The Dominìon. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1.1, 1910. NO STRAGGLERS-NO NOT ONE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2875, 13 September 1916, Page 4

The Dominìon. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1.1, 1910. NO STRAGGLERS-NO NOT ONE

Sir Douglas _Haig's latest tribute to the fighting qualities of the new British Army, which he has the honour of leading to victory, is characterised by that studied moderation which is a marked feature of tho dispatches of British generals. They are so careful to avoid even the appearance of overstatement in referring to tho achievements of our soldiers that JJiey are apt to go to the other extreme. They are severely economical in their use of superlatives, and it is only occasionally that a touch of human sentiment is allowed to give a little colour to their bare record of facts. When Sir Douglas Haig tells us that our troops showed magnificent spirit and dash in the desperate encounters whIST took place - last week, and that they did splendid work, we know for certain that their courage and endurance must have been terribly tested, and that they came out of the fiery ordeal with honour and glory. The bald official announcement that "we advanced our front on a length of 6000 yards -to a depth varying from 300 to 3000 yards" is easily written and easily read; but the mind cannot grasp, nor the imagination conceive, all the human striving, the suffering, the fortitude, tho courage, the determination to succced at all costs—all the tragedy and heroism that lie behind this one sentence in this one report ; of the British Commander-in-Chief. On questions of strategy, organisation, and policy thore are differences of opinion among those from whom we get our daily news about the war; but about one thing there is absolute unanimity—and that is the indomitable spirit, the wonderful powers of endurance, and the splendid bravery of our soldiers who are fighting this modern crusade against the barbarous Hun. There are no stragglers among the British forces at the front. In almost every war there are a few who are inclined to hold back in tho day of battle; a few fainthearted ones; a few laggards; a few who quail before the great ordeal; a few whose, courage is not quite sufficient for the task sot before them. But those who have had the privilege of witnessing the recent astonishing achievements of tho new British soldiers declare, without qualification or hesitation, that they arc all heroes—every une. Here is what one war correspondent says about the incomparable bravery of these men, and all tho other eye-witnesses bear similar testimony in different words :

There is no measure of prido which tho people at homo mny take in the performance of their armies which is not justified. You who aro mourning need hovo no misgivings, in so far as prido e,in console grief, ,vou have consolation to tho full. ' Your boy behaved magnificently. Perhaps you will say that I write without having "beard of him ov knowing where ho fell. If lie had behaved otherwise I should have heard of him. Ho would have been the ono exception, and wo should all liavo heard of liim. But there are no exceptions. I haro read or heard the reports of battalions, brigades, divisions, corps. I havo listened to the talc of tins fight, of this or that right of left, and from thoso who, from behind, held their

breath and watched. And without exception everywhere it has been the samo story. Tliero were no stragglers, inero was absolutely not a straggler; not one straggler—none, none, none! This, war has shown us the uncommon and extraordinary greatness of the common ordinary man. Of courso we expected our' soldiers to uphold tho best traditions of the British Army, but they have done more than this.. Their achievements have surpassed our highest 'expectations.

Whatever may bo forgotfen about this war, the British Empire will never forget the debt, it owes to the citizen soldiers who at the call of duty left the plough, and factory, and the counter, and the office, in order .to fight, and, if needs be, to aio_ in tho causo_ of freedom ancl civilisation. This heroism of tho ordinary man was lecently referred to by Bit. A. G. Benson, master of Magdalene College, Cambridge, in opening an exhibition of designs for war memorials. He said we were not likely to forget the war, but what we might forget was that the result of it would be tho outcome of modest, faithful, loyal servico done with no flourish or vanity by thousands of very simple, straightforward people, who came forward leaving comfort and home and work and love without any balancing of motives, but just because they felt they must,_ take their plaoo.in the battle of liberty and right against intolerable pride and aggression. There could be no greater proof of tho greatness of a. nation. Dr. Benson hoped that the prevailing notes" in our war memorials would be simplicity, naturalness, and eloquence of emotion rather than'of word. If this could be done the memorials of these dark and great days would stand to witness to our far-off sons and daughters that their foiefathers did not live to no purpose and did not die in vain. The unconscious heroism of the men at the front has often been .commented upon. Ihcy do not think so much about their own. hardships and dangers as tho anxieties of tho folk at home. "Try not to worry about it, writes a young officer to his parents. "I was never more confident or cheerful in my life before, and would not miss the attack for anything on earth. The men are in splendid form, and every officer and man is more happy and cheerful than I have ever seen them.'" TMs was written just before tho beginning of the "great offensive." The officer goes on to say that "it is impossible to fear death out hero when one is no longer an individual, but a member of a regiment and of an army. To be killed moans nothing to mo and it- is! only you who suffer for _it; you really pay the cost." This brave young man was Killed next day, and as tho letter was only to be posted if ho happened to be killed, wc can be quite certain that his written words gave true expression to his thoughts. If ho had lived the letter would never have been read or published. The magnificent fighting qualities of the new armies has completely upset certain theories regarding the making of a soldier. It used to be contended that a soldier with siieh short training as that givon to tho men who now form the bulk of tho British_ Army could not do tho tilings which might be expected from the old Regulars, to whom obedience and discipline wcro a second nature. However bravo he m'ight be, tho improvised soldier, it was contended, would probably bo found wanting when the final push oamo. So said the experts. But tho experienoo of this war is compelling military authorities to,revise their opinions on this point. "We have," says the Spectator, "improvised men, .and, on an average, have not been able to give them more than seven eloign months' training, and—a still greater miracle—wo have improvised our officers by tho thousand. Yet ■ none of the things prophesied by the military critics have happened." The men of tho new armies have had to pass through ordeals unparalleled in their terribleness in the history of warfare, and they liavo stood tho test with a steadfastness that has been the wonder and admiration of the world. They have done all and endured all that man can do and endure—and there aro no' stragglers among them.