Daily British Whig (1850), 14 Jul 1915, p. 5

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PAGE SIX CANADIAN IS THE BEST TT FIGHTER IN THE WAR So I American Comespon. dant Says In Article BETTER THAN BRITISH INITIATIVE AND DEVIL IN HIM HE HAS THE When the Canadian Got a Chance He Fought Ulrcles Around Every Oth. er Man In the Field, Hd bert C "The Canadian is the best [feht- ing 'man, in the European war.' That statement is not based upon my unsupported opinion. it 1s a composite of the statements of Ger- man and French and English officers The case might be built up as fol lows: "We said at the beginning of the war that the 'old English, were the best soldiers we mel." said German officers to me. "Then the 'new Eng lish' came on They are better than the old English." "The Canadians are the best fight- ing men in the English army." said French officers who have had a chance to watch them in action "They are stubborm, devilish, man- killing fighters. They hold a trench as' well as the English do, they are far superior in individual rifle fire, and they go forward as well as the French." "Very fine men," English officers have said. "They have no superiors in the British forces." For 11 months I have.been asking questions along this line. 1 wanted tordiscover whether the German, offi- cer. would be fair and- generous ® his opponent, I found that he was. He was always willing to give the highest praise to the fellow in the other trench, This statement may be modified in just one respect. Ger- mans generally hold that the Cossack is only fit for hanging: But then they insist that the Cossack isn't Kk soldier. They say he is only dah- | gerous against women and old men. ------ "OW" and "New" English Troops. | By "You, cannot d¥g the old English | out of a-trench," said the Germans, | with perfect unanimity. "You may y | take the trench, but the old English- are in it--dead. They do not charge | as well as the French, but on the defensive they are marvelous." | Sometimes I asked If the 'old | English'--by which the men of Eng- | land's small professional army, | mostly dead, is meant--were better than the German soldiers. The Ba- | varians always sald they were not as good as the Bavarians, but superior to the Prussians. The "Prussians have a shuflar Hking for the Bavar- fans. They said the old English were not so good as the Prussians-- "but much better than the Lavar- laps." © Ther the first Might of "new Eng-| Hsh'--the recruits enlisted imniedia- | tely after 'Mons---come on, The Ger- | mans sneeredt at them. They did not' stand fire &t all well, they said, they did not go forward well, and they were copiously 'drunken, At the time the Germans thought this another proof of the English decad- ence upon which they harped. Later they modified this opinion. i. first of the 'new English,' said they, "were slum recruits trom Whitechapel and Edinburgh and Glasgow. They enlisted because they were out of a job or because they thought it a lark to join the army, or because they were drunk. They had no stamina and little cout- age." Later on the second flight of "new English" came to the colors. These were the men who had held back at first, because they did not think they were needed. Later they volunteered because of conviction. It was no| lark to them. They were not of the | professional soldier class. It was these men that the Germans said were better than the 'old English." They are the best soldiers in the world. It was at Neuve Chapelle that the "new English" earned this praise fron their foes. Later I learned that there were Canadians in that fight at Neuve Chapelle. Unfortu- nately IT did not know it at the time, and could not ask an estimate of Ca- nadian fighting quality from the Teu- | tons. That estimate was gained af-| ter. I went to France, by which time | the Canadians had held the line against the gas at Ypres, and in al score of other actions the very names | of which are not kndwn to the pub- lic, but which were more murderous than any land fighting the world has ever known since Javagr was ram- med in a gun. he French gave them this praise. Canadiané" Better Than British. "Better than the British," they sald. "The English soldier is a mild chap. Brave as any man can be, but deficient iw Witiative and short of "devil." 