a 4 HIVE NOT the food supplies, but it was over- tributed fairly. ery! i 'wants. t. : mqettaiet Ye eeeemees | the ene meee MEALS SERVED DAILY -- ~~ TO BRITISH IN FRONT LINES Enemy Rations Almost Wholly of Tinned Goods--German Di- visions Forty Days in Trenches Without Relief. A despatch from the British Army mud and the st ge of the pn ae: } s, so that all the carrying Of sup- front in France says: 'The problems of | oe Se ie ee transport have been solved satisfac- P have to take place over the open, torily, and now attention is being| yithout cover of any kind. That is largely devoted to ameliorating the|why the British guns continue - to iron hard condition of the British; hurl shells back of the German lines troops in the Winter fields and in the fog and rain. Often the shells trenches. Heavy sheepskin and lea-| or bombs from the British side throw ther coats and jackets have been issu- up fountains of water high in the ed to the men, and warm and dry rest | air from the German trenches. There billets provided for those in the sup-!are no floor boards or other trench port reserve positions. Best of all,|comforts available for the Germans however, Tommy in the front line gets | owing to the unceasing fire of the five hot meals daily. There is break-/ British artillery. ; fast at 7, dinner at 12, tea at 5, and| Thus far this, Winter German pris- soup or stew at 9 and again at 2) oners say their troops in the west o'clock in the morning. have not been supplied with any From reports received from Ger-| sheepskin, leather or fur coats. They man prisoners and observations made | have received only woollen vests, during raids the British have discov-| body bands and mittens. Normally, ered that conditions on the German prisoners say, they are supposed to front are very different. Along most NEW FRENCH CEIEF (Markets of the World YS HALE ENGLISH) smame Toronto, Dec. 19. -- Manitoba wheat-- New No..1. Northern, $1.873; No. 2, do., 1.844; No, 3, do., $1,794; No. 4 wheat, 6a: track, Bay ports. Old crop: trad- ing 4c above' new 'crop: ft Manitoba oats--No..2.C.W., 624¢; No. 3, do., 59%c; extra No. 1 feed, 594c; No. 1 feed, 58c, track, Bay ports.. American corn, No. 3 yellow, new, $1.024, December shipment subject toy embargo. 4 snp Ontario oats--No. 2 white, 60 to 62c, nominal; No, 3, do. 59 to 6ic, nominal, according to freights outside. = Ontario .wheat--New No. 2 Winter, per car lot, $1.63 to $1.65; No. 3. do., $4.61 to $1.63, according to freights outside. Peas--No. 2, $2.30, according freights outside. ¢ : Barley -- Malting, $1.18 to $2.20, ac- cording to freights outside. : Buckwheat--$1.25, nominal, according to freights outside. Rye--No. .2,. $1.36 to $1.38, according to freights outside. © First patents, in jute Gen. Joffre's Successor Related Through Mother to British Military Family. / A despatch from Paris says: | The new Cabinet arouses but . moderate enthusiasm in the press. The papers point out that seven Ministers and | two Under-Secretaries belong to the | preceding administration so that the change is not so radical as might be expected. At the same time the ap- pearance of M. Claveille and Loucheur as technical experts is welcomed. s ont The most popular features of the pane ae an cen arts La raeetine bakes reorganization are the appointments ers', do., $9.20,,Teronto.- aes of General Hubert Lyautey, as Minis- | aces Ce gape eg eer a a ter of War, aand General Nivelle as, ronto, prompt shipment: : successor to Joffre. as commander-in- | Millfeed-- Car "lots aieree Mon chief of the western front. All the | ton, 33° hue do., $37; | middlings, newspapers print photographs of Gen- | pena ne Pores heres good feed eral Nivelle under the title of "One of * Hay--No. i per ton, $12.50 to $13.50; the War's Revelations." Long plow Ni, 40-810 Stee a io graphies are also published recalling |track Toronto, | . pe the general's brilliant stroke in re-| rahe pacit cwe ae: capturing Forts Douaumont and Vaux . ete EY RBS on the Verdun front. The papers also creamery prints, 48 to 48¢; solids, 44 to say that the fact that General Nivelle 44ac. to be in the trenches not more than of the new lines formed by the Bat-|from 14 to 18 days, but some divi- tle of the Somme the German front! sions lately have remained there 40 trenches are merely a broken stretch} days and over without relief. The ra- of linked-up shellholes, with no deep! tions consist almost wholly of tinned dugouts and only a few improvised hiding holes, where two or three men can take cover from the shrapnel. British repotts from the Somme section say the German communica- tion trenches are impassable from rye bread, coffee and mineral waters. Recently a daily ration of brandy has been issued to the men in the front line. For rest the men often are crowded into damp cellars. WAR COST $28,000,000 ADAY MUNITIONS AND LOANS INCREASE Actual