New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-17
Canada Made Mistake ofDraininq
Factories in Recruiting Soldiers
In Mobizng Man Power the Dominion Neglected Seectve
Principle with Result That Men Had To Be Drafted
Out of the Army to Workshops

to the problem Of providing adequate
reserves. Canada was slow TO realize
that only a portion OF this coantry's
available soldiers could be sent TO the
front until further reserves were act.
ually in sight. Effective participation
in the war is determined not only by
the number Of trained troops on hand
but fully as much by the rapidly with
which reinforcemonts are being sen,
forward.
Under the system OF unrelated bat.
talions which was previously in force,
officers frequently found themselves in
England without commands when their
units were broken up for reinforce.
ments. They were faced then with the
alternatives of reverting in rank or re-
turning to Canada. Such condition o,
affairs is remedied by the changes re.
Gently adopted.
1t seems not improbable that in fu.
ture Canadian troops viii be dis.
patched over sea only in company size
drafts, the final organization 10 take
place in England. The new training
syllabus is suited TO such a plan.
Considerable criticism has been di.
rected against the Dominion Govern.
ment on account Of the equipment OF
the Canadian EXpeditlonary Force. The
"Oliver" equipment, the same pattern
as that used by the Canadian troops in
the South African war. was authorized
for use by the Canadian militia up TO
the commencement of hostillties.
Equipment Replaced by British.
There being none other available,
this equipment was issued TO the units
in training in this country, and was
taken to England and used there. In
the case of several Of the divisions j.
was even carried to France but was re.
placed by the British "web' equipment,
at the command of the Imperial War
Office. Conversion Of the oliver pat.
tern was attempted, but the British
equipment was found 20 be preferable
under active service conditions.
The Canadian pattern has not been
used to any extent in the field for war
purposes. but is still employed during
the entire training period and only re-
placed when the men are under order,
for the front.
The Ross rife was responsible for
one Of the most bitter controversies in
Canada since the beginning OF the war
This arm, which WAS made under con
tract for the Canadian Government b.
a private company at Quebec. was use,
by the Canadian contingent m the
South African war and gave sstisfac'
ton.
But, while an excellent rife under
certain conditions. 70 was ill-suited 20
. g If.r..1,~a HrrHreh a o.
Enfield proved TO be a more serylceable
weapon, and when, after the battle OF
Ypres, complaints reached Canada that
the Ross rife frequently damned in
emergency use, there was a demand
that the latter be discarded and the
British rife adopted for all the Can
cdian units.
Hughes Opposed Change.
General Hughes, then Minister Of
Militia and Defence, stubbornly de-
tended the Ross rife, claiming for it
decided advantages over the Lee
Enfield. Reports were requested from
the Imperial authorities, but the Ross
rife was employed until the summer OF
1916 because up to that time Sir
Douglas Haig and Sir John French
would not condemn it and because 9th
or rifles were not available If il had
beer discarded earlier.
The experience proved the serious
disadvantage of having Canadian
troops armed with weapon different
from that in use by the rest Of the
British forces. But the mistake was
made before the war and could not be
corrected Immediately the inferiori,y
of the rife as a service arm was dis
covered.