'The Canadian has both. Along with his qualities as a Savage fighter he has caution--or rather an instinctive recognition of the thing fo do and the time to do it. A regi- ment of Canadians will hold a trench as well as any British regiment. The nadians will make more gains and a slighter loss than the English organizatio have, start oft € "savvy." " | danger { come an officer in the German army. { It is impracticable in the English ar- | his best with the bayonet. | ran away one day without the loss of | fight in this war in which the num- t British, 9 Russian, 3 ough tu get an officer by the elbow and say "Bill." There is a stand- ard story of the entries at the early | camps in France A soldier would | be discovered tramping past the post. "Who goes there?" the would demand. "Aw," the soldier would answer, | without slackening his pace, "go to] thunder, you fathead," To which the sentry would reply, formally: | "Pass, Canadian." But when the Canadian got a chance to fight 'he fought. circles around e very other man in the field. | This isn't just a toot of the Ameri- | { can, Hora Americans are. regarded | by all Europeans as low, bragging, | disagreeable fellows--the Europeans! naturally preferring to do all the bragging themselves. It 18 a fact that is admitted by those who have come in conduct with the men from up northy sentry } Forced To Recognize Canadians. "He insisted upon belong cohsider- ed 4s on a different plane from our] soldiers," said an English officer. "He came over here to fight when he didn't have to----when he was in no ~and he wants that fact re cognized At first I disliked him Now I'd rather have a body of Cana- dians at my back than _ any. other men on earth." The French soldier wonderfally. He is democratic, as are the Canadians, and as the Eng- lish and Germans are not. The pri- vate soldier who can win stripes is adored by his comrades. It is al- most impossible for a private to be- my. His caste-bound comrades would not respeet him. The discl- pline in the Frénch army is much like it is in the Canadian regiments strict enough in essentials, but not iron bound. The Frenchman has plenty of initiative, too, and he is at Like the Canadian, he is a "killing" fighter It wasn't that way at the beginning of the war. There is no longer any disguise of the fact that in the early days some of the French regiments broke badly Joffre stopped that. One regiment man. The next day they led the charge. Behind them was an army corps. with bayonets fixed, "Choose where you'll die," Joffre said to them sternly. He pointed first at the army corps behind and then at the Germans in front, "'Die here," said he 'or there." That regiment simply swarmed ores the Germans. The Twenteth f the Line, I think it was. 'They oA. been one of the star regiments ever since, Joffre broke the runaway habit in the whole army by similar methods. It is important to under- stand however, that these men did not run hecause of cowardice. They were merely ill disciplined. This was especially the case with the men from the south of France. In the southern regiments discipline hardly existed. As soon as discipline was established, panic ceased. The Austrians have fought well enough, but have been led with a marvellous ack of intelligence. Now the Germans have got rid of what they call the "cafe generals," and the Austrians are fighting better. The Russlan'oificérs are ignovant of their duties. The officers that were real- ly worth' while~-those that belonged to the first line---were disposed of early in the war. 1 think it was in February that it was officially admit- ted that 75,000 Russiati officers were off the rolls by death, wounds, dis- ease or capture. Their places were supplied by men who have the very slightest training,' while the hon- commissioned officers--the very backbone of the English army--in the Russfan army is stupidity itself. The Russian private is good. He is patient, inured to hardships, an excellent man on the march, almost stupidly brave, 'will flourish on' the poorest food, and can "dig in" like @ mole. It is to be doubted if he is inspired by any feeling of patriotism -~--he 'is too brytishly ignorant to know the meaning of the term----but this is atomed for by a personal de- votion to his officers when he is given the chance, The Germans, who should know, say he has few super- lors if he were well led. The Cos- sack is of tremendous value in over- awing a civilian population, or in dés troying an enemy's country, It is to be doubted if he has won a single bers were anything like even. Ido not mean that he is by nature a cow- ard. Merely that he is by nature apd training a marsuder only. Of them al---for fighting ability and self-respect and perfect game-- ness--the top man is the Canadian. He's weak only in one place. He isn't good at touching his hat. ---------- GERMAN WAR OFFICE EEPORTS Rogarding Enemy Ships Sunk Andlfe Defeat of French, (Special to the Whi Berlin, July 14.