Expenditure Has Exceeded Estimate, Bonar Law States-- Mentions Allied Peace Terms. A despatch from London says :--)the war was £3,852,000,000, including Andrew Bonar Law, Chancellor of the | #32,000,000 for extra administration aaa er . op, expenses, Exchequer, announced in the House of | Raférrine tothe peace propossis of Commons on Thursday afternoon that'| the Central Powers, Mr. Bonar Law the daily average expenditure of Great) said: Britain in the war had arisen to £5,-; "In moving the last vote of credit 710,000. He said the actual @yppendi-| Mr. Asquith used the words: 'They ture had exceeded the estimate owing| (the allies) require that there shalt be to the increase in munitions and addi-| adequate security for the future.' Peet tional loans to Great Britain's allies) is still the policy and still the deter- and to her Dominions. mination of his Majesty's Govern- He said that no proposals for peace | ment." ithe had yet been received by the British; Mr. Law said that, assuming the la sa i gg Central i hae rate of expenditure was the same as at e added that the Entente allies re-| present, the vote would carry them un- quired adequate reparation for the | til Feb. 24. The total for the financial past, and adequate security for the future. The Ohancellor of the Exchequer | exceeded by £350,000,000. Loans to al- said: "Financially we cannot hope to lied governments amounted to £400,- go on indefinitely on the present scale, | 000 daily. but we can go on long enough to make | Mr. Law said the Government had sure that it will not be from financial! taken "such actions as it considered causes if we fail to secure victory." necessary" regarding Capt. Blaikie, The Chancellor said the total amonut| who was taken prisoner by the crew of votes of credit since the outbreak of | of a German submarine. FEW ESCAPED FRENCH FIRE FRANCE TO DISCARD ~ ALCOHOLIC DRINKS Government in Favor of Total Suppression of Its Con- sumption. Germans Launch an Attack at Point of Front Nearest Paris. A despatch from Paris says: A Ger- man attack on Lassigny, that part of the front nearest to Paris, was made Monday in great force, says La Lib- erte's correspondent with the French armies, It appears to have been con- certed to coincide with von Bethmann- Hollweg's note, probably with a view to impressing the French by a local | success. "The Germans brought together about 40,000 men from the best di- visions," adds the correspondent, "and concentrated corresponding quantities of artillery. The attack was preceded by an intense bombardment lasting for hours, "The French were not taken by sur- prise, and received _the assaulting waves with a flre4..om their 38-inch guns and machine' juns, tearing the ranks terribly. <A barrier fire thrown | to the rear of the Germans caught the supporting reserves." "The Germans reached the French trenches over a frontage of 300 yards, but an immediate counter-attack en- abled the French to regain the trench-| connection is understood in France es. Only a few survivors of the at- | not to include wines or beer. tacking columns escaped. Most of _--_--_-------- them were killed after stubborn resis- Her Affliction. tenet Niece---Katherine writes me that "The Germans renewed the assault h : rs, er has got the alimony. an hour later without success. The aclie paul Sat se poaich artillery dispersed the afriad it will go hard with her.' Reneres oe eee. See is such a frail, nervous creature. A des' atch from Paris says: Total prohibition throughout France of the consumption of such alcoholic bever- ages as whiskies, brandies | liqueurs has been decided on by the i'Government. This is shown by the text in the Journal Official on Thurs- day of Premier Briand's declaration on Wednesday before the Chamber of Deputies on the subject. The Pre mier sald: "The Government will ask you to give it the faculty of solving by de- /erees all questions of interest in re- gard to the national defences which the laws are too slow to regulate. A particularly grave question which can be"*regulated only in war time, on the solution of which involves the life of the country and its salvation, is the total suppression of the consumption of alcohol." The Premier's remarks were greet- ed with loud applause from many of the benches. Deputy Mayeras inter- jected: "In the army, also?" "Yes, in the entire country," said the Premier. The use of the term alcohol in this Vm She BRITAIN'S FOOD CONTROLLER TAYS DOWN HIS PROGRAMME Will Adjust Supplies so That Everybody Will Have an Equal Chance of Getting a Fair Share. A despatch from London says :-- Baron Devonport, speaking for the first time as Food Controller in the House of Lords on Thursday, said the solution of the food question resolved itself into one of a system of ration- ing. It was not enough to maintain port, "will be to adjust the supplies coming into the