HISTORY OF THE “MOUNTIES”

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 234, 1 July 1939, Page 6 (Supplement)

HISTORY OF THE “MOUNTIES”

The history of the “Mounties,” one of the finest bodies of men in the world, is recounted by Colonel S. T. Wood, Commissioner, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, in a supplement to the London “Times.” By an Act of Parliament, passed on May 23 of 1873, authority was given for the formation of a police force not to exceed 300 men for duty in the north-west territories, and in August an Order-ln-Council authorized recruiting to begin.

Such a force had been rendered necessary by the unsettled state of the country west of the province of Manitoba ( with the exception of the province of British Columbia), which was then known as the north-west territories, and which had been purchased from the Hudson Bay Company only a few years before. There was no civil government in power there, and in consequence lawlessness had flourished and one uprising broken out in 1869. known as the Red Kiver or First Riel Rebellion, which was put down by Lord Wolseley. The first Commissioner of the NorthWest Mounted Police, as the force was originally called, was Colonel G. A. French, on loan to Canada from the Royal Artillery, and it was lie who in July, 1874, and the following months led the force on its famous march across the prairies to establish law and order, a journey of nearly 2000 miles. This great achievement made possible the next task, the conciliation of the Indians, which paved the way for the treaties made later with them by the Canadian Government. In 187(1 5000 of Sitting Bull’s Sioux crossed the border from the United States after their battle with General Custer These unwelcome visitors remained in Canada until 1881. offering a real threat to the peace of the north-west, until finally induced to -return- to their own country. Thy'North-West .Mounted Police

A Famous Police Force

played a prominent part in persuading them. The construction of the Canadian Pacific railway, the second Riel Rebellion of 1885, the gradual establishment of posts and detachments throughout the territories, and the gaining of the confidence of the Indians kept the force busy and firmly established it in the north-west. From 1897 inwards the Yukon territory knew and respected it. it appeared in what is now known as the north-west territories and on the shores of the Hudson Buy. The war drew upon the force for many trained officers and men to accompany the units proceeding oversea, while it continued to keep order and perform various important services in Canada, Eventually, in 1918. “A” Squadron was sent on active service to France and “B” Squadron to Siberia. Tiie accomplishments of the R.C.M.P. since the war have lived up to the universal reputation gained in the halfcentury before. From 1922 onwards important detachments were established, and some of - the force’s most important exploratory patrols made in the Eastern Arctic. Its powers were gradually extended, and at present it enforces Federal laws throughout the whole Dominion, the Criminal Code and Provincial Statutes as well in six of the nine provinces, has a preventive service to prevent smuggling by., sea, land or air. is the sole Federal force in the Dominion, and the only police force in the north-west ter rifories and the Yukon territory The original 300 men have grown to over 2500, and horses have mostly given way to motor-cars and motorcycles. We now have four aeroplanes, 493 motorcars, 434 dogs and 200 horses. We have also started the nucleus of a reserve force which will probably be used for the first Aisle during the Royal visit. 'Phis we hope to enlarge gradually along the lines of .Scotland Yard.