The Turning of the Tide by A. B. Dixon

Author:A. B. Dixon [Dixon, A. B.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780228838678
Publisher: Tellwell Talent
Published: 2022-11-04T03:19:58+00:00

Borden Announces Conscription

The eighteenth of May dawned with a most tense atmosphere in the capitol. Borden read to an overfilled House of Commons.

“I visited hospitals in Great Britain and France, and everywhere I found our men receiving, so far as I could see, the best of attention. I did not hear a complaint from any man in hospital, except from two who complained to me that the Germans were not fighting fairly because, they both said, ‘When the Canadians climbed the Vimy ridge, the Germans did not stand up to them but ran away instead of fighting like men.’ I deemed it not only my duty but my very great honor and privilege to utilize every spare moment in seeing our men in the hospitals, and I saw only two men from Vimy ridge who did not smile with great satisfaction when I spoke of their having driven the Germans back. Those men could not smile with their lips by reason of their wounds, but they did smile with their eyes. Let me say to the members of this House and to the people of this country that no man wanting inspiration, determination, or courage as to his duty in this war could go to any better place than the hospitals in which our Canadian boys are found. Their patience, pluck, and cheerfulness are simply wonderful.”

“There is another thing that should be mentioned, and that is the very, very great kindness of the British people to all our Canadian troops. I have been among them in camps and hospitals and elsewhere, and there was hardly a place I visited where I did not find visitors at the hospitals giving great care and attention to our wounded.”

“Certain representations have been made to me, and also to the overseas authorities from time to time, that the Canadian troops contracted drinking habits while overseas. I made it my special business to inquire as to that. I inquired of General Turner, General Steele, and of General Child of the War Office, who have to deal with such matters, and I shall place their reports upon the Table afterwards, I shall not stop to read them now. It is enough to say that these reports indicate that such representations are almost absolutely without foundation. The Canadian troops are not addicted to the habit of drunkenness. It was represented to me by General Steele, in whose word I have absolute confidence, that there is less drinking among the Canadian troops than among any other troops in the United Kingdom, and I thoroughly believe that drinking is almost at a minimum.”

The Canadian Tommy had acquired quite the repute for drunkenness!

“But a great struggle still lies before us in this war; that is the message I bring back to you from Great Britain and from the front. A great struggle lies before us, and I cannot put that before you more forcibly than by stating that at the commencement of this spring’s campaign, Germany put in the field one million more men than she put in the field last spring.

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