country so that every- body will have an equal chance of get- ting a fair share--no more and no less, On account of many people buying up supplies sugar cannot be got at all. A remedy must be found for that. Pos- sibly the only way will be by a system of rationing." ; It was obvious, Baron Devonport added, that a general diminution in the consumption of staple food was neces- sary. At present this diminution could only be brought about by volun- tary abstinence, but if voluntary ab- stinence was not successful it would be necessary to make abstinence compul- sorys ; whelmingly essential that they be dis- The Food Controller said his first duty would be to ascertain the quanti- ty of food stocks available and the stocks visible. There were many un- patriotic people, he said, trying to get hold of supplies in excess of their | meat, sausage, herring, sardines, rice, | | year would be £1,950,000,000. The bud- | | get estimate of the financial year was | and | A A : * | Hegs--No. 1 storage, 40 to 41c; stor- lis half English--his mother having age Selects, 42 to 43c; pew-laid). in car- | belonged to a well known Kentish mili- tong. 60 to. Bbc; out of cattong, €0c. Rae: 'tary family--makes his appointment Gene DATES, 260; twins, 294 to 26ae; across the| triplets, 252 to 26¢. |particularly acceptable Live poultry--Chickens, 15 to 16¢; Channel. | fowl, 14 to 16c; ducks, 13 to 16c; turkeys, Jules Cambon continues in his post | 25 to 28c; geese, Spring, 14 to lode. Dressed poultry--Chickens, 21 to 22c; as General Secretary of the Foreign} Office. fowl, 17 to 19c; ducks, 18 to 20c; squabs, per dozen, $4 to $4.60; turkeys, 30 to 36c; gBeese, Spring, 17 toe 19¢. r i f = THE GERMAN POTATO FAILURE Berlin Paper Says Crop is 30,- 000,600 Tons Short of Last Year. ; "A despatch from Berlin says:--The food plans for the current food year have been badly wrecked by the almost complete failure of the potato crop, of which the figures"are now available. According to The Tageblatt, only 21,- 000,000 tons were harvested this year, against 51,000,000 last year. This might have proved almost disastrous, particularly as the potate-crop was not only quantitatively but also qualita- tively a failure; and"as a result only one-third as many potatoes are avail- able for the current food year as-dur- the one ended last June. ~ New plans have been made by Count- Batocki for Williams-Taylor, the General. Man- pulling through until -next summer. "Ertiers was no misunderstanding om potato ration after January 1 will {pe Preiaes of po Eaten fo Tiny e three-quarters of a pound per capita of the conditions that prevatled in per diem, and potato flour will no the country were purely of a tem- Jonger be an ingredient of the legal porary character, and what was most important was to get ready war bread, rye being used in place of the missing potatoes. for the time when normal condi- ° tions only might exist. _ INSURING THE SOLDIERS. In this connection it was pointed out that all efforts should be cen- tred on the attainment of three ob- jects, viz, Economy, Production and Immigration, but at the same time a note of confidence was struck as Canadian Patriotic Fund Helps to Keep Many Policies Alive. The vast amount of work under- taken by the Canadian Patriotic Fund for the relief and assistance of sol- Canada's position in the great European war---the policy the Do- minion should follow in order to be all the better prepared for post war conditions--the resolve of the coun- try to continue to give, in youth and money, full assistance to the great cause' were among some of the outstanding features of the Ninety-Ninth Annual Meeting of the shareholders of the Bank of Mont- real, held at the head office. The importance of the announce- ments made and their bearing on conditions that the Dominion would most likely have to meet seemed to impart a special significance to the meeting, and the shareholders were quick to give their heartiest sup- port to the suggestions fitmly offered by Sir Vincent Meredith, Bart., President, and Sir Frederick Honey--White clover, 23-lb. tins, 13 to 184c; 5-1b. tins, 13 to 134c; 10-1b., 124 to 18c; 60-lb., 12 to 124¢c; buckwheat, 60-Ib. tins, 9 to 9%c. Comb" honey--extra fine 2. o ILLUSTRATION STATIONS. E a7 ¢ heavy weight, per doz., RU eugee Work Being Done by Dominion Ex- | $2.50 to $2.75; No. 2. $2.25 to $2.40. & y | Sg pera 28 Ab., 10 te: 12; i 7 { tubs, 65 1b., 93 to lic. perimental Farms System. i Potatees--Ontario,- per bag, $2.15; The Department of Agriculture of British Coumbia Rose, per bag, $2 to ae e * a _ $2.16; New Brunswick Delawares, per the Dominion Government is Carry- far $2.96 to $2.30. ing on Illustration work in crop pro-| _ Cabbage--Man., per ton, $50. \ duction and cultural methods with!, Beans -- Imported, hand-picked, per 2 z bush., $6; Janadian, hand-picked, per farmers in the