securities and this, on Apr. 1, 1917, was reversed as follows: "Since that date the country's gold reserve has been further materially strengthened and supplies a broad basis for additional credit. The Board considers that Banks may, with advantage, invest a reasonable amount of their resources in foreign securities." In May the Government issued its first War Loan for $2,000,000,000 at 32% and the public (4,000,000 of them) promptly subscribed $3,035,226,850, though only the original sum was allotted. On Oct. 1 a new Liberty Loan issue was offered of $3,000,000,000, 4% convertible gold bonds, due Nov. 15, 1942. Mr. McAdoo announced that the money was wanted for military and naval equipment, payment of soldiers and sailors, construction of a great fleet of merchant vessels and creation of a large fleet of aeroplanes. Eventually, on Nov. 8, he was able to announce that $4,617,532,300 had been subscribed by 9,400,000 persons and institutions; 50% of the over-subscription was allotted. Message to Canada from the U.S. Secretary for War 3rd Anniversary of the War August 4, 1917 Our hearts go out to Canada to-day, when the great Dominion is entering on her fourth year of the battle against German autocracy. I cannot speak excepting for my own Department, but with Canada we face a common foe with ten millions of our men registered under a plan for selective draft, with our regular army trebled and our National Guard more than doubled through enlistments, or a united force of half a million men, with an aircraft programme of great proportions in process of realization; with weapons ranging from small arms to the heaviest artillery in hurried manufacture; with great camps through the country beginning to turn out their thousands of intensively trained officers for the new troops; with huge cantonments being rushed to completion for the housing of half a million men called into action under the selective draft; with special forces such as engineers, forestry men and aviators being despatched to the side of the Canadians now so bravely working in France and Belgium. It is not for me to fix a value on what we are accomplishing or how much sooner our efforts will enable our Allies to bring to its successful end this horrible war, with its sufferings and burdens which have been so keenly felt by our neighbours across the Lakes; but this we know, that our common effort will do much to strengthen the friendly relations which have existed always between the people of Canada and the United States. NEWTON D. BAKER CANADA AND THE WAR-THE GOVERNMENT The Gover in Public Affairs and the War. H. E. The Duke of Devonshire did not, of course, nor-General touch the military side of Canadian life and the War as his Royal predecessor had done, but he and the Duchess during 1917 took effective interest in all public matters associated with the War and Imperial interests in Canada. At the beginning of the year the GovernorGeneral was in Toronto and on Jan. 22 inaugurated the Patriotic Fund Campaign at a Massey Hall meeting-the first large public gathering he had addressed in Canada. During his speech the Duke said: "I would also like to add that the King takes a great and, indeed, the liveliest interest in the work this Fund is doing. He knows all of the great work Canada has done." In conclusion he declared that when the War was brought to a successful conclusion "it will be our business to see that the British Empire shall be the greatest instrument for maintaining peace the world has ever seen. During this visit His Excellency received the Hon. degree of LL.D. at the University of Toronto; inspected the Housing scheme of G. Frank Beer and his associates, and accepted an Address presented by Mr. Beer; visited the Spadina Military Hospital and College Street Convalescent Home; inspected the new Connaught Laboratories associated with Toronto University and the generosity of Col. A. E. Gooderham. At Montreal on Feb. 9 the Duke helped to launch the local Patriotic Fund at a crowded luncheon of the Canadian Club and by addressing an afternoon meeting of the Women's Canadian Club and an evening mass-meeting in the Monument National. Sir Herbert Ames, at the latter meeting, stated that $18,000,000 had been contributed by the people and $12,000,000 more was required. Victor Morin, President of St. Jean Baptiste Society, was in the chair and Archbishop Bruchési was one of the speakers. An Address was presented to the Duke who replied in French and congratulated the Society upon its work in this connection and urged that all its force and energy be utilized to uphold in the War the time-honoured rights and privileges secured to Canadians by the bravery and sacrifice of their fathers. To the meeting of women was proclaimed the fact that Great Britain would never have asked the aid of the Dominions if it had not first been generously offered and the further fact that at the time of speaking the British Empire, in numbers of men, manufacture of munitions and warlike supplies, supply of money, and almost complete control of the sea was "the greatest war machine ever created." On Feb. 22-25 the Duke and Duchess and Ladies Maud and Blanche Cavendish were again in Toronto, when the Duke first attended a meeting of the Red Cross Society and heard reports of much work done from Col. Noel Marshall, Col. G. A. Sweny and Brig.-Gen. the Hon. James Mason. Visits followed to the soldiers at Exhibition Camp, to Loretto Abbey and St. Joseph's College, to several important War industries and to Upper Canada College, with a Dinner at the Speakers' Patriotic League. The Duchess visited the Toronto General Hospital. Winnipeg was then visited by Their Excellencies and the chief items of their round of public duties in the succeeding months of the year may be briefly summarized as follows: Brandon.....March 6... Ottawa.. Visit to Agricultural College and C.P.R. Shops. Address to Women's Canadian Club and Grain Exchange Visit to the General, Grace and St. Boniface Hospitals. Reception. Receipt of Hon. LL.D. from University. Presented V.C. to Father of late Leo Člarke. Inspection of Schools and Visit to Red Cross Offices. Review of Troops and Boy Scouts. . Opening of Winter Fair and Address to Canadian Club. . Opening of the 4th International Roads Congress. .May 19-21... Visit to Red Cross and other Patriotic Headquarters. Opening of Mountain Hospital and Public Reception. In residence and Fishing trip to Magdalen Islands. Opening of Military Hospital. .Inspection of Internment Camp for Alien Enemies. Visit to Bishop