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WHEN one is ushered into the presence of the
Major-General commanding the Canadian militia, in his office in the
Parliament Buildings, one is impressed, at first, not so much by the
occupant of the room as by the extreme plainness of the chamber. A table,
a chair, a few shelves there are, but, of garniture, of comfort, none. The
simple appointments, nevertheless, do not seem out of accord when you bow
to Earl Dundonald, and come within the range of his earnest eye. You are
in the presence of a man, and if you can appreciate that fact, are soon
fully absorbed in contemplating a rare personality. Before you are aware
of it he is leading you; you are conscious of a personal magnetism which
holds you to his, eye, and there is little for you to do but to gracefully
surrender. At his home, at Crichton Lodge, also, his library speaks the
soldier. The maps, plans and books that are studied refer not merely to
Canada, nor to the scattered British possessions, but extend over the
globe. One obtains an insight into the vast scope of British military
interests, and into the strenuous life required of an active general
officer. That life is one of labor and devotion to duty, of hard and
constant study, for there need be no limit to the information that may be
mastered and utilized. From South Africa to Canada is a far cry, but no
farther than from Australia to India, from India to Great Britain, from
Britain to China, or from China to St. Petersburg. No matter where a
British officer may, for the time being, be stationed, he is qualifying
himself for whatever place he may be called upon to occupy, and for any
duty he may be called upon to perform, and there is no limit to the
possibilities of his career, except his own. The ideal soldier lives for
his country, and in the broadest view of his profession —when statecraft
is combined with military knowledge—through his country he serves mankind.
Earl Dundonald is an ideal soldier. Practical, thorough, devoted, humane—
no one of his character and calibre has ever been given before by the
homeland to the Canadian militia; and few British generals of today
anywhere could be classed higher for soldierly qualities.
That Earl Dundonald takes a broad view of his duties
in Canada is shown by one of the first addresses he delivered on arriving
in the country. It was at the National Club, Toronto. "I suppose," he
said, you have considered the safety of your country, and of competent
militarism. First of all we must have highly intelligent officers—that is,
men who will not learn lessons from the dead bodies of those they lead. .
. . It is necessary to have brains above all things in the selection of
our officers, and, of course, as much military training as possible. And I
look tpon it as one of the most responsible duties I have to advise the
responsible minister of your country as to who shall be selected for
promotion in the militia of your country. ....I see plainly that here are
many men who cannot give up the time to become efficient soldiers as far
as drill is concerned, but are ready to become efficient rifle shots. What
we ought to go for is the skeleton of trained men, who, under good
officers can become the flesh and blood of good rifle shots in the time of
war. I think if that is done, that if all the wealth and prosperity I see
around me is very seriously threatened, there will be a force sufficient
to defend it, and I am sure it has been proved over and over again in the
past war that it is the quality of the troops upon which success largely
depends, and not upon their numbers. ....I look with great hopefulness for
the Canadian forces being made practically efficient for the purpose for
which they are needed and as regards their courage and sense of duty, no
man can speak with more knowledge and certainty than I."
These remarks were made on assuming his command in
Canada —only a few months ago. But already the Major-General has achieved
a great deal. One has only to glance over the surface of things to observe
the substantial improvements he has effected, examples of which will be
found in the supply of modern quick-firing guns of position; the improved
fifteen pounders for field artillery; the impetus given to practice; the
prominence given to the mounted infantry idea and its practical
development. These are examples which can be quoted by the onlooker: they
can be put in one sentence, 'tis true, but they mean firm purpose and
influence to achieve, for they involve much more than at first glance
might appear. There is always the weight of established usage to remove ;
the prejudices of officialdom, and sometimes unprogressive political
jealousies are brought to bear upon the department, Persistence, tact, and
a good case are necessary elements to progress, and in these Earl
Dundonald is fortunate, and he knows how to use them. His ideas of what
the training of the militia should be can only be gathered from cautiously
expressed opinions now and then given to gatherings of military men. It is
well-known, however, that they are quite in advance of what has been
attained to in Canada It is said that he has reported fully to the
Government, but that on account of the drastic changes proposed, the
report has been in the meantime, at least, held in abeyance. One point is
known—he is in favor of a large central training ground in each province,
for tactical manoeuvres—a township, where practicable—but at least on
large enough. a scale to permit of extensive movements of troops, and
military authorities throughout the country are at one with him, as far as
is known, in this desire, for the grounds at present used for camp
purposes are totally inadequate for the higher training of the assembled
troops. In the advocacy of his plans the Earl has shown policy and broad
qualities of mind. He is not merely a soldier; he is a diplomatist whose
patience, persistence and- never-failing courtesy go hand in hand.