provinces of Quebec, bush., $6.50; Canadian primes, $5.50 to Alberta and Saskatchewan. Farmers, *°: 14mas, per 1b, 10c. é : | owing or operating land favorably; Provisions--Wholegale. situated for the carrying on of such | Smoked meats---Hams, medium, 4 to ¥ = rith the Department. | 25c; do., heavy, 22 to 28c; cooked, to work co eparese with ad D ' " 85c; rolls, 19 to 20c; breakfast bacon, 25 The farmer puts under the direction to 27c; backs, plain, 26 to 27c; boneless, 'of an officer of the Dominion Experi- | 28 to 29c. jmental Farms System, a part of his 'farm having a good wide frontage on | |a well travelled highway, each field; ving th rontage along the ee : Piserecmrs oa "4 = g 1 pound, 164 to 164c. ; Same hignway, so a ec rops anc _ Codking oils---White, tierces, 164c; | cultivation are unavoidably in evidence | 199-1». tins, 16%c; yellow, #c below white. | . are Ree , to the casual traveller and eastily in-| Montreal Markets. ispected by the interested visitor. | than cured. Cured meats--Long clear bacon, 18 to 184e per 1b.; clear beilies, 148 to 184c. Lard--Pure lard, tierces, 204 to 20%c; tubs, 20% to 2ic; pails, 21 to 213c; com- 1 : |. Montreal, Dec. 19.--Corn--American | The Department, for the first year|No. 2 yellow, $1.15. Oats--Canadian Western, No. 2, 6 'No? 34$c; extra iat least, furnishes the seed necessary j shoe : vee No. 1 feed, 684c. | Barley -- Manitoba |to sow such of the fields as it is de-, feed. $1; malting, $1.30 to $1.32. Flour --Manitoba Spring wheat patents, firsts, '$$.60; seconds, $9.10 $8.90; straight roller do., bags, $4.10 to $4, Bbls., $7.05; do., Bran, $32. This, of course, provided t° $48. Mouillie, $ leided to put under crop that year. |In subsequent years the farmer saves ; enough of the best of the crop grown |on these fields to do the necessary | seeding. |the grain produced is satisfactory as to purity and germinative power. All cultural and harvesting opera-/ selected, tions in connection with these fields, ar fete ah i.e., the ploughing, harrowing, etc.,| ~ 2 of the fields and the sowing, harvest- ing and threshing of the grain there- from 'are done by the farmer. All work indicated above is done in exact» ly such ways and at exactly such times as directed by the Illustration Station Division of the Dominion Ex-} perimental Farms System. The far- mer keeps a record of the amount of time taken to perform the different operations on each field and threshes e, a the grain harvested separately so that eed ti nee Conn--No Piri it will be known how much is harvest-, 854 to 864. Oats--No. 8 white, 47. to ed from each field. [abe Tlons tau extoute 40 43_ otner The records just mentioned of the sguluth, Dec.' 19. -- Linseed to arrive, work 'and crops, resulting, together $2.87; Necemper, $2.70). ay, 192.36. with brief notes made each week, are ern, $1.734; No. 2 Northern, $1.653 to duly entered on blank: forms provided ; #!:704; December, $1.744 bid. for that purpose. The work of mak- ing such notes and entering up the work done on each field does not entail strong bakers', $8.60 to $8.90; Rolled oats-- 80 Ibs., $3.40. 5. Middlings, $38 to $48. Hay--No. Cheese--Finest But- 43 to 434c; se- Eggs--Fresh, 60c; stock, 40c; No. Per bag, car lots, e: per ton, car lots, $13. westerns, 25c; finest easterns, 24c. | ter--Choicest creamery, to 4le. ;conds, 40k4c Winnipeg Grain. 19:--¢ Winnipeg, Dec. No. 1 Northern, °$ 2. ash 'quotations: 7 No. 2 Northern, No. 3 Northern, $1.64%;. No. 4, #7; No. 5, $1.174; No. 6, 89%; feed, Oats--No. 2.C.W., S4c; No. 3 C.W., ; extray No. 1 feed, Bic. Barley--No. 80c; No. 1, 86c; feed, 78c; rejected, Flax-----No. Tt N-W-C, ©$2.53; No, 2 r., $2.50. United States Markets. Minneapolis, Deg. 19. -- Wheat, May, $1.768; July, $1.713, Cash wheat: No. 1 hag $1.758 to $1.80§; No, 1 Northern, | Live Stock Markets. Toronto, Dec. 19.--- Christmas steers, choice, $10 to $11.50; do., good, $9.50 to ' e $10; do. cows, choice, $8 to $8.50; more than one hour's work each putchers' cattle, choice, $8.50 to $8.75; jmonth. Hach week the farmer mails 40., good, $8 to $8.40; do, medium, $7.50 F j to $7,755 Hee + $6.25 ae 'to the Central Experimental Farm Ot-| sad as oe Posten. PS ae ye th tawa a form filled out with full parti-|do.. good bulls, $6.75 to $7; do. rough bulls, $4.75 to $5; butchers' cows, choice, $7 to $7.60; do., good, $6.50 to $6.75; do., medium, $6 to $6.25; stockers, $5.25 to $7; choice feeders, $6.50 to $7.25;. can- ners and cutters, $4.25 to $5.25; milkers, choice, each, $70 to $110; do., com. and med., each, $40 to $60; springers, $50 to $100; light ewes, $8.50 to $10.50; sheep, Peay: caps TE ices good to . - : * choice, D to 2.50; le 8, choice, growing thereon, or the treatment giv-| $12 to'$12.75; do., madinne ARES to $9.90; en the plot that year. hogs, fed and watered, $11.75 to $11.85; . prestige ' ; : On all these farms, whether