New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-07-08
Canada Shows U.S.. That Troops
Can Be Trained in Six Months
Dominions Experience Makes 1t Clear That Problem o
Fitting Raw Recruits for Actual Service Oversee Is
One of OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Draft Will Help

, tude of that feat cannot be appreciated
properly until one considers that on
/ August f. 1914, Canada had a perma-
nent force Of only about $500 men.
{ These soldiers, who for the most part
were instructors and men on guard
duty, provided a nucleus for training
organization. In addition to it's stand
ing army" the Dominion had an active
militia numbering approximately 10000
men. Their training consisted of what
has been aptly called "after-supper SOL
diering." Members Of city regiments
drilled for one night each week, par
ticpated in an annual church parade,
and spent two weeks every year in sum-
mer camp.
Militia Units Furnished Army
The training of the rural regiments
consisted almost entirely OF the two
weeks in summer camp. Yet from these
militia units was drawn large pro-
portion of the men in the first Canadian
oversee contingent, while the militia
regiments. 10 large extent. have been
/ the basis Of Canada's recruiting organ
/ iZatiOn since the outbreak OF hOStllitles.
/ Enlistments to date in the expedition
airy force total approximately 4l5,oO0'
while probably 100000 applicants nave
been rejected as physically unit, so
that the work has been tremendous
one.
Immediately upon the declaration OF
war General Hughes telegraphed the
officers commanding the militia req
ments to commence recrnltlng LOT
oversee service. After the recruits
were signed up and accepted, they hved
at home and drilled during the day at
the armories throughout the Dominion.
Meanwhile, Vskartier camp was be-
ing prepared for the gathering army.
The building Of this great military
centre almost overnight was an en-
cheering feat OF no mean magnitude.
Two weeks after work was started,
troops recruited by the militia regl-
ments began to arrive, and before the
end of August Valcartier was a tented
city of $4,000 soldiers.
There were some complaints. OF
course. They were inevitable in an en-
campment so hastily prepared. But the
essentials were there, and when the
contingent sailed from the shores OF
Gaspe on October 3 it was a we'll
trained. efficient body of soldiers, be-
sides being the largest army that ever
crossed the Atlantic at one time.
Second Army Raised
After the departure Of the first con-
! tingent recruiting was continued by
the militia regiments, and during the
winter the men were quartered in eX-
hibition grounds, Y. VI. {. AS. sheds,
etc. In the spring Of 1915 existing
camps were enlarged and new ones
| opened.
During this period TIE recruiting ma
chinery developed from the militia reg
! iments. Through the latter officers
were recommended 10 command new
! battalions. These q. C.'s selected most
Of their subordinate officers from their
own militia regiments and used the
parent organization as general basis
for recruiting operations. headquarters
| being located at the rcgimental armo-
ries.
The keen competition existing be-
tween the militia units was maintained
/ between the new oversee formations,
and battalions were raised in q few
weeks. For months enlistments all over
! Canada averaged more than 1000 men
daily, and with recruits coming for
ward at this rate there was no neces-
sity Of protracted delay in bringing
| bnttalions up 10 strength.
There is a disposition, especially IN
military circles, 10 attribute the in
creasing difficulty Of the recruiting
situation during the winter of l9l5-lo,
and since to change of system and
| the introduction of the so-calied
political colonels." The change. how
ever, was rather the result Of new
conditions than the cause of II. Re
crnitinc had slowed down-largely
! from natural causes.
New Appeal Was Needed
A new appeal WAS needed 20 reach
class Of eligible men who had not yet
enlisted. The recruiting problem sp.
oarently had outgrown the facilities OF
| The militia organizations. Rightly or
wrongly. the government commissioner
a number Of well-known men. without
military experience. TO raise battsiions'
Their popularity and local confidence
in them we're the excuses for thelr
appointmcnt and the experiment was
partly successful.
Perhaps there was a suggestion O.