CANADA WAR RECORDS

Greymouth Evening Star, 3 May 1917, Page 2

CANADA WAR RECORDS

IN MEN AnD MONEY. IJBLKAL CONTRIBUTIONS. InlejostL y, nib«mation us to Canada’s ac.uai couinLmuon in men ami money to t.‘ie Empire’s cause lu.s been given in Auckland by Air. \v. A. BetlUie, Canadian Trade Commissioner. "One naturally dues not wish to invite comparison between different portions (>f the Empire when all have so amply proved tneftr loyalty,' 1 ’ ha remarked, “but I think many people will be interested to learn from exact figures bow well Canada has responded to the nation’s call. The people., as a whole, are Imperialistic and loyal, wholeheanedly with the leaders of their Dominion, who stand pledged to the last dollar and Lke last man in the great cause.” The following figures, given on the authority of Sir Hubert Borden, Prime Minister, and compiled up to the. end of January, showing what Canada has done in the matter of raising an army for overseas war service ,were supplied by Mr. Beddoe :•••■ Straight enlistments—men not previously connected with any form of military service ... 392-647 Active militia 9,052 Permanent force 2,470 Naval service 3,310 British naval service ... . ••• 1,600 Imperial mechanical transport 1,200 Munition work in Great Britain 3,000 Navy 'reservists 1,000 /British reservists ... ... 2,750 French reservists 5,000 Russian reservists ... 7,500 Italian reservist a 5,000 Total 434,520 On the by is of the last census this would repr cut nearly 7 per cent, of the imputation. A HEAVY CASUALTY LIST. As might be expected with so large an army, and one which has shown itself so valorous, Canada’s casualty list is a heavy on , totalling 71,263. It is, made up as follows : —■ Killed.in action ... Di n " F wound 4,010 Died pt Sickness 494 Presumably dead 1,108 Mounted 48,454 Mit-rug 2,970 Prifai aers of war 3,373 Total 71,263 As r.riards the financial aspect, said Mr. Beddoe, Canada has adopted the principle of domestic loans with most ■ gratifying success. The first loan of £10,000,000 produced twenty-two millions. The sp, ii,d loan, £20,000,000, was over subscribed. In addition to this Parliament authorised a loan of £IOO-000,000 during the present sqa-* sion. - • As'is-well known, very valuable assistance has' been rendered by Canada as regards the supply of munitions. At the present time she is making more munition than any other courjtry in the world nude prior to the war, with the only of G |imany< There are now in Canada factories, chemical plants, and loading stations numbering 630. all employed in the making of munitions. The plants absorb the labour of 304,000 workmen and inspectors. Munition contracts, of course, come ahead of all others, and this is why New’Zealand orders for steel cannot he promptly filled. In Commenting on the growth of Canada’s trade during the war period, Mr. Beddoe supplied figures showing the total amount of imports and exports for 1916. The value of imported "••>ods amounted to £163.090.000. and the exports to £218.000,000, the exports for the year exceeding the imports bv £65,000,000.