THE SCARLET RIDERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 April 1918, Page 7

THE SCARLET RIDERS.

MAN-HUNTING IN THE WILDERNESS. A MARGIN OF CIVILISATION. CANADIAN NORTH-WEST. (Bv A. W. Packard, late corporal ill R.N.W.M. Police.) This is the law of the Yukon, and ever she makes it plain: Send not your foolish and feeble; send me your strong and your sane. Particularly does this standard, which tiie Canadian Kipling so dramatically sets for the type of manhood required in the Great North-West, apply to that picturesque body, the Royal North-West Mounted Police. For this historic organisation lias done much to make Canada's Far West habitable and to make British law and order respected in a community which is so largely composed of foreigners. Mueli has been written in song and story about tlie "Scarlet Riders," but when all is said and done little is really known about their constitution and their later days. It was away back in 1885, at the time of the Riel Rebellion, and again later on the trail of 'OS, when they broke in the Yukon to law and order, that the North-West Mounted Police, as they were then called, justified their existence for all time on the Canadian frontier. It was then that the outside world began to sit up and take notice of the "Queen's Bloodhounds." For years they had done outpost duty in the frozen north, to the tune of untold hardship and peril, but they were not Press agents, ar.d civilisation was very far removed. Indeed, if one factor more than any other has served to establish the organisation in the niche of fame it to-day occupies, it has been the conservatism of the "mov.nties" with regard to their own exploits. Time without number official communiques have told in a few terse sentences deeds that, when they did filter through to the outside world, prompted volumes of fiction. Like the British Navy, the R.N.W.M. Police force has a great prestige behind it, a prestige that it lias zealously guarded, and through sheer merit maintained. Three factors have served t» make this possible; First, the class of men it recruited; second, the code of honor; and, lastly, the iron discipline it imposed. THE "DEVIL-CARES." The heterogeneous composition of the ranks of the Scarlet Riders is proverbial. It includes men recruited from all walks and all stations of life —peers' sons, excowboys, ex-artists, ex-army officers, expreachers, ex-doctors, ex-everything. By devious ways and for different reasons representatives of this diversified order have one day donned the tight-fitting scarlet serge tunic, the dark blue riding breeches relieved with a broad yellow stripe, the knee-high brown riding boots the spurs, and the broad-riinmed Stetson hat, which uniform has made the mounted policeman second to none in point of smart appearance. Except in the case of trumpeters, recruits must be between the ages of 22 and 40 years, not more than 1751b in weight, and be of good all-round physique. They must be British subjects, and prepared to sign up for not less than three years' service. It is also stipulated that a recruit must be able to ride, but this provision is not insisted upon in the case of likely-looking material. Good references as to character must be produced. The scale of.pay is as follows: First-year constable (or trooper), one dollar (4s 2d) per day; second year, one dollar and five cents (4s 4Ad); third year, one dollar and ten cents (4s 7d); fourth and subsequent years, one dollar and 25 cents (os 2Jd); n.c.o.'s—corporal, one dollar and 50 cents (0s 3d); sergeant, one dollar and 75 cents (7s), and other ranks as per scale. All ranks are provided liberally with everything in the shape of food, clothing, and equipment. Men completing not less than twenty years' service are entitled to a small pension. THE TRAINING OF THE RECRUITS. The life is an exacting one, and calls for some of the best qualities in a man. Naturally it follows that the training of recruits is as severe as it is thorough, and if a candidate fails to make good he is invariably "scrapped." The recruit is first of all put through the riding school, and if he is not a good rider the sergeant-major and his rough-riding assistant (who, incidentally, at the present time, is an old Te Kuiti boy, Corporal Kelson) will soon make him one if the material is in him. The instructors do not use "kid-gloved" methods, and if the recruit displays a yellow streak his career as a mounted is cut short. Particular attention is also paid to marksmanship. Before a man is sent out oil outpost duty he must qualify with tiie regulation double-action Colts .45. A recruit is also given practice with the Lee-En-field carbine, which also forms part of his equipment. Each year, no matter where he is stationed, a member of the force has to requalify with the revolver There are in consequence some wonderful "gunmen" wearing the uniform, and in horsemanship, individually or in troop order, many of the men exhibit a great degree of proficiency. Foot drill as per Army Regulations—for the force is established on a military hasis —is taught the recruit, and he is also required to qualify in a series of lectures in Western polite work. For all practical purposes the daily routine in the life of a recruit is the same as that obtaining in any camp or school of military instruction. In the matter of pleasures, the men are by no means overlooked. The police grounds, which are very extensive, contain both cricket and football fields, and R.N.W.M. Police teams are allowed to take part iiHjSlic local civilian competitions. The barracks house is a comfortably furnished and well-stocked library also a billiard-room aud a reading-room besides which there are a concert hall and bowling alley. Regina City, which is reached by electric tramcars, offers a still wider field for amusement. AN HISTORICAL LANDMARK. Situated about two miles west of Regina, on the broad plains of Saskachewan, the big R.N.W.M. Police training depot in size and appearance presents a small modern town. The buildings, most of which are in brick, include a huge barracks for the rank and file, rown of attractively-built houses for the officers large administration quarters, buildings for stores, four large stables, blacksmiths premises, and all manner of artisans' shops. In one corner is the quaint old regimental chapel, the interior of which is adorned with numerous brass tablets erected in honor of officers and men who have made the great sacrifice in fulfilment of their duty. Hard-by this still stands the grim and forbidding guardhouse where the half-breed rebsl, Lou's Riel, w hanged. The combination rid-

ing school and gymnasium is an im-j mouse structure, and, like the rest of| tiso buildings is up-to-date in every rc-j sped-. Somewhat apart from the vest ofj the buildings, is the polite hospital, officered aind maintained by members of the force, for whose exclusive use it was erected. And from the hospital it is not a very far step to the R.N.W.M. Police graveyard, and many of Britain's stalwart sons have passed from the one to find in the other that "peace which passelh understanding" For in the little Crimson Manual it is written plain and clear: Those that would wear the scarlet coat Must say good-bve to fear. LONG PATROLS. This brings me to the most interesting chapter of the service—that which has to do with the actual work carried on at R.N.W.M. Police outposts. From Regitia the recruit is sent out in the first instance to what is known as a "divisional post."' Here he receives the finishing touches whilst performing various police duties under the supervision of experienced n.e.o.'s. He is sent out in the. company of others 011 long patrols, anything from 100 to .'IOO or 'IOO miles. These are periodically made through country both settled and unsettled, with the object of visiting all the ranches and other places on the line of patrol, and so as to check cattle stealing, smuggling and the like. The force is actuated by the belief that prevention is better than cure, and to this end these patrols are often sent with a view to impressing on those with latent criminal tendencies that despite the distance from civilisation there is such a thing as law and order in the country. Wherever possible all complaints and reports received by the patrol are attended to en rsute, and summary justice is dispensed. In the southern parts of Alberta and Saskatchewan horses are used, wherever practicable, both summer and winter, and snow-shoes, too, during the latter season. In the northern parts and in the Yukon and the Mackenzie River country the portage is made in the summer by means of birch-bark canoes on the innumerable lakes and rivers, while in the winter the "mounties" "mush" behind dog teams.