CANADA'S GOLGOTHA

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 221, 12 June 1919, Page 5

CANADA'S GOLGOTHA

OFFICIAL ANSWER TO HUN PROTESTS.

The attention of the Canadian authorities was recently directed to a report transmitted through the wireless stations of the German Government of an interview given out by the Under-Secretary of Stale of the German Foreign Office, complaining of the exhibition of a bas-relief by Captain Derweut Wood, A.E.A., ontitled "Canada's Golgotha," in a recent exhibition of Canadian way paintings and sculptures at Burlington House. The bas-relief in question represented part of a barn in ruins, with a Canadian soldier to the framework or door. As the interview mentioned above claims that the Canadian Government has lont official sanction to what is termed in the interview an "invented outrage," the Ministry of Overseas Military Forces of Canada' has authorised the following statement to be published: The bas-relief in question was executed entirely on his own initiative and without liny suggestion, bo far as is known, from any -Canadian source, by Captain-Derwcnt Wood, an Associate of the Royal Academy, who is not a Canadian citizen, and does not hold a commission in the Canadian Army. Captain Derwont Wood offered the bas-relief to the Trustees of the Canadian War Memorials Fund, which is a voluntary organisation supported by private subscription and to which are from lime to time allotted the proceeds of the sale and exhibition of certain Canadian official photographs and paintings. The trustees of the above fund on their own responsibility purchased this bas-relief, and. it is'understood, havo expressed Hii'ir intention to offer it and other works pf or'i purchased by or presented to them to the Government of Canada under certain conditions. This bas-relief wns exhibited recently in London, together with other paintings and works (if art. (lie property <>f the Canadian War Memorials Fund, at an exhibition arranged by the- trustees of that fund, who listil for that purpose the- facilities of the Canadian War Records Office. The profits of this and of similar exhibitions became the property of the fund. Although the Canadian Governmenthave not as yet signified their intention of accepting the bas-relief for any national purpose, certain ' investigations have been made as to the truth of the incident it purports to portray, and a considerable amount of evidence- ha? been and is being collected with regard to this question. Included in the evidence so far in the possession of the Canadian Government are sworn statements by soldiers of tho best character serving both with the Canadian and Imperial Forces who were unknown to one another, and between whom there was no possibility of collusion, the effect of which is identical, viz., that on or about April 23, 11)15. in passing along a road in the 'noar vicinity of Sf. .fitlien. in Belgium, tliny saw a soldier pinned to a barn door by means of bayonets through the hands' and wrists, and lint this soldier wore a uniform and identification badges which loci thorn to tlie bcliof that lie was a.Canadian soldier.

The jubilee of Principal Iverach, of the United I'Yeo Church golleee. Aberdeen, was celebrated recently in I'crryliill U.F. Clnirdi. of which he wns previously pastor. Gifts and trib"lea were offered him from tho congregation, the Presbytery, the College, tho University, and the city. Messages of congratulation aud appreciation were also sent from prominent churchmen at a distance.