8

Strensthen Army Overseas
Legion Head Urges King

CALGARY, Alta.—Immediate action to strengthen Canada’s army overseas was urged on
Prime Minister Mackenzie King by Alex Walker, Dominion president of the Canadian Legion,
in a Remembrance Day address here.

Stating that he believed “the next twelve months will be the most blood-stained period in

the history of the human race,”

“The time has come when all
doubt and confused thinking about
Ganada’s willingness and ability to
provide enough fighting men for
army should be cleared away once
and for- all, both for the sake of
our own people and for the en-
couragement of our brothers- in-
arms, JERS rest of the United Na-
tions.’

Walker singled out a recent state-
ment on conscription made by Jus-
tice Minister St. Laurent as “re
grettable in the extreme” and con-
trasted it with the “courageous
words” of Air Minister Power and
‘Defense Minister Ralston on the
same issue.

He said he hoped the two minis-
ters’ statements “have been con-
sidered deeply and exhaustively by
the prime minister. On him, more
than onn any other man, rests the
terrible inadequacy of manpower
for the Canadian Army overseas.
He knows, as we of the Legion do,
that while troops can be depended
upon to display at all times the
kind of fighting spirit they dis-
played at Dieppe, it takes more than
valor to win battles—numbers are
important too.’’

Partial text of his
lows:

It is appropriate that we should
think at this time of our gallant
Russian allies, whose stubborn de-
fence of their native land has been
such an inspiration to the rest of
the United Nations, and whose mag-
nificent stand at Stalingrad may
well prove to be the turning point
in the gigantic conflict One shud-
ders to think what would have
been the fate of Britain, the United
Nations and Canada, had Hitler
sent his millions against us instead
of Russia last year, or had Russia
proved the colossus with feet of
clay that the Nazis thought it was.

Yes, there is certainly cause for
moderate optimism when surveying
the present state of the war and
comparing it with our position a
year ago. But while the scales may
now be tipped somewhat in favor
of the United Nations, we must not
make the mistake of concluding
that the heaviest part of the war is
over. On the contrary, I believe
that the next 12 months will be
the most blood-stained period in
the history of the human race.

While the long Russian lines from
Murmansk to the Caucasus are
holding the Boche at bay, he still
is the master of one-third of their
most productive territory.

While our raids at Dieppe and
elsewhere have shown that it is
possible to gain a foothold on the
Continent, Teutonic madmen are
still lording it over the unfortun-
ate people of France and Belgium,
Holland and Luxembourg, WNor-
way and Denmark, Yugoslavia and
Greece. So, in our jubilance over
the splendid victories in Egypt, let
us not make the mistake of losing
our sense of realism.

Hard Days Ahead

Let us remember that, if Hitler
continues to run true to form, there
are still many surprises ahead.
Some of these surprises, I fear, will
be among the most destructive of
the entire war so far as human life
and property are concerned. They
will come when the mad dogs of
Germany begin to run amock. For
we may be sure that Hitler and his
fellow gangsters will stop at noth-
ing in their attempt to drag the
rest of the world down with them.
The lesson is that we must be fully
prepared for whatever comes, even
if we cannot foresee just what, or
when, or where it will be.

When I say “we,”’ I am naturally
referring to the United Nations in

address fol-

Walker declared:

necessary.

Seeks Retention Of
Essential Bus Services

VICTORIA, B.C.—Supported by locals of the United
Mine Workers and veterans’ organizations in the Koot-
enays and the Crows Nest, Tom Uphill, MLA, was in Vic-
toria this week to plead the case of those living in scattered
communities throughout southeastern British Columbia
and adjoining Alberta who will be seriously affected by
new restrictions on bus service.

Uphill said the effect of the curtailment of bus services
just announced by S. Sigmundson, regional transit con-
troller, would be to cut out virtually all short haul bus
services in the Kootenays, with the exception of the Cres-
ton-Nakusp run. This, he said, would work considerable
hardship on those living several miles from the railroad
and hitherto dependent on such bus services.

