Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1918-11-29

~ ing the men under his command
just prior to their inspection by
a well-known English general. After
Tile colonel had explained TO the men
the details of the inspection, his clos
ing remark was. Now. when the gen
eral is here stand STILL don't spit and
for Gods sake don't call me Bill.
There may or may not be any truth
10 this story, but il is wonderfully typ
lea! Of the men that comprise the Brit
isA eXpeditionary forces, whether they
IRE in France McSopotamia, Serbia.
Salonki. Russia OF any other part of
the globe. Neve. in the history OF the
world has there been such democracy
HS exists in the ranks of The allies
fighting in France today. The young
second lieutenant whose ancestry
perhaps dates back 10 some Norman
noble who landed in England with W.T.
lam the C0nqlierol is eating. sleep
ing, working and fighting side by side
with the coStsr from Whitechapel or
the laborer from the Liverpool docks.
And the beautiful part Of the whole
thing is that they are comrades in
reality as well as in name,
The ponderous German military ma
chine was evolved from the traditions
and experiences of nation fed upon
war and the idea OF war for centuries.
and the bedrock principles of ruthless
discipline and the breeding of an off
Ger caste with the iron power TO rule,
savagely if necessary, were adopted
as the starting points of military etii-
cheney.
Yet the war has shown that In many
why's the German system of army
building is entirely wrOng-that disci-
pine and democracy can exist side by
side. and that the unthinking armed
mannequin of German creation is no
match for the soldier whose power of
initiative has been fostered and devel-
oped by more humane and encouraging
training methods
The Canadian army corps is "A SPLEEN
did case in point more especially in
view of the magnificent record for
bravery and endurance which it has
maintained since the first gas attack
at 1pres In 1915 gave it immortality.
Nearly DO per cenS of the Canadians
ere yolunteers-men who gave up their
positions in offices, factories, on farms
and in mines to fight for an ideal-iib-
erty, Few had even rudimentary no
lions of military training yet so keen
were they TO get 10 France and SO ca
pablo was the organization devised TO
meet IN unprecedented situation that
well within two months after the out-
break of war no fewer chan 33OOO
men, fully equipped and partially
trained, were dispatched TO England.
History will record this fact as one of
the greatest military efforts of all
ume-a triumph for democracy as Oh
posed to the Potsdan principle.
Since the beginning merit has been
the only path to promotion in the Ca
madam army; position, influence or
wealth cannot alone bring advance.
ment As consequence many peculiar
and sometimes humorous situations
arise. For instance, in one regiment
4he commanding officer and the senior
major are both sons of one OF the non
commissioned officers in the same regl.
ment, Just one other case million
are manufacturer who is corporal
Nhs<Ealking along road in Flanders.
A major approached and recognition
was mutual. The major had been a
bookkeeper In the millionaires factory
prior to the war. Now the millionaire
l. -.
does ii willingly and cheerfully.
The fine spirit of comradeship, often
amounting to friendl!neSS, that exists
between officers and men, characters
tic of country free from caste preju-
dices. in no way lmpairs discipline or
efficiency as the record of the Cana
dams in the field SO amply proves. The