located | #47." ati OM PETE: FE 00 920,40). d 0. in the Province of Quebec, or in Sas-| . Montreal, | Dec. 13, -- Choice steers, $7. (3) -50; good, $7 to $7.75; choice katchewan or Alberta, systematic | puis, $6.50 to $7; good, $5.75 to $6.50; rotations of crops suitable to the is | canner $5.25 to $5.60; cows, choice, eae ies - | to $7; good, $5.75 to $6.50; can- trict served as well as the best cul-| fers $4.26 to $4.50; milk-fea ealied 33 culars as to the work done, general weather conditions and crop progress on the different fields. The farmer permits to be placed in front of each field a sign stating briefly the method of preparing the land for the crop tural methods and most suitable var~)te Bd RE as web a shee to $6; sheep, hogs yee Sa He + o $9; ambs, 11.75 to $12.60; ieties of crops are being demonstrat-| choice selected hogs, $12.50; lights, ed. $10.50. eed > ? re pecan lg Oe SOMME FORCED. KAISER TO MAKE PEACE MOVE. READY TO MAKE DASH FROM ROTTERDAM. | Pickled or dry cured meats. 1 cent less | to the ability the country would show in dealing with any new prob- lems that might present themselves. Proud Record in Overseas Service. Sir Frederick made special men- tion of the record of the staff of pa Bank of Montreal overseas, say- x . ] ng: diers' dependents will probably never ? As for the Bank of Montreal ' of Contingent with the colours, rave i be fully appreciated. In most "cases no words sufficiently éloquent | this work is carried on by voluntary Wherewith to fully express pur pride 'i . : n their achievements, our grie n effort, and as the organization extends their losses, 48 per cent. of our into almost every town and hamlet in the Dominion but few deserving cases can be overlooked. In the Department of (Insurance, for instance, the Mont- real branch Jast month saved for twenty-two families -policies which would otherwise have lapsed and been lost to the beneficiaries. These poli- cies represented insurance to the value of about $30,000, the annual premiums total male staff, or 67 per cent. of those of military age, have enlisted, being over $800. In all this branch is 51 of our best have been killed and 107 are wounded, missing or prison- ers: of -war. Several of our men have been decorated by the King for conspicuous valour, and the whole eontingent is illustrious." A very cordial demonstration was given by the shareholders when Mr. Yuile, on their behalf, asked to be allowed to especially compliment Sir Vincent Meredith on the great honor which had been conferred upon him during the course of the past year, in being created a bar- + _ ae . : onet. Mr. Yuile pointed out that looking after insurance representing ThinC Gus: sewardete teecthe seater {not less than $60,000. In other words, holders not as an honour to Sir Vincent alone, but to the Bank as through carelessness. or fancied _in- well, and the honor conferred was ability to pay premiums, this amount of protection to soldiers' dependents would have been lost if the organiza- and the public generally. The vacancies on the Board of Directors were filled by the election tion had not financially assisted in of Captain Herbert Molson of Mont- : ae ay * real, and Mr. Harold Kennedy of keeping the policies alive. In addi- Quebec. At the first meeting of tion to what the organization is di- the new Board of Directors. Sir ; Vincent Meredith, Bart, was_re- rectly financing, the total amount of elected President, and the Vice- insurance saved to dependents within Presidency, which had been vacant e . a > . for the past few years, was re- two years by the Cominittee's advice established by the appointment of and counsel is in excess of $200,000. Mr. C. B. Gordon, President of the Dominion Textile Co. Sir Vincent Meredith, Bart., Pre- sident, in referring to the principal | Zhe experiences of the committee ;in these matters is a revelation in hu- } ny é : S ae developments of thé year and the ; Man nature. One woman preferred to plans that should be laid to cope 'buy a new skirt rather than renew a with them, said in part: I hoped when I Jast had the | policy on the life of her husband, pleasure of addressing you that be- |who was battling in a Flander's bg this Annual Meeting a end of t the cruel and devastating war, |trench. Another woman, whose hus- which has convulsed Europe would be, if not reached, at least within measurable distance. In this ex- pectation we have been disappointed. ; band is daily facing German bullets, 'would have allowed her policy to} jlapse rather than take the amount No one can vet fix the day of its | 3 ; a oe termination. but I am sure I ex- jof the premiums out of the savings press your feelings when I say we bank. Another instance worth record- hold an unshaken confidence of the ls fy . 