--During June 42 enenty merchant ships, including 29 'French' 1 Belgian, were sunk by German sub- marines, besides 3 kumber of small fishing boats. is represented a total of 125 L000 tons, - German troops g ed French sitions a is fighting| ¢ | life. > -------- pyr | Sir John Is Sandon' Most Popular Magistrate, Scrupulous fairness and kindness | are the prevailing characteristics of | John Dickinson, who has Been hief Metropelitan Police Magistrate a Bow Street since 1913, and who. is | hearing the premiminary stages of the '"Bridés in Bath" case, as it has been térmed. Sir John has always been a hu- mane judge. He was 'ope of the strongest advocates of the children's court, and a little scene which took place on one occasion at Old Street Children's Court illustrates the great kindliness of his disposition. A' little girl of eight was brought be- | fore him 'charged with begging. '""Are you not very naughty?" Sir | John said to her. "No!" was the indignant reply. "But you are. And if you are not good you will be sent away from | your father." "l want to go with daddy now." "Will you be good?" "Yes. Please may I daddy "Well, go." "Oh," said good now. I you." "Would you?" replied the magis- trate, hesitating a moment, = "Well, you may, because you are' going to be a good little girl." « w-Fhe little girl, who was standing close to the magistrate, kissed him gravely on the cheek, then she took her fatherés hand and led him out of the court, waving farewell as she reached the door. Sir John has been a Metropolitan magistrate since 1890, and for twenty-three years was attached to the Thames Police Court, where he acquired a knowledge of Yiddish that was often of great service. Peo- ple of almost every nationality have been brought before him; for the dis- trict is one of great poverty, ahd the tale of violent crimes which have been associated with it is notorious. At the same time, however, Sir John believes, with enthusiasm, in the great reforming influence of the Probation of Offenders Act. His interest in the welfare of the rising generation is illustrated by his remarks concerning the value of such organizations as boys'. brigades and boys' clubs in supplying healthy discipline to youth. "A deal of ¢rime,'"" he once said, "is due to an utter lack of discipline in English So many of our youths grow into slouching men with slouching minds." go with this time I think you may the child, should like "you are to kiss Staggering the Super, In the ,art of grandiloquent cir- cumlocution, few could give points to the old actor-manager, John Cole- man. To an open-mouthed super he once sald, "My dear sir, will you endeavor to demonslraté to the denizens of the auditorium 'that you are playing a character unlike any- thing of the present day? And when you ascend the raking piece and leave the stage, be good enough to emit a greasy laugh of truculent de- lance," To an equafly astonished waiter at a -'Lyeeum Fun supper he sald, "Would it be infra dig. for me to ask for a Hitle more fish? Heaven knows I am no gourmand, but really these infinitesimal portions are posi- tively annoying." "He loved," says Mr. J. H. Barnes, in "Forty Years on the Stage," to address an audience at all times, and would stop in a soliloquy to do so if there was a chance. Once in Lin- coln, in playing Claude Melnotte, he eame to the point some Mnes before the end: '" "That voice! "John Coleman: b-a-p-d!' "A man walkéd out of the rather empty pit, with heavy boots resound- ing. John advanced to the foot- Hghts, and said, 'My dear sir, this play has not yet concluded.' "The man looked round, and made reply, 'No, I dare say not, John; but I've seen as much as I want," and pursued his way to the door, not in the least nofiplussed." A Hanging Judge. According to W. Forbes Gray, in "Some Old Scots Judges," the un- enviable reputation of being the most execrated judge im the annals of jurisprudence belongs to Lord Braxfield. Cockburn has dubbed him "the Jeffreys of Scotland," and fer- tainly Braxfield's coarseness in court was a disgrace to the profes- sion. On one occasion he said to an eloquent culprit at the bar: "Ye're a very clever chiel, man, but ye wad be nane the waur o* a bangin'. » When Muir, the political reform- er, was being tried, Braxfield, part- ing with the last vestige of judicial honor, whispered to the father of Francis Horner (one of the Edin- burgh reviewers) as he entered the Jury box, "Come awa', Maister Hor- ner, come awa', and, help us to hang ane o' thae seoundre * A Word of Advice. When the + John 'McNeill was holding reviv. srvicen x a young fel- low, t inking to perplex him, sent up following