Urging that essential bus services be retained, Uphill
said he felt that restrictions which could be applied with-
out causing serious dislocation of community life in more
thickly populated districts of eastern Canada should be
applied with discretion in those parts of western Canada
where it could be shown that certain bus services were

general; but as a Canadian, I am
thinking of Canada in particular.
Are we—the Canadian Nation—fully
prepared for whatever may come
during the crucial battles that still
have to be fought? I’m sorry to
say that I doubt it very much.

In saying this, I am speaking
particularly about the strength of
our army, and especially our army
overseas.

I am divulging no military secret
when I say that the numerical
strength of the Canadian Army in
Britain is only about half the over-
seas strength of the old C.B.F after
three years and two months of war.
And even supposing the overseas
Strength of our air force and the
personnel of our navy made up for
the difference—which they don’t—
even after making allowance ‘for
the million men and women who
are engaged in making munitions
and building ships, this does in no
Way excuse or explain the insuf-
ficieut manpower of our army over-
seas.

500,000 Army

For it must be remembered that
the population of the Dominion to-
day is over 3%2 million greater
than it was in 1917, and with prop-
er organization, and by throwing
political party consideration to the
winds, it would be entirely practic-
able for Canada to have and to
maintain a field force of at least
half a million men.

One has heard a great deal about
this war being a war of machines,
and this, of course, is true to a
great extent, But it is sheer folly
to believe that because of mechan-
isation we need fewer men in the
army. On the contrary, we need
more: And the reason advanced by
the exponents of a small army—
the vastly increased firepower—is
the very reason why we need more
men.

For
mechanised too,

the enemy's army is highly
and has a vastly

increased firepower too, Therefore,,

our casualties in killed and wound-
ed are bound to be proportionately
greater, and the need for reinforce-
ments much greater than our goy-
ernment and the military authori-
ties at Ottawa ever expected.
Dieppe proved that, and Dieppe

|was a mere

side-show compared
with the battles our men will have
to fight before the sun of victory
shines upon a blood-soaked, ex-
hausted world.

Offensive Soon

The days of unnatural inaction
and immobility will soon be over
for the Canadian Army abroad. At
most, we may have until next
spring before it is our turn to

j}engage the German land forces in

mortal combat. Qnce the fighting
on the continent begins, we must
expect continuous, large-scale op-
erations which will not cease until
the war ends.

I know by the reports our Do-
minion Command receives from our
1,500 Legion branches that, since
Dieppe especially, there has been
an uneasy feeling throughout the
country that the present flow of
men into the army, for service
overseas, is not sufficient to keep
up to strength, and at the same
time build up a force of two army
corps the modest objectives
which the prime minister announc-
ed in his recent radio address is
our goal for 1943.

To bring to full fighting strength
the divisions authorized by the gov-
ernment, and then fail to have
sufficient, fully-trained reinforce-
ments available for instant action—
over there, not here in Canada—
is to invite disaster. Worse than
that, it is to invite disgrace, for
if that should happen, Canada
would de letting her fighting men
down, and that must never happen.

The time has come, I say, when
all doubt and confused thinking
about Canada’s willingness and ab-
ility te provide enough fighting men
for our Army should be cleared
away once and for all, both for the
sake of our own people and for the
encouragement of our brothers-in-
arms, the rest of the United Na-
tions.

r

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| Phone 51-M Cloverdale, B.C.

It is therefore regrettable in the
extreme when a senior member of
the Dominion cabinet, the minister
of justice, St. Laurent, should ex-
press the views he did in Quebec
City as late as November 1. Speak-
ing on the question of compulsory
military service, the justice minis-
ter was reported by the Canadian
Press to have said:

“As you may see for yourself,
the one you have placed at the head
of the country does not intend to
impose conscription for overseas
service unless the safety of the na-
tion forces it. And, fortunately,
present events tend to show that
we are not faced with the alter-
native just now.”

In other words, the justice min-
ister tells us that, in spite of the
expressed will of a majority of the
Canadian people, in spite of parlia-
ment giving him a free hand to act,
the prime minister bas no inten-
tion of introducing the only demo-
eratic and adequate system that
CAN solve the manpower for the
army, unless the safety of the na-
tion forces it. And he goes on to
say, in effect, that the safety of our
country is not at stake “just now.”

