.
\ Man Who Gets There.
That is ones first impression.
But let the moment arise and the
face soon takes a stern mould. For
the ultimate impression Of the man
is one Of strength. A man with a
punch a soldier who gets there
with a smile, If smiling does il. but
gets there all the time.
Arthur Cur1ie Is an Ontario man.
He settled in Victoria first as a
schoolmaster. made a record in life
insurance. even for the west. and
developed into the real estate bust
ness
In the days before the war the
average Canadian did not take SOL
diering seriously-Currie did. lie
gave the best of himself 10 the eff
cheney Of his militia. and that at a
time when most men gave the pos
sibility Of serious war scarcely a
/ thought
Then came the great DAYS of
August 1914 Canada sprang 70
arms In the second battle OF Ypres,
where Canada saved the entire
British line. Currie proved himself a
practical soldier. When Gen. Alder
son was promoted from the first
Canadian division TO the command
of the Canadian corps, Currie sue
ceeded him as major general That
was in September, 1915. Here the
westerner had his opportunity and
made full use Of II.
Men Admire Him.
What is Gen. Currie's secret as
soldier? First comes the quality
of the man himself. He is a big
magnetic personality. His men
serve him 10 the end because they
love and admire him.
"His methods center around four
points-the elaborate organizat ton
OF intelligence: the complete co-or-
dination Of all arms; the develop
ment 20 its utmost point of the
platoon system; and the cultivation
of responsibility in the individual
soldier
Every part Of his unit moves on
a great occasion like a section Of a
big machine Guns infantry. air
craft work together TO the second.
He has brought the platoon system
10 perfection.
Each platoon is a complete unit
in itself taught TO act by itself and
with all weapons At its command 70
do everything necessary. And he
trusts the men in the ranks. The
private soldier is told fully and
frankly what he Is 20 do when a
great move is on, and why he is 10
do il. He Is shown maps and plans
and Photographic, and feels that he
is taken into the confidence Of his
general.
AS commander Of the first Cana
dian division. Gen. Currie has un-
dertaken some Of the most arduous
enterprises Of the war. The brig
AIDES under him accomplished more
than once the seemingly impossible. ."