The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-05-09
HOW CANADIANS
RAISED OFFICERS
NOW IN SERVICE
One Explanation of the Sue
cess of the Contingents
Fighting Abroad.

Reports Of the valorous actions of
the Canadian contingent at the battle
front in France astonish the public in
the United States and cause it to
wonder how a non-military people
as is the Canadian-cou1d so quickly
and so efficiently create and equip a
powerful RAINY. Were the Parliamen-
tary statutes governing the Militia of
Canada. since 1853 more widely known
the answer would be easily found.
From the above time there have
been in existence series of schools
for the training of young men ade-
quately to prepare them to become
officers in the Militia of the Dominion.
The schools were distributed through
out the different Provinces.
To them came officers in actual COM
mand in the Militia to perfect them
selves in military science-young men
not yet attached to the companies or
regiments in existence, but who de-
sired to attain official rank later
students from the numerous Canadian
universities and colleges, who devoted
the vacation months to drills and study
Of tactics which would enable them to
command large or small units in the
citizen army.
Before the applicants were admit
ted to the schools they had to sub
init to severe examinations. Physi-
cal and mental soundness and ire
proachable character were essential
qualities fitting him. The examina-
tions passed, the candidate-or cadet,
as he was called-was attached to
whatever British regiment happened to
be then in garrison in the city where
the admitting school was 1ocated-be-
coming virtually, during the hours of
duty q a. NIL p mo- an enlisted
man and subject to all the military
rules of the Regular Army, penalties
he was a plain citizen or civilian, not
wearing the cadet uniform obligatory
during duty hours.
After three months Of arduous drills
marching, manual of arms, sword ex-
ercises, ETC., the cadet was called up
for examination by board of Off
GERS, presided over by the officer COM
handing the garrison, and, if found
class certificate.
Then he advanced to higher studies
under similar conditions for three
alaOLllS IIIOI0 O1 uIl1lS, SlC., anu WAS
put after that period to a second
test, success in this latter giving him
privilege to a command as high as ma
jor.
For still higher studies he entered.
later, the Kingston War College. Be-
sides drills and maneuvers, he fol-
lowed lectures in economy, rules of
war, court-marshal, etc. With. the
70 dat 70
ceived from the Government $50 and
with the first class Cat second exam
ination) SIS to defray needed expen-
ses.
In this hour Of stress. had we had
these so years experience and prepar-
edness, we would have, at hand, thou
sands upon thousands of men trained
and fit to command the armies we
must provide and that, too, by an easy
method and at small expense to the
taxpayers.
We are looking to Switzerland, Aus
tralia, the Argentine to select models
for our new army, while at our door
has existed a system which has en-
abled Canada to raise an army of
the highest efficiency.
The Canadian Dominion by it's fore
sight was enabled to create, we might
say over night, an army of heroes out
of a peace-loving people.
Back of the long Preparations of
Canada, varied to almost two genera
lions, lies mother high motive-pa-
triotism. The Canadian-no matter
what extraction-is patriotic, coura-
geous and willing to sacrifice his all
If necessary-to the welfare of his
people and country
Read the bulletins of the overseas
conflict and note the bravery of Can
ada's sons, the result of the long and
not overburdening methods used in
preparedness