FEELING THE COLD

Waipawa Mail, Volume LXVIII, Issue 49, 12 January 1940, Page 3

FEELING THE COLD

CANADIANS IN ENGLAND GENERAL’S INSPIRING MESSAGE. LONDON, December 20. Though the majority of the Canadian contingent which has recently arrived in Britain are quite accustomed to the cold, they felt it still more in England. One of them said: “Black home it gets down to 30 or 40 below, and still stays just cold. Over here, it gets damp and penetrating with it.” Most of them have taken the precaution of wearing two shirts and two pairs of socks. ?• Since the various units have been training thousands of miles apart and as divisional tactics would be a little strange to them, they are taking a course with local English commands. They will train with their own methods, but will incorporate into them anything new they see in the English style. The men who comprise the force represent many walks of Canadian life. They are trappers, from the rivalries, troopers from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, men from the frozen “way backs,” bank clerks, brokers’ clerks, salesmen, shop assistants. One of the men speaks French, German and Italian. His parents live in Northern Ireland. Another man held mi important position with the Bell Telephone Company. Yet another was on the staff of the newspaper “Toronto Star.” One Canadian said to me: “This is my first experience of soldiering. I was in a stockbroker’s office when war was declared and I joined the Army to do my bit. AYlien the war is over 1 hope to return to my job in Canada.” “THIS GREAT TRUST.” General McNaughton, the Canadian G.0.C., has issued an order which will become historic. It reads: — _ “The messages from the Prime Minister and the Minister of National Defence make it clear that the people of Canada have reposed in us their trust to defend the cause of justice and of liberty against oppression and aggression. “In this cause we are to stand in battle besides our comrades-in-arms from the British Commonwealth and France, and we carry an obligation of honor to live up to the proud traditions established hv the Canadian corps. It is for us to prove ourselves worthy of this inheritance. “Each one of us is a representative of Canada, from whose conduct our kinsmen of the Empire and of France will form their opinion of Canada and Canadian soldiers.

11 In consequence, each man wearing a Canadian uniform has a great, responsibility—to uphold by Bis actions during training and on leave, no less than by his skill at arms and courage in battle, the good name of Canada and the reputation of his regiment. “I ask that each individual member of the force accept, as his own, this great trust.”