He is a Scotsman who needs not be discovered. Perhaps
it would be nearer the mark to say that he is an Imperial Scotsman. His
hero is the Scot who has contributed most to the glory of the Empire. Nor
is he narrow in his sympathies. For instance, with him the army is a means
to an end; so, also, the public service, trade and commerce, etc., and
that end is the upbuilding and sustaining of the Empire. Yet he is justly
proud of his Scottish ancestry. It may be that his life has been too
crowded to allow of a minute study of all the great names on his ancient
family tree, but he thoroughly understands the historical obligations
which his ancestry has imposed upon him; and modestly, but determinedly he
discharges all his duty to the past and the present to the best of his
ability. It is safe to say that the portion of his life given to Canada
will not detract from the glory of an illustrious name, nor fail in
accomplishing high service for the state.
Earl Dundonald has appeared several times before his
fellow-countrymen in Canada. He gave rein to his feeling at Montreal when
old memories were stirred by the sound of the bagpipes; he received a
hearty welcome from the Toronto Scots, and more recently a Scottish
gathering in historic Glengarry, which he attended, developed into a
Dundonald demonstration. Wherever he has appeared he has captured the
hearts of the people of Scottish descent, and to-day no man occupying a
high position in the country is more popular or more unreservedly trusted.
He bears a message to the Canadian Scot. He struck its keynote when
replying to an address of welcome from the Combined Societies of Toronto.
It is that a connection should be effected between the Scottish Societies
of Canada and the Clan and County Societies of Scotland, with the main
object of maintaining a living link between the mother and daughter lands;
and furnishing a sure agency by which the surplus rural and urban
population of Scotland now seeking homes in foreign lands, should be
diverted to Canada to win fortune and to further strengthen the bond of
Empire. He then urged, and he has repeatedly urged since, that some means
of correspondence should be established between the Canadian and homeland
societies whereby the heads of families should be helped to obtain
positions for their children in the Dominion. In some places in Scotland
it was not, he said, as easy to obtain profitable employment as it was in
Canada, and perhaps the Scottish societies could find a way to work along
the line referred to. Scotchmen should not want to send their kinsmen—
their splendid Highlanders and hard-headed Lowlanders—to live under an
alien flag; to give to that flag and that army the strength that was
needed in the Empire. The surplus of the Scots was needed in Canada, and
he hoped some means should be adopted to secure it more largely than now.
He was, he said, Scotch by birth, and intensely Scotch by sentiment; his
mother was a MacKinnon of Skye, but while in Canada his feelings and
sympathies were strongly Canadian. Here we have the practical man of
affairs: one who takes the tide at the flood; who desires that his day's
darg shall realize something definite and lasting; whose moments are not
thrown away; who sees his opportunity and avails himself of it. That he
will leave a substantial record, when the call comes for higher service
elsewhere, may be taken for granted.
While the earl is impressive he owes not that quality
to his stature. Above medium height, he is slight, smart, soldier-like and
well- proportioned. His expression is that of a thoughtful, earnest
student. A tendency to gravity is relieved by a luminous eye, and a kindly
cast that bespeaks geniality. He has a fund of dry humor at command, and
is bon camarade among his fellows. He has fair gifts of speech, is direct,
logical and magnetic, a clear thinker, an earnest speaker, his words go
home and are unusually effective. He fills a difficult position with
admirable tact and if he should not altogether subscribe to the motto of
this sketch, his comportment bas been such that the amenities between the
military and the civil have not been disturbed.