esting a public reps" "Dear' r. MeNeill are, jee go enlighten Ba bote, an , am young man it is this: Don't Rael rar Maurin =Thou art "Phy 9 h-u-8- paused, itary Surin Jae to confer the Irom Cross Suse) on schoolmasters WEDNESDAY, JULY 14, 1915. sree RTE POE COT 4 MAN WHO PICKED A FMGHT HAD TO PAY A FINE. Owners of Motor Cars and Motor. cycles Must Observe the Law or They Will Be Robbed of Gasoline Money. When William Simon appeared be- fore the Magistrate on Tuesday, charged with being drunk and fight. ing on the street, he said he did not want to fight, and had no intention of fighting, Samuel Smith claimed that Simen challenged him to a duel, but that he too was not in the fight- ing game, so declined. However, be did admit giving Simon a couple of 'love taps," but he declared that it was but in self-defence, wu The Court adjourned the case for a day, in order that he might have time to see who was to blame in the matter, Wednésday morning the Magistrate said that he had found that Simon was to blame, s0 he fined him $5 and costs and discharged Smith. Myles Knight, who is close on to his threescore years and: ten, had a "big night" last night. In fact, he was not over the effects of his spree when he came befere the Magistrate, and as the charge was read to him he muttere¢: "No, I -- was -- not -- drunk." "Still drunk, I see,' remarked the Magistrate. "FlIl remand you for another day." Owners of motor ears and motor- cycles must observe the law if they do not want to be robbed of gasoline money, 'One man frankly admitted that he ran his motorcycle one night without lights, and the Magistrate touched him up for $5 and costs. THE WHIG'S JUMBLE. -- A General Review of Country District and Local News. - The motor launch Spring Maid was at the Yacht Club wharf on Tuesday with a party from Picton. Dr. John J. Davis, 310 East Broad- way, New York, a former Kingston- ian, is thanked for copies of New York papers. The three sons of John Tfacdy, a farmer living near Eganville, were drowned while bathing in the Bonne- chenre River. They were, Simon, aged 9; Sam, aged, 12; Albert, aged 117. "Shaving Cream' at Gibson's. On the occasion of the departure of Rev. Mr. Limbert from Oakwood to his new charge at Bloomfield, he was the recipient of a gold headed cane, suitably engraved, and a seal 'eather club bag. "Grape Juice" at Gibson's, The.e is good reason for believing that the Manitoba general provincial elections will be held the first week in. August, and an announcement to that effect setting a definite 4 is expected any moment. TO UNITE AGAINST SALOON. Christian Endeavorers Pass Rebolu- ) tions At Final Session, Chicago, July 14.-<~Resolutions de- manding that all' church. workers unite to procure a saloonless Unit- ed States of America, and also peace in Europe were adopted by the world's Christian Endeavor conven- tion at its final session. Represen- tatives of fourteen foreign countries, including delegates from five of the warring world powers, expounded Christianity and world peace from the same platform. "Jerusalem" was sung last even- ing by a chorus of more than one thousand voices, memorial services Ny deceased members of the Board of Trustees and field workers, and the. closing message by Daniel A. Poling, acting president, completed the 1915 convention. New York city was awarded the 1917 convention and Winnipeg the , 1919 convention. HAS NOT DECIDED What Policy To Take Regarding Ger- man Note, (Special to the Whig,) Washington, July 14.--The first official announcement of the immedi ate plans of President Wilson for dealing with the situation that has arisen between Germany and the United States came last' night in a telegram from Cornish, No H., to Sec- retary Tumulty, stating that the President would return to Washing: ton soon to lay the entire subject be- fore his Cabinet. It indicated that the President had not yet decided as' Died In General Hospital At the Genéral Hospital on Tues- day afternoon, the death occurred of Mrs. George F. Robertson, who had been brought here from Gan- anoque to undergo treatment. De- were spent in Gananoque. In reli- ian. She leaves besides her hus- band, who was in Muskoka at the time of her death, two sons. The Pfemains have been placed in charge of R. J. Reid, undertaker, and are awaiting the arrival of Mr. Rebert- son, before hang transferred for burial. AINGSTONIAN WOU NDED. Pte. Patrick Rubery Enlisted With a Western Regiment. Miss Mary Rubery, King street, has received a telegram from the Adjutant-General at Ottawa inform- ing her that her brother, Pte. Pat- rick Rubery, had been: wounded at the front. He enlisted with a west ern regiment, and -had net been at his home here for a nuinber of years. At the time he was wounded, he was attached to the 8th Battalion, but was formerly with the 32nd Battal- fon. He was a son of the late Pat- rick Rubery, of this city, and was twenty-seven years of dge. His sis- ter received a lettér from him ffom Shornclife Camp the forepart of June and in which he stated that he was leaving for Fran KNOW HOW TO FIGHT" Nurse Tells of Fine Qualities French Soldiers. New York July 14.