Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 274, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 November 1918 — WAR PRODUCES A NEW CANADA [ARTICLE]

WAR PRODUCES A NEW CANADA

EMERGES FROM GREAT WORLD WAR A NATION TRANSFORMED. Chicago, November 21.—1 tis a new Canada that emerges from the world war, a nation transformed^says John R. Bone, writing from Toronto to the Daily News. The war has taken from Canada a cruel toll. More than 50,000 of her bravest sons lie in soldiers* graves in, Europe. Three times that number have been more or less incapacitated by wounds. The cost of .the war in money is estimated to be already $1,100,000,000. These are not light losses for a country of 8,000,000 people. Fortunately there is also a credit side. ■'''•*

Canada has found herself. She has discovered not‘merely the gallantry of her soldiers, but the brains and capacity and efficiency of her whole people. In every branch, an arms, in ■ industry, in finance, she has had to measure her wits against the worid and in no case has Canada reason to be other than gratified. Of the glory that is Canada’s because of the gallantry, endurance and arains of her boys at the front not the half has yet 'been told. “The most formidable fighting force in Europe” is not a phrase of empty words. Historians will review the Canadian corps’ record of the last four months and in cold perspective will write that these words are literally true. Characteristic of all that has gone before is the fact that the last act before the curtain was rung down on the drama of war should be tjie capture of Mons by the Canadian corps. These boys who went from Canada firesides, who never heard the jangle of a sword previous <to 1914, in the last four months have met the flower of the German army, warriors who had given their lifetime to preparation. Divisions totaling one-fourth of the army in succession were in this period met and vanquished by four divisions from Canada. Nor have the people at home been lagging -behind the boys at the front in courage, resourcefulness and efficiency. The development of 4 Canada’s war industry is an industrial, ronqpnce of front rank. American government officials can testify to the efficiency of the manufacturing plants Candada has built up in four short years. _, In department after department where they found American industry failed them they were able to turn to Canada. The full story may be revealed some day. Having triumphed over the soultesting cries of wkr, Canada faces an era of peace with more than confidence. A vast program of reconstruction and of development awaits. The country is eager to get at it and is impatient for the government to give the word. Public works of tremendous importance silent since 1914 are awaiting labor soon to be available. An illimitable hydro-electric development at Niagara in the St. Lawrence is-ready for launching. New mine fields are awaiting peace. Shipbuilding, railway equipment, steel production, and many other industries will under proper direction go forward with a bound. A Canadian commission under Lloyd Harris, fresh from Washington, is headed for Europe for the purpose of securing orders for Canadian industries for the reconstruction of Europe. Canada feels she has earned a large share of that business. '