I can recall no more depressing
and shortsighted expression of
smug, complacent isolationism made
by a member of the Dominion gov-
ernment since the parMamentary
debate last summer on the removal
of Section 3 of the National Mob-
ilization Act,

‘Robust Words’

Compare St. Laurent’s timid, de-
featist statement with the robust,
spunky words spoken during the de-
bate in the House by his cabinet col-
league, the air-minister, Major
Power. This is what he said:

“IT am a Canadian; and by Can-
ada I mean every part and every
province of Candida. I mean Van-
couver, Halifax, Winnipeg, just as
much as I mean Quebec, The peo-
ple of this country as a whole
have pronounced themselves by
an overwhelming vote clearly and
unequivocably in favor of action
on which this legislation is pes-
sibly the least expression. And
following the ordinary democratic
process, and being a Canadian be-

Black Sea Fleet
Still Dominant

MOSCOW —The Red fleet
dominates the Black Sea, de
loss of its nayal bases at Qa”
and Sevastopol.

In a statement here, |Rear Aan
Octyabrsky, commander of the
viet forces which successfully ~
ried out landing operations ag:
Kerch and Feodosia last winter:
helped to delay the Nazis’ con,
plated spring offensive, said:

“Soviet communications in |
Black Sea are operating wit”
interruption. Surface craft ;
carried out a number of raid |
the German-occupied bases |
Kerch, Yalta, Balaclava and Mi |
pol, frustrating preparations
landings on the Soviet coastlin jf

RE Cipla Spore

sisi go pb nai

cabinet, for I am certain they ©
resent the views of the vast |
jority of English-speaking Car 1
ans, and of many thoughtful ~ 1
sighted French-speaking fej |
Canadians as well. H

Dieppe Lessons

In particular do I hope the
service ministers’ words have }
considered deeply and exhausti
by the prime minister. On }-
more than on any other man;7
‘the terrible responsibility for
present inadequacy of manpe fre
for the Canadian Army, overseas:
knows, as we of the Legion do, ™
while our troops can be deper
upon to display at all times thei

of fighting spirit they displaye: P
Dieppe, it takes more than vala
win battle—numbers are all fy
portant too.

And so, on the eve of this,
24th Remembrance Day since
bugles. rang out their “‘Cease F fi
on Nov. 11, 1918, I say to our pr
minister—in the name of my ¢
rades who rest in Flanders Fie
in the name of my comrades of
Canadian Legion who, like my.
survived the last war—in the nj
of the 85 percent of my youl ¢
comrades of our army overseas ©
voted “yes’’ in the plebiscite {7
who have had no right to voice t ~
views since—in the name of the §

fy yates

fore I am a Quebecker, I propose
to vote for this Bill.”

Elsewhere in his address Major
Power said this:

“TY believe that the best and only
way to defend Canada is to take
the offensive outside Canada.”

Another cabinet colleague of St.
Laurent, the defense minister, Col.
Ralston, also spoke courageous
words during the cabinet debate
which it is well to recall at this
time, This is what he said:

“We are facing the possibility
of fighting for our very existence,
and if considerations of national
unity should come inte conflict
with measures for our national
security and existence, then surely
it is the security of the nation
which must count—and by that I
mean the security of all the na-
tion, both the majority and the
minority.

“Tt may be that if the test
comes, we shall find our national
unity in the mutual support which
we shall have to give each other,
and which will be imperative by
reason of the instinct of self-
preservation itself.”

I hope the minister of justice will
ponder well these expressions by
two of the war veterans in King’s

LARGE FARMS

1574 Paeitii

and

Fire — INSURANCE — Auto
©

(2 Miles South of Pattullo Bridge)

patriotic citizen - organizat
which have endorsed the Legi
Call for Total War—tI say to K §
‘Don’t let our boys down, i
Heed the lessons of Dieppe
strengthening our army Overse
You—and you alone—have
power and the authority to de
Do it now, for when winter con -
spring cannot be far away.”

OVER
40 YEARS.

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