2 ultimate victory of Britain and her |ing is unfortunately typical. The wo- Allies. iman had an idea that insurance was "Canada, inspired by a deep- | rooted loyalty. to the Empire, has all right for the rich, but that in her | straightened circumstances she should ;not be expected to make any sacrifice |to maintain her husband's insurance, |in this case amounting to $1,000. | After an hour's argument with her on given and is still prepared to give freely her gallant youth and mone- tary means to the great cause, upon the success of which her and national existence depend. "AS the result of the phenomenal crop of a year ago, coupled with vast so greatly | ac 'i expenditures by the Allied Govern- | behalf of herself and baby boy, she ments in this country, for munitions, reluctantly consented to accept a and by our own Government for requirements in connection with the war, high wages are being paid for all classes; of labor, and trade con- 'loan of $50 from the Fund to cover | the premium, this amount to be repaid : ditions at the ome Janad: in monthly instalments. The husband are Ducvant pul eee sit ster ae was subsequently killed in action, and | business. The few exceptions will, generally speaking, be found in in- dustries concerned with the produc- tion and sale of luxuries, Success of Domestic Loans. the wife received the full face value of the policy. It was a grateful mo- ther who called a few days later and . "In a little more than a year tearfully thanked the committee for Canada has issued two Domestic their advice and assistance. Loans amounting™ to $200,000,000, and the Canadian Government has borrowed in New Yark $95,000,000, The success of our internal. loans is a matter of pride and congratu- lation. It is due largely to the sptrit of loyalty of our people and a de- termination to all within. them to bring the war to an early and suce- cessful conclusion. "So far, a depletion of Bank de- posits in consequence of these con- tributions has not taken place; in fact, they show month by month a gratifying increase. It must not be forgotten, however, that these increases are only partially due to the savings of our "people. They Since this branch of the work was organized practically every woman in- terviewed has acted on the commit- | tee's advice. In many cases the com- |mittee has had té act quickly and ; without consulting the woman, and |here again. there was little friction, |matters being afterwards satisfactor- ily explained to the dependents. In this connection it is gratifying to note that the insurance companies have generally dealt liberally and er erie cee dab & very con- ati s 5 ; siderable extent by the husbandin sympathetically with relief com- of resources by our large hopnhiie mittees. tions, a prudent and wise precau- Sica, "Wenn oid in Mf of the uncertain condl- cae : ons which now prevail and will CONTRACTS PLACED FOR continue to exist during the con- tinuance of the war, EIGHT STEAMERS. 'alike popular with the shareholders ; liberties | CANADA STANDS PREPARED = 90 CONTINUE FULL ASSIST "2 af. Campaign of Thrift "©The 'Minister?' 'inah o | whom the country owes much for his wise and far-seelng administra~ ition of our financial affairs, will © doubtless keep in view these condi- -- |tions when making further calls on 'our resources, Which of necessity lhe must do. from time to time, | Outlook For Post War P "And. now, as my remarks draw |; to a close, [ am tempted, contrary to my usual practice and unre~ _ ; strained by the old adage Neyer 'prophesy unless you know,' to look jinto the future. The thoughts of /many men are turned towards the | problems that will confront us after 'the war. Goverament Commissions 'are dealing with them; the press |devotes much space to their 'dis- 'eussion; international conferences - 'have met, but our first, obvious land imperative duty is to WIN THE "When that is done, new condl- | tions will unquestionably supervene. /It seems probable that for some i;months to come, orders for muni- | tions and war supplies will con- 'tinue to keep our industrial plants actively employed. : { "Canada is bearing up magnifi- eently under the strain of this | world-wide war, and her sacrifices ,will be amply repaid by the engen- dering of a spirit of self-reliance, and she will emerge a compara~ tively little known country to take her rightful position in the affairs of the nations. : 'The future, as I have sald, is 'beset with new problems and is not entirely free from financial anxteties, but by a young people ea reen | reat national spirit, a territor 'Empire and unrivalled natural re- 'sources the future can be looked 'forward to with and confi- ' dence." General Manager's Address. Sir Frederick Williams-Taylor, the General Manager, dwelt especi- ally with the main features of the changes in the Bank's business during the course of the year, and the manner in which Canada's ad- verse trade balance had disappear- ed as though by magic. Sir