The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1918-11-28
Spirit Of Comradeship
in Canadian Forces
Typical of That Prevail
ing Among All Troops
Opposing Germans
IN HERE is a story told of the
colonel Of a certain regiment Of
British troops who was address
ing the men under his command

ing the men under his command
just prior to their inspection by
a well-known English general. After
the colonel had explained to the men
the details of the inspection, his clos
ing remark was, snow, 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
In this story, but it is wonderfully typ
zeal Of the men that comprise the Brit
lsh expeditionary forces, whether they
are in France, Mesopotamia, Serbia.
Saloniki, Russia or any other part of
the globe. Never in the history Of the
world has there been such democracy
as exists in the ranks Of the allies
fighting in France today. The young
second lieutenant whose ancestry
perhaps dates back to some Norman
noble who landed in England with Will
liam the Conqueror, is eating, Sleep
ing, working and fighting side by side
with the coster 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 a 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 eff
cheney.
Yet the war has shown that in many
ways 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 q splen-
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 Ypres in 1915 gave it Immortality,
Nearly 80 per cent of the Canadians
are volunteers-men who gave up their
positions In offices, factories, on farms
and in mines to fight for an ideal-lib-
erty. Few had even rudimentary no
tons Of military training, yet so keen
were they to get to France and SO ca.
pable was the organization devised to
meet an unprecedented situation that
well within two months after the OUT
break of war no fewer than $1,000
men. fully equipped and partially
trained. were dispatched to England.
History will record this fact as one of
the greatest military efforts Of all
time-a triumph for democracy as op-
posed to the Potsdam 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 a consequence many peculiar
and sometimes humorous situations
arise. Fol instance, in one regiment
the commanding officer and the senior
major are both sons of one Of the non.
commissioned officers in the same reei.
ment. Just one other case: A million.
ARE manufacturer who is a corporal
was walking along a road in Flanders.
"A major approached and recognition
was mutual. The major had been q
pookkeeper in the millionaire's factory
prior to the q Now the millionaire
calls him sir and salutes him, and
does it willingly and c%heerfully.
The fine spirit of comradeship, often
amounting to friendliness, that exists
between officers and men, characteris-
tic Of q country free from caste pre1u.
dices, In no way impairs discipline or
efficiency as the record Of the Cana
dams In the field so amply proves. The