THE MAN WHO WON CANADA.

Northern Advocate, 20 February 1911, Page 6

THE MAN WHO WON CANADA.

LORD ROBERTS'S TRIBUTE

TO WOLFE

Field-Marshal Lord Roberts, unveiling a statue of Wolfe at Westerham, in Kent, the birthplace of the victor of Quebec, said:

"It always strikes me that, in raising a monument to one Avho has done well for his country, we not only do honor to the individual man, but Aye provide an object lesson of no slight value for ourselves of Avhat our country and our Empire should mean to us. It is to Wolfe Aye are indebted for the greatest of the Dominions. How, after a prolonged and anxious examination of the locality in which Quebec is situated, Wolfe formed his daring plan, and led his troops to victory h; one of the brightest pages in the history of our Empire. The story has often been told, but it never loses its thrilling' interest by repetition. The silent drifting down-stream on the mighty St. Lawrence of the boats which conveyed the little army. The. scaling of the heights of Abraham in the dark. The impossibility of obtaining the slightest knowledge of the position of the enemy's troops, or of the nature of the ground where the fighting would have to take place. The rapidly arrived at decision to form up his infantry only two deep to save their flanks being turned by the superior numbers of the French showed Wolfe to be a consummate commander. This formation had never before been tried in our Army, and could only be justified on such an occasion by the firm belief Wolfe had in the courage and discipline of his troops. It was the same grand feeling of trust in his men—a feeling reciprocated by the men towards their commander — which enabled Wolfe to order his soldiers to remain with their arms shouldered, and to reserve their fire until he gave the word. And it was not until the French had approached within forty yards, and Wolfe himself had been severely Avounded, that he, gave that word. The single volley then fired shattered the enemy's formation and decided the fate of Canada. No wonder that Wolfe, as he lay mortally wounded, was able to murmur, 'I die content.'"