Ired- erick said in part: "The outstanding -business fea- 'ture in Canada is an industrial con- dition more abnormal in character than ever before in the history of this Bank, or of this: country, "Phe same statement applies in a greater or lesser degree to sevéral belligerent and neutral countries, but in Canada economic conditions as well are in an unnatural state. This is partly due to the war, also a result of suspended immigration and of a lengthy period of an ex- travagance of which we are now |feeling the cumulative effect. "Canada sold her record crop of last year at high prices, as in _the 'years of the Anierican Civil War, |while this year we are disposing of 'a moderate crep at such steadtly ; mounting prices that we again reap ja golden harvest about equal in amount to that of 1916. The total value of last year's crop Was $798,000,000. "Our much criticised trade balance has disappeared as though by magic, and our exports are now vastly in excess of our im- ports. Wote of Caution Sounded. | "The transient nature of our creased exports. alone is a simple index to a situation that com- mands the attention of all thinking people. : "These views may not be accept- able to all, but they are common sense and based upon arithmetical facts. To be forewarned is to be forearmed. "These are the main factors that have influenced and will influence ;} the banking position--the move- ;ment In deposits and loans and the |safety of both. Therefore, in my 'opinion, the business of this Bank should be conducted with such views plainly before us until the situation clears. "These are two obvious means of lightening Canada's coming burden, viz., thrift and immigration. The two are closely allied, fer only by practising national and personal ; economy or thrift can we reduce our ; high cost of living--that most effect- |ive barrier to immigration. Upon im- ; migration we mainly depend for the ;fuller development of our unsur- passed natural resources. "Thrift. is overdue but can be } started forthwith; immigration ;}must walt, but should follow in ;natural sequence. I have no words j}at my command with which to ade- | quately urge the necessity of an organized and an individual : effort to promote thrift. "The timely and eloquent 'Call to Action' of our Minister of Trade and Commerce commands attention. fam not sure that it should not be preceded by a 'Call to Reason,' in order that the importance of. the problems of. the situation be im- pressed. upon those who are living in, let us say, the paradise of the unwise. "Sane optimism and- self-confi- dence are admirable national quali- ties and should be the order of the day. There is a point where optim- ism loses ite value and the danger of over-confidence begins. That is the point for nations to avold." Bank Helping the London Market. Sir Frederick drew attention to the Important positton ocoupied by the Bank now tn the London. mar- ket. In this connection he said: "It is not out of. place to men- tion here that this Bank is among the important and appreciated lend- ers of short money. in the London market, and though {t is not for us to-take praise for this, yet the fact is not to be lost sight of when weighing Canada's assistance to the Empire in this war," hope adverse in- CIVIL WAR NEAR ~ FOE DESPERATE Six-Hundred-Foot Freighters To Be Built at Port Arthur. A despatch from Fort William says: Announcement is made by officials of the Western Drydock and Shipbuild- ing Company that the concern has closed contracts for the construction | A despatch to the Amsterdam Tele- graaf from Rotterdam says the Gef- man steamer Pylos, which has been in Rotterdam Harbor since the' out- break of the war, was getting ready to leave for Germany, when a search by the river police revealed the fact | that she was stocked with great quan- | Germany Fears Result of Next Of- fensive on All Fronts. A despatch from Springfield, Mass., says: Frederick Palmer, the war cor- respondent, in an interview on Wed- nesday, declared that events on the Somme front were responsible for the German peace move, and said that the a i ; : | tities of foodstuffs and other goods, | British and French soldiers in the) the export of which is forbidden. The | trenches would dictate terms. Mr./ correspondent adds that, the vessel | Palmer says the Kaiser has reason to | will not leave Rotterdam for the pre-| dread the next allied offensive on al fronts. \ he SPAIN PROHIBITS SUBJECTS FROM FEEDING FOE SUBS. sent. nn < s LEAVE BEING CUT DOWN ' FOR TROOPS IN FRANCE. A despatch from London says: All ; ; ranks are notified that owing to the jandro Lerroux, leader of the Radical : necessity of reducing railway traffic party in the Chamber of Deputies, has jn England leave will not be granted, introduced a bill prohibiting Spanish | except in very special circumstances. subjects and vessels from