Evening star., 1942-01-28
Tells Cunudu's Part
In War Effort
JournoIist Expresses Belief
1hut Dominion Record
Is Not Unworthy
BIZ w. r. Giuens.

By w. r. Gipens.
(Nr. Owens for 90 years was the owner
and editor Of the kingston. Ontario, Daily
RIsi.tss s.s PRESIDENT Of the
Now that the United States Is an
active participant in the war. 1t is but
natural that her people, unitedly sup
porting the magnificent efforts Of their
Government, should turn toward their
next-door neighbor Canada, the largest
of the British Dominions, to learn ex-
actly what the Canadian Dominion has
done in the more than two years since
she entered the war of her own volition-
for it Is to be remembered that Canada
| Is q sovereign, independent nation and
not under the control of Great Britain,
rs some people still mistakingly suppose.
Accordingly, to satisfy this quite nat
ural desire for information. some facts
and figures herewith are presented re-
lating to Canada's war efforts which may
prove interesting. II, heretofore. little
information along these lines has been
forthcoming the explanation is simple
one. Briefly it is that, second only to
Canada's resolve to help win the war is
her desire to strengthen and preserve the
ties of friendship, growing stronger and
stronger each new day, that bind to-
gether the people of the United States
and Canada. To this end her states
men, her newspapers and her people
adopted self-imposed censorship, firmly
resolved that nothing savoring or sug-
gestive Of propaganda likely to influence
or create war sentiment should 60 out;
firmly resolved, also, that under no cir
cumstances should We interfere In any
way, by suggestion or otherwise, in the
weighty issues with which the President
and the Congress of the United States
were wrestling These, we appreciated,
were problems that the American people
themselves must resolve. For Canada to
have acted otherwise would have been
at once impertinent and presumptuous.
And 50, hoping that what war efforts
have been put forth by Canada may
not seem unworthy Of a nation OF less
than twelve million people, few Of these
accomplishments are now set forth In
brief paragraphs as follows:
Compulsory military service was put
into effect in Canada in June, 1910, to
include all men aged 10 to As, who were
single, widowers or divorced at the time
of national registration. At present the
Dominion Is calling up the 21-24 age
group.
Whether compulsory overseas service
will be put in force by conscription will
depend on the result of a plebiscite to be
submitted shortly to the people of Can
ada. on recommendation Of Prime Min
lister Mackenzie King who was elected
two years ago on no conscription"
platform.
More than 800 900 men, of whom ap-
proximately 10000 are Americans, volun-
tarily have enlisted in Canadas forces
for overseas service anywhere, these
forces being made up as follows: Army.
$40 900; air force. 90, 900, and navy. $1,000.
II our population were as great as the
United States and the percentage OF en-
listment to population held constant this
would be equivalent to an overseas force
Of 1000. 900.
In addition. more than 10000 others
in Canada have enlisted for home defense
and to guard our two coasts.
At present we have more than $50 900
men overseas. all thoroughly trained and
equipped and all transported with the
loss of only few lives.
The Canadian Army in England today
Is reputed to be the most heavily mech
anized army in the world
Immediately after the fall of France
and the evacuation Of Dunkerque this
army was the sole organized and equipped
fighting force in the United Kingdom
standing between Hitler and the con-
quest Of Britain, If he had then at
tempted an invasion.
In the past year Canada spent for
war purposes alone over 40 per cent OF
her entire national income and in 1912
she will spend so per cent OF her ma
tional income for war purposes.
We are now training in Canada under
the British Commonwealth Air Training
Plan more than IS 600 airmen.
Already $4,000 trained airmen have
gone overseas from Canada and of these
more than 1000 have lost their lives, the
majority in defense Of England. BY
early spring it is expected that $4,000
more airmen will be on their way over.
Every State in the American Union
is represented among the volunteers who
have Joined the Royal Canadian Air
Force and these Americans are recog-
nized as among the most eficient and
daring flyers in the service.
Australians, New Zealanders and Brit
ish pilots (the latter especially for night
flying are also being trained in Canada
and hundreds have completed their
training and are now in active service.
Since the beginning of the war 5000
ships have sailed in convoy from Cana
dian shores carrying more than 50,-
10000 tons of food and war materials,
this not including troop transport ships.
Our shipbuilding yards are working
day and night, turning out destroyers,
corvettes and merchant ships.
We are happily wholly free from strikes
and labor trouble and have been for
months.
without friction of any kind, wages
and prices have been stabilized, with
proviso-in order to adjust wages to war
time price levels-for a cost Of living
bonus after February IS. 1912. to all
employees except those above the rank
of foreman.