New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-17

fsnecial Correspondence TO The Tribune)
Toronto, June l6.-One of the most
obvious weaknesses of the voluntary
enlistment system as It worked out IN
Canada was the acceptance of all men
who could qualify under the physical
standards, regardless of whether their
services at home were more valuable
10 the state than their military CON
tribution overseas could be. The United
States government apparently has real
lied the Importance not only of con-
scription, but also of selection.
Among the volunteers for the Frs,
Canadian Division at the outbreak OF
the war were most of the members OF
the permanent force. BY accepting
these men for overseas service Canada
lost A large number of thoroughly COM
petent instructors, many Of whom
should have been kept in Canada TO
train succeeding expeditionary force
units.
Again, Cape Breton County, Nova
Scotia. has contributed, in proportion
to population, as many recruits as any
part OF the Dominion. The county has
a proud enlistment record, but the
mines have been undetermined and the
production of coal has been seriously
reduced. Coal cutters were needed
more in their industrial occupation
than in khaki, and under proper
selcctive national service system would
have been kept at the mines.
Mechanics Drafted Out of Army
It is stated that 1000 skilled me-
cnanics were drafted out of the Cana
dian army to work in British NUM-
tons plants. They should never have
been trained as soldiers.
Enlistment OF railway men contrip-
uted to the inability of the Canadian
railroads 10 avert a serious irelghI
congestion last winter, and munitions
supplies were delayed in transit.
A good farmer may be doing more
necessary national service by helping
to produce food supplies than by TAX
ing up military duties.
In modifying its man-power Tor war
Canada at first did not realize the
importance of applying the seleetlVe
principle in its recruiting activities.
The war has proved that the most use
full members of society are often those
most prompt in their response to
national call, and in Organizing MIL
itary forces compulslon TO stay may
be as important as compulsion 70 60
As a case in point, Canada iound u
necessary TO stop the enlistment OF
telegraph operators, because their ser
vices were needed at home.
Strict enforcement of physical re-
ouirements by the doctors examining
recruits for oversee service VIII saw
much unnecessary expense. One OF the
MINOR evils of Canada's recruiting
methods has been a tendency toward
lax enforcement Of such standards II
il admitted that in some cases com
handing officers have been excessively
anxious to recruit their UNITS 70
strength. and have accepted men who
could not strictly qualify.
High Rate of Discharges
Even with the maximum Of care
there is certain 70 be considerable
wedding out in the final Inspections
but the Canadian figures for such dis
charges are higher than hey ought TO
be. An official return shows That ABOUT
10000 Of the men who enlisted IN
Canada and were examined and trained
were afterward discharged as physl-
cally unfit, without going oversee. sew,
ersl thousand more were eliminated
from the strength of the comoatant
battalions in England.
The technical organization OF Gan
ada's oversee forces has not been en-
tirelv satisfactory. and a change was
made a couple Of months ago. At the
outbreak of the war IL was Impossible
10 form any dependable estimate OF
what military contribution this coun-
trv would be called upon TO make.
Battalions were organized and DIS
PATCHED TO the front without reserves
being specially earmarked, and wastage
had to be repaired By breaking up
units in England and supplying
drafts from battalions perhaps re-
cruited in a different part OF the
Dominion.
For example, veteran Toronto
battalion, depleted IN action might
be filled up by drafts recruited IN
Nova Scotia or British Columbia. The
CONTAMINATION is on territorial
basis. following British practice.
Lesson for the United States
Canada's experience in this REGARD
should be Of interest in the organlza-
ton of the American expeditonary
units. An official statement from OF
tawa. explaining the new system, says
in part:
I. Territorial reserve battalions Of
infantry have been created in England
from the Canadian infantry reinforce
ments, other than the battalions Sc
lected for the Fifth Division.
,. The establishment of each of
these infantry reserve battalions is
not limited to the usual number. but
such reserve battalions will take care
of all drafts sent forward from the
area of the military districts IN Can
ada which they respectively represent.
3. 1t is intended that these reserve
battalions should in future supply re-
Inducements TO certain specified over
seas battalions. with which they are
linked; and that such reserve bat
talions should. in turn. be reinforced
from Canada by drafts from the same
part of Canada.
4. Also. TO further insure the terri
torial association between Canada and
q. II L.,