provisioning | Week-end leave is for home -- service German submarines invany way. men or thgse in munition works, and z Christmas leave will be confined to HORSE MEAT AND LIVER five per cent. of any- unit, and none 39 CENTS A POUND. | between December 22-25. This will Peet att not interfere with the four days' leave invariably granted men proceeding to the front, nor with*leavye granted troops already in the field. A despatch from Madrid says: Ale-| A despatch from Berlin says: Owing to the steady advance in the price of horse nieat a maximum price of 30 cents a pound for the best cuts, liver and sausage, has been fixed by the au- thorities. wae GERMAN PRINCE DIES ON RUSSIAN FRONT, ee / India's Rice Crop. A despatch from Berlin says: Prince Henry of Reuss, was_ kill- ed in battle on November 29th, on the Russian front, according to the Over- India's rice crop of this year is estimated at 76,792,000 acres, slight- ly in excess of the acreage of the year before. The total yield is ex-|seas News Agency. Prince Henry pected to be 21 per cent. greater) was 24 years old and a lieutenant in than last year. a Prussian cavalry regiment, 1 "My remedy," said Baron Devon- > ; will be ocean-going and the other two} of eight new steamers. Six of these Socialist Party Now in Open Hostility to the Hohenzollern | will be 600-foot freighters for the | Great Lakes. The capacity of the | War Party. plant will be doubled. About six hun- ' (dred tons of steel has arrived, and|,_ 4 despatch from London says : at once. The plant will employ be-{ War and that the great Socialist party tween 1,000 and 1,500 men for the! is no longer concealing its dissension next three years. | to the Prussian war leaders, is the real imei % et MANY NOTABLES KILLED. of the press of London on } War Makes Heavy Inroads on the! Thursday. : Peerage of Europe: | The Times says. that particularly ; | during the past month conditions A special cable to The New York' Berlin have assumed a dangerous as- World from London, says: The issue! pect. The people, weary of the short- of Debrett's Peerage for 1917 states) age of food at home and the distress that the roll of honor from families of the men in the field, with the ma- usually noticed in that volume now, terial costs of war piling mountain- numbers 1,450 persons who have been . : in! | position for peace, | The Times says also tha \flush days of 1914. jit | by the London public. Duty is never when it is neglected. their troubles interest you. low another to share his opinions. { i high, and with no indications of any but a futile future struggle, are open- ly rebellious, and that the Kaiser has for many days been watching for a reasonably turn of events which would ,act as a pretext for a plausible pro- | "One nation may declare war, but - \ : | takes more than one to declare explanation for the peace proposals,! peace," is a slogan that is appearing 1S Pr ntemont that is going the jn the press and is being quickly. sciz- Ss so. disagreeable ag And some people actually believe that Even the stingy man will usually al. -- killed in action or have died of wounds. The list includes one member of the Royal family, fourteen Peers, twenty- one Baronets, nine Knights, nine mem- bers of Parliament, 290 Knights Bachelor, 114 sons of Peers, 110 sons of Baronets, and 150 sons of Knights. fi } If You Want 2 GERMAN CASUALTIES ALMOST 4,000,000. A despatch from London says: The total German casualties, excluding those in the naval and colonial ser- vices, reported in the German official lists for November, says a British of- ficial statement issued on Wednesday, was 166,176 officers and men, making the total German losses in killed, wounded and missing since the war Crown Life. do not have to die to win. for during the years of your Crown L Safe Investment Let us send you particulars of an investment that never depreciates and never defaults in dividends, the new Compound Investment Policy in the ' With a Crown Life "Limited Payment Life Polley." you Your insurance is fully paid best earning power. Let us send you some new insurance facts. ife Assura TORONTO. Agents Wanted In Unrepreaented Distriots. broke out of 3,921,860. ] nese a -- saieeniineneeeeeee ee ee < 1 * at x s 4 ; x Pe < + 4 z Red sak § A ey - Rees * 3 ¥ at eae 5 ~ : 2 xs S ae id oe Lf = z is he wate See ae rE - = ; ---- Bank of Montreal Annual Meeting Marked by Striking Refer--- ences to Part Played by Dominion and Lays ~ For Country's Guidance. Strongly Urged. Bank's Record at Front. Down Policy of Finahce to the Ger~ man Government has been discourag- |ed recently by the confirmation of re- | ports that Britain was prepared. for | 1917 to put into the fleld three times : I S '~~! as many guns and shells as Germany work on two steamers will commence | That Germany is threatened with civil has been able to command even in the ince Co. |