Part 25 (2/2)
”Sketch a picture in your mind's eye of all that those sums, if properly spent, could effect for the nations who now waste them on heavy guns, rifles, dreadnaughts, fortresses and barracks. If this money were laid out on improving the material lot of the people, in housing them hygienically, in procuring for them healthier air, medical aid and needful periodical rest, they would live longer and work to better purpose, and enjoy some of the happiness or contentment which at present is the prerogative of the few.
”Again, all the best brain work of the most eminent men is focused on efforts to create new lethal weapons, or to make the old ones more deadly. For one of the arts in which cultured nations have made most progress is warfare. The n.o.blest efforts of the greatest thinkers are wasted on inventions to destroy human life.
”When I call to mind the gold and the work thus dissipated in smoke and sound and compare that picture with this other villagers with drawn, sallow faces, men and women and dimly conscious children peris.h.i.+ng slowly and painfully of hunger I begin to ask myself whether human culture and the white man who personifies it are not wending toward the abyss.”
In ”War and Waste” Dr. David Starr Jordan quotes the table of Richet to show the cost of a general European war.
Per day the French statistician figures the war's cost thus:
Feed of men ........................................ $12,600,000 Feed of horses ...................................... 1,000,000 Pay (European rates) ................................ 4,250,000 Pay of workmen in a.r.s.enals and ports ................ 1,000.000 Transportation (sixty miles, ten days) .............. 2,100,000 Transportation of provisions ........................ 4,200,000 Munitions Infantry, ten cartridges a day ................. 4,200,000 Artillery, ten shots per day ................... 1,200,000 Marine, two shots per day ...................... 400,000 Equipment ........................................... 4,200,000 Ambulances, 500,000 wounded or ill ($1 per day) ..... 500,000 Armature ............................................ 500,000 Reduction of imports ................................ 5,000,000 Help to the poor (20 cents per day to one in ten) ... 6,800,000 Destruction of towns, etc ........................... 2,000,000
TOTAL PER DAY ................. $49,950,000
Chapter XX. CANADA'S PART IN THE WORLD WAR
New Relations Toward the Empire - Military Preparations - The Great camp at Valcartier - The Canadian Expeditionary Force - Political Effect of Canada's Action on Future of the Dominion
The sailing of the First Canadian Contingent on October 2, 1914, for England, en route to the theater of war, marked a noteworthy epoch in Canadian history. For the first time the Dominion took her place, not as a British colony, but as a component part of the British Empire. This position was established by the voluntary offer of expeditionary troops to be raised, equipped, and paid by Canada for the defense of the British empire.
For many years a movement had been on foot to bring about this att.i.tude on the part of the Dominion by His Majesty's government.
No such action was taken by the Dominion in the South African War, though a Canadian regiment was raised for the guarding of Halifax so that the regiment of British soldiers doing garrison duty there might be released for service at the front, and all other troops who left Canada went simply as volunteers to join the British army, though raised by the Dominion government.
When the situation in South Africa reached a critical stage and there were fears of German interference on behalf of the Boers it became clear that the British government strongly desired a helping hand from Canada for political reasons. It seemed a good time to show a solid front and a united Empire. Later, on October 3d, there came a request for 500 men from the British Colonial Secretary. No immediate action was taken on this, but on October 13th, the government pa.s.sed an Order-in-Council for the raising of 1,000 volunteers and providing for their equipment and transportation. But these men were really British volunteers, not Canadian troops, as once at the front they became British soldiers under British pay. This contingent was known as a ”Special Service Battalion of the Royal Canadian Regiment of Infantry,” and did not belong in any sense to the organized troops of the Dominion, either regular or militia, although they approached more nearly to that status than in any previous case of a.s.sistance given by the Dominion to the Empire.
In the Indian Mutiny in 1857 a regiment was raised in Canada by the British government known as the 100th Prince of Wales Royal Canadian Regiment” and in the Empire's other wars, such as the Crimean and the Soudanese, there were always Canadian volunteers in the British forces.
MILITARY PREPARATIONS
The declaration of war by Great Britain on Germany made on the night of August 4, 1914, found the people of the Dominion not wholly unprepared for the situation. For some time ways of helping the mother country had been the chief topic both in government circles and among the people at large. This is best instanced by the following telegram sent by His Royal Highness, the governor-General, to the Secretary of State for the colonies, Rt. Hon. Lewis Harcourt.
”Ottawa, August 1, 1914
In view of the impending danger of war involving the Empire my advisers are anxiously considering the most effective means of rendering every possible aid, and will welcome any suggestions and advice which Imperial naval and military authorities may deem it expedient to offer. They are confident that a considerable force would be available for service abroad, as under section sixty-nine of Canadian Militia Act the active militia can only be placed on active service beyond Canada for the defense thereof.
It has been suggested that regiments might enlist as Imperial troops for a stated period, Canadian Government undertaking to pay all necessary financial provisions for their equipment, pay and maintenance. This proposal has not yet been maturely considered here and my advisers would be glad to have views of Imperial Government thereon. Arthur”
This offer from Canada preceded similar offers from Australia, India, South Africa and Egypt.
The response to this came in the following cable from His Majesty.
”London, August 4, 1914
Please communicate to your ministers following message from His Majesty the king and publish:
'I desire to express to my people of the Overseas Dominions with what appreciation and pride I have received the messages from their respective governments during the last few days. These spontaneous a.s.surances of their fullest support recalled to me the generous self-sacrificing help given by them in the past to the Mother country. I shall be strengthened in the discharge of the great responsibilities which rest upon me by the confident belief that in this time of trial my Empire will stand united, calm, resolute, and trusting in G.o.d. George R.I. Harcourt”
Mr. Harcourt also cabled advising that although there was not immediately need for an expeditionary force it would be advisable to take all legislative and other steps necessary to the providing of such a force in case it should be required later.
The declaration of the war by Great Britain was officially recognized in Canada on August 5th, in a message from the Governor-General, beginning:
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