COLONEL SAM HUGHES.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1927, 9 December 1913, Page 7

COLONEL SAM HUGHES.

A CHARACTER SKETCH OF CANADA'S DEFENCE MINISTER. The rccent report on Canadian land, defences, issued by Sir lan Hamilton/ gives additional point to this sketch of Canada's Minister of Defence, which appeared recently in tho "Manchester Guardian"; —Colonel Hughe* deafly' loves action. He wants something to bo going on all the tune. Tho fact that armies seem to be an anachronism on the- American Continent does not appeal to him at all. Ho always was a soldier because lie likes soldiering, and being now in charge of Canada's army ho does not- propose that it shall be a mere dummy army. Backed by General Sir lan Hamilton, whom ho recently whiskedacross the country on a tour of inspection, lie now has a scheme by which tho name, of evcrv man between- the ages of 18 and GO shall appear on iho musterroll of Canada's army. This will provido for battalions one. million strong. Not all of them will be trained, but Colonel Hudies will have their names should trouble arise. And as for the boys growing tip, lie hopes the time is not far distant when all of them will have military training. It is too la.to to catch the present generation to make soldiers of them, but, there is hope for tho next and succeeding ones. * Colonel Hughes does not want war. He wants to revive in Canada the spirit of romance, the love of adventure; ho wants to review, bands to phiv, colours to delight the sun, and action. Ho is tho hero o? what have termed "Hughes's mothers' mocliiujs," brewnse throughout tho length and breadth of the countrv he has established the dry canteen. Old campaigners said it would not work, hut more soldiers turned out to drill this year than ever. This year lie is .spending on the militia nearly two dollars" for every man, woman, and child in the country. This will look small in Europe, but it is millions more than anv previous Minister cwr secured, and Colonel Hughes says lie is only boginning. New armouries, rifle, ranges, and new regiments are sprouting nil over the country. And this savs nothing of new colonels. Sir Thomas Shaughncssr, of tho C.P.R., and Sir Donald Mann, of tho C.N.R., he caught, them .when they were pot looking and made thorn honorary colonels. Tiny did not know what for, but will find out if there are troops to transport. Lo is the kind of man other men swear both by and at. His critics say lie lacks tonoso and dianifv, is too familiar with his inferiors, and is vain, bumptious, and self-assertive. But he is always a fighter. In -1899 ho was a- colonel of a lament ami a member of Parliament. 'As'a, mosnher of Parliament lie umlortc.ok !o Gi'isui'iil Hut ton. Cons* iiiumlor-m-CimT. As his inimoi'V . sijpf'riov Ooncrnl rTnltoU' tolu luiu to shut up. He didn't. Consequent ly when !|ii> ,South African war broke out lie couldn't get- a commission from General ITntlon, although Sir Wilfrid Laurier, then Premier, personally applied for it. So, when the boat carrying the Canadian contingent pulled out, Colonel Hughes was a. desolate, disconsolate ficnii'o in. tweeds seated on a pile o'l baggage. Rut in South Africa lie got a commission direct, remained three y.ears, and did valiant seirico.