--Mme. Mer- cedes Schmidt, a French nurse, ar- rived on the Rochambeau of the French line from Bordeaux. "The French know how To fight," she said proudly, "and they are not afraid to die. The love of country is so strong they care nothing for loss of limbs or life. One private was brought into my ward to have his leg amputated. -He said to the surgeon: 'Doctor, with my leg gone, I weigh much less. I wanted to join the Aviation Corps, but I was too heayy. Now I can go up in the aeroplanes and drop bombs on the Germans." VAN DYKE TO AMERICANS, of Presented as Token of Appreciation For Country's Services. Toledo, O., July 14.--As a token of appreciation for what the people of the United States have done for Belgium, Charles Leon Cardon, ar- tist and collector of Drussels, has présented to the people of this ¢oun- try the most celebrated painting in his collection. It is Van Dyeck's sketeh for his picture, "Saint Martin Partageant Son Manteau," according tr.information just received from Brand Whitlock, American Minister to Belgium, by Marshall Sheppey of Toledo. Blue Cross Benefit Concert The Humane Society will" hold in the City Hall a benefit for the Blue Cross. This is in response to the request made by Col. Ross to raise enough money to buy a Horse am- bulance to be used at the front to save Canadaian horses. Special ar- rangements have been made with the National Music Bureau,New York $0 that the folowing well known New York artists will bé heard in a $2.00 LCarnegie Hall programme for 50e¢: Cecelia Basey, lyric soprano; Eliza- beth Basey, premier violinist and Wing Tabor Westmore, the distin- guished character actor and humor- ist. William Cuthbertson, for many years representative of the Canadian Express Company, died on Tuesday at Liverpool. "Shaving Cream' at Gibson's. Psychology teased. was born in England thirty-| eight years ago and some few years | gion the deceased was a Preshyter-| One. mental 'law ideas." best" known the of the Processes assoelation of is of Seeing something makes vou think of some- thing else. The retailer takes "ad- vantage of this law when he makes window dis- plays of national pro- ducts at the time they are advertised in this. news- paper. People set the adver: tisement, 'and later as they pass by see the goods in the retailer's window. Whether they buy or not the public forms a mental impression. People standardize that store in their minds as fax, that keeps interesting KINGSTON THE CITY OF NOW" ole Goon. Go Solvers ify and 3 choals, i oc bo 3 Feu re asort=-- ng Grounds, rence ver ca & BSE 1 er Foyt 00 stars i 3 Wilas Oto Front 45 Fleres of, acrifl Sark, lest- Place in (dna cellent-Sites for ¢ Ciclories. 2 Heal all rood Gist 'CALL UP KINGST Keep in mind the "Community Build- er" cartoons and articles which appear each Saturday. to the policy of the Government. All in the Sixties. Lord Kitchener was sixty-five this June, Curiously enough, nearly all the outstanding men im this «great war are somewhere about the six- ties. Sir lan Hamilton, who has been appointed Commander of the Dardanelles Expeditionary Land Force, is sixty-two years old; Gen- eral Joffre is sixty-three; ' General French, sixty-two; the Grand Puke Nicholas, fifty.nine; Genera] 'Smith Dorrien, fifty-six; and General Boug- las Haig, fifty-three. All these men are remarkably slim }| and upright for their yeaws. . In- deed, the war seems to be a 'wonder | ful anti-fat preparation, and Has had a general thinning effect on many ures, particularly amoag the upper | and wealthier classes. Hard work, simple living, worry, and anxiety are leaving their mark, Send the Bums To War. Hamilton, July 14.--Seme wi comments were made at the LL i i bailsh A ------------ EVERY ABLE BODIED CANADIAN HAS A SACRED DUTY TO PER- FORM AT THIS HOUR. IT IS TO ENLIST FOR OVERSEAS' SERVICE . Kitchener Calls f for Men, and { ° | What : are vou. If Yoo fii Barrack cause of common ty to do about it? on YOUR DECISION rests the future , Gaaada and the | to Serve and Save Your Wang and Country | Bagot Streets, or in OAMP to 0. C. 59th Battalion - mee

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