Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-06-13
JUSTICE TO SOLDIERS

Canada has contributed 400, 900 men to the forces
Of democracy fighting across the seas. Canada stands
practically pledged to send a round half million men
and a bill for compulsory service is now pending in the
Canadian parliament in order that the remaining hun
dred thousand may be recruited without delay. The
Canadian death rate has been high, and many addition
al recruits are needed to keep the forces in the field in.
tact. In an impressive address, Sir Robert Borden, pre-.
mier Of Canada, urged the passage Of this bill, and one
feature of the address was a very clear statement Of the
obligation under which the country rests to those VINO
have gone to the front to do battle in the cause Of their
country and of humanity. Sir Robert said:
I will not shirk from the determination to sup
port and maintain the Canadian troops at the front.
They went forth splendid in their youth. They will
come back grim, determined men. If what is left
of the 100000 such men come back to Canada with
fierce resentment in their hearts. conscious that they
have been deserted and betrayed. how shah we face
them when they ask the reason? I am not 80 much
concerned for the day when this bill becomes law,
as for the day when these men return, IL it 10 de-
layed.
Looked at from this distance. that appears to be the
statement of an earnest and patriotic man who sees
clearly the duty that the country owes to the men who
have risked their lives in its cause, and who is determin-
ed that that duty shall be performed, no matter at what
cost. And the case is so plain that no doubt can be en-
tertained as to what constitutes a national duty in this sit
uauon. To send men abroad to play their part in the
gigantic drama that has the world for it's stage, and to
fail to support them with fresh levies as these are needed.
or to neglect anything else than can contribute to their
comfort and efficiency would be plain murder. The men
thus treated would have a right to feel resentment, and
they could not be blamed if they returned with bitter
resentment IN IholF HoAFtS AGAINST tnoSe VINO deserted
them.
That 10 the case in Canada. How about the United
States? We are about to send troops to Europe. There
Is no prospect that tho proportion Of our men who go
abroad will approach the proportion of Canadians al
ready in the field. On the basis of population it would
take some sx or seven million Americans to correspond
to cAnada's 100000. But we will send men. q great
many Of them. There Will be half . million in the first
levy, and others will be called into service later on. To
every man thus called and sent the country will owe a
debt which. in mere common decency. must be paid.
Those men will 30 knowing that they are to be subject
ed to ~hardships and grave risks, and that death will oe
the portion Of many. We can commit no greater crime
than to mako those hardships and risks greater than they
need be. or to increase. in the slightest measure, the
liability Of a single American soldier to death. That crime
Is committed by every enc Of US who fails at this juno
ture to do hts very utmost to provide the government
with the funds which It must have to perform its duty to
these men.