Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-17
British Again Make Strong
Bid for Amalgamation
of U. S. Army Through
Efforts of Reading.
CANADIANS PRAISED
ON RECORD ABROAD
Concession to Dispatching
Infantrymen Ahead Of
Other Branches Found
to Be Embarrassing.
C" APTER XXXVII.

Vt was always stimulating to ones
morale to visit the headquarters of
the Canadians. where one soon
i caught the fine spirit Of that
superb body
/ made such a visit about this time,
in the Spring of 1918, and talked with
their corps commander. Lieut.. Gen. Sir
Arthur CurTie; his chief of staff, Maj
Gen. Weber: his chief of engineers, Maj.
Gen. Lindsay, and others, and had tea
with them.
The alertness and confidence OF these
neighbors of ours and the excellent
record they had made and were still
making gave us as much gratiftcation
as though they had been our own.
remember this visit with much pleasure,
and recall the prediction of the Cana
dams that Americans would soon play
an important part in the war.
Gen. Currie deplored the fact that
the British had so easily given up Pas
Glendale Ridge. which the year before
he had been told must be taken at all
cost. and for which the Canadians
made the tremendous sacrifice of $4,000
casualties.
Showed British Confidence.
His divisions were then holding 5000
wards each or little over five miles OF
]
division held by Coughs army and A.
200 yards by Byng's division in March
Currie considered that his extension
would be excessive in the face OF de-
termined and powerful offensive using
shock tactics. but it showed the CONN.,
dence the British commander in CHIEF
had in them.
At the invitation of Sir Douglas Haig
British commander in chief, l went TO
20 to discuss the training OF our troops
with the British and study operations
/ in progress.
we were always made welcome at
British headquarters. 1t SO happened
that on the day of our arrival LORD
Derby. who had just been relieved as
minister of war by Lord Miner, was
there en- route to Paris as British Am
bassador. During the dinner the con-
versation ran along freely. as though
we were members of the official family.
At length Lord Derby and Sir Douglas
drifted to the subject of British polltl-
clans.
II would betray no confidence to say
that there was considerable criticism oil
some who held prominent places. Inc
coalition government came in for It's
share because of its attitude toward the
military high command. Lord DERBY
was we'll known to be a warm supporter
of the British commander in chief. and
from what / knew of the relations be-
tween the civil and the military au-
thorities of Great Britain 1t Is fair to
presume that this might have been the
reason he relinQuished his post as MIN
| lister for war.
Inspected 18th Division.
He asked why all parties were not
represented in our cabinet. but DID not
undertake to explain, although mao
aIso often asked myself the same ques-
ton 1t need hardly be recalled tnat
so far as the Americans were concerned
Lord Derby had always been most hep
full.
took advantage of the opportunity
while on the British front TO visit the
Nordaoues area to inspect the advance
elements CT the 77th Division, one OF
the divisions selected for training with
the British. We took luncheon Win