Greymouth Evening Star. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 1943. CANADA’S CONTRIBUTION.

Greymouth Evening Star, 21 April 1943, Page 4

Greymouth Evening Star. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 1943. CANADA’S CONTRIBUTION.

(pLAIMS are not infrequent by respective leaders that this or that Overseas Dominion has contributed most to the Empire’s war effort, the “per capita” basis being, used to bolster what might otherwise be a weak case. Comparisons on such a topic are not to be less used as an incentive to do more in friendly competition. So long as each Dominion does its best, it has little to lament, nor does the amount of publicity secured decide the value of the effort. In these parts, for instance, what New Zealand and Australia are doing is naturally featured, especially Australia, and comparatively little is heard of. say, Canadian or South African contributions to the common cause, or their views regarding strategy and allocation of armaments. Canada has no cause to fear comparison with any of her sister Dominions, and, indeed, has given a lead in several directions. Perhaps the Dominion most free from possible enemy attack, and peopled with the greatest variety of European races, —each factor tending to diminish war sacrifices —Canada has contributed men. money and material in generous fashion. Four large war-loans have been over-subscribed, heavy taxation has been accepted, huge supplies of food and produce have been placed at the Allies’ disposal. industries are manufacturing arms and equipment on a massive scale, and recruiting in the three Services has been most gratifying. U.S.A, writers and commentators use Canada as an exani])le that Americans might well follow, if their own all-out effort is Io be achieved. Canadian hospitality lo New Zealanders training in that country has been on a generous scale. Except in the tragic raid on Dieppe, in which they suffered considerable losses, Canadian troops have not had much opportunity to display prowess in the present Avar. There is a large Canadian army in Britain, built up from the, days when invasion of the Homeland was a possibilitv. to now when an invasion of the Continent is expected. Canada has plqccd her forces freely at Britain’s disposal, making no conditions as to where the men should be employed. Canadians are being prepared to expect heavy casualties when the onslaught on the Continent is made. Her army has been specially trained for this attack, and. doubtless, the men are anxious for the opportunity to emulate the heroic deeds of the men from the other Dominions, and especially those now serving in North Africa.

Mr. MacKenzie King’, in liis latest statement. quoted figures of Hie strength of the Canadian servicemen, the numbers -in the Air Force being particularly impressive. It is interesting to note that Mr. King does not. share Australian misgivings about -Japanese strength, and supports the “Beat-llitler-First” policy. As a land boidering on the Pacific, Canada’s opinion has special value. Australia appears to be the-only-onc-in-step where the Allies’ global strategy is concerned, and might now well be satisfied that her position is not so desperate as is claimed. Empire unity would be better served if the allocation of publicity about the various Dominions was more generous to some and less so to others. Too little is heard of the places farthest away, which does not help in the spread of that, mutual knowledge essential as well as desirable.