The sun., 1919-01-14
FAMOUS CANADIANS
GUESTS AT BANQUET
DR.. Bcland, VI. p, Prisoner Of
Germans, Stirs Club by
, Telling Experiences.
TOAST TO COL. ROOSEVELT
Sir II. s. Ames Explains Do
minion's Grasp on Post War
Reconstruction.

The Canadian Clubs new homo IN the
Hotel Belmont has a nice, homelike din
ing room, plenty big enough for every
day but not for such special occasions
as celebrating victory and peace or hon
oring at one Of the clubs characteristic
rouslng monthly dinners two distin-
guished Canadian guests like DR.. Henri
Beland and Sir Herbert s. Ames.
So last night the club changed venue
back TO the old stand in the Biltmore
and filled the grand ball room hand
somely full with some eight or nine
hundred diners and celebrated and did
honor as aforesaid, all at one dinner.
DR.. Beland is n member of tho Cana
dian Parliament and a former Postmas-
ter-General of the Dominion. He is also
the Canadian ". 2. whomt the Germans
found in Antwerp when they captured
that Belgian city. and whom they locked
up and sent to Berlin, and there treated
we'll, Germany. keeping him impris-
oned three years and refusing to let him
go to the bedside of his dying wife,
Belgian lady he had married Just before
the war began.
He was the special honor guest last
evening. Ills speech was the story OF
his war experience. capitally told. 1t en-
thralled the diners. When he described
the stanch spirit of the Belgians under
German rule they cheered. When he
told OF the spunk of the civilians even
to tho children, holding their heads high
before the arrogant German officers, the
club members laughed delightedly and
made the gilded panels OF the ballroom
ring with the Hear! heart" which Is
their empires appreciation at such mo-
ments. And when he told how he and
the others had suffered from German
cruelty. ever growing harsher as German
,hope OF victory waned, the note OF the
Hear! hear" changed and deepened TO
something like a growl.
Some Post Bellum Problems.
Sir Herbert Ames. Canadian Minister
OF Militia and governmental and official
head Of great war relief fuuds and or
ganisations in the Dominion, called his
speech a news letter to the club. espe-
cially on Canadian post bellum problems,
After four and a half years OF the
task OF turning peaceful people and
their industries into warriors and war
industries. with every effort spurred 70
the utmost, We have suddenly been
called upon to halt-about face and
reverse the process" he said. The boys
are coming back. There are a few, a
very few. survivors of Canadas nrst
year contingent. those who received their
baptism of fire at Second Ypres, and I'M
de-went the first experience Of the hor.
ror Of poison gas. but held the line.
There are more of the second year,
they who shared in the first taste OF
victory at the Somme. And still more
Of the third year, veterans OF Canada's
first full division, surpassed by none in
the war. the Invincibles OF Vimy Ridge
and Passchendaele and Lens. And
many OF the last year, chosen by Foch
the line to any point where the need
was greatest. They are our heroes Of
Cambria. valenciennss and Mons"
Canada" said Sir Herbert, with a
population smaller than New York
States. sent 100000 men overseas
Sixty thousand will never return. Sixty
thousand more are coming home by
every ship manned and and crippled.
The other 100000 are hale and At.
salvaging Victims of War;
Our problem Is thus.twofold, provision
for the sound and the MANNED. None
but perfect men, physically and mentally
wer taken for Canada's armies We
consider 1t up to the State to care for
those who are no longer perfect, 10 nelp
them TO make the best OF their situation
and the opportunities remaining to them
This work of salvagng is under charge
Of board Of civil reestablshment
beaded by a Minister OF the crown.
When the manned man has been re-
stored as far as possible. the State by a
dsablement allowance. gives him an edu-
cation for his new start in life. Nothing
we can do for him will ever be enough,
but We mean to do all that We can.
Many OF the sound men will want a
new start toward something better than
they left. and they are going to have t.
This work has been begun by coordi-
mating committee, on the task OF repa-
triatlon.'
The Canadian " stem OF repatriation,
as Sir Herbert outlined It. is much like
the one devised in the United States. L,
begins with the circulation of question
naires on the other side. The data on a
mans abilities and experience precejes
him home and at the rehabilitation
point soldiers aid committees try 10
place each man in n suitable job. They
are 50 far succeeding admirably
The speaker was cheered when he
said; I'VE give the Canadian soldier
priority Of employment over all others,
In public service and in private ser
vice" He added that Canada was flying
TO induce men TO go upon the land.
$4,000 Families Are Aided.
OF the Canadian patriotic fund, which
he administers. he said there had been
$1,000 soldiers families TO look after
Fifty million dollars had been collected
from private donors, without cent Of
expense to the Government. There are
still 10000 families being helped. but
Tommy knows that Mary and the kids"
are all right and in good hands until he
will he discharged. and then he will have
three 10 six months pay as post-dis-
charge gratuity from his country
Incidentally. all Canadian soldiers ap-
pear TO have been getting their pay with
reasonable promptness right along
."Canada's debt" said Sir Harbert,
will be a billion and half, but so ar
ranged that payment will be in ten.
fifteen and twenty years. and SIS per
cent. Of the securities are held by our
own people. We have learned to know
the value of export trade. Already the
surpms Of exports over impc-ts exceeds
the total war expenditures
BLESSINGS which the war has has
tened for our benefit are a union Gov
crnment. combining the best elements OF
the old political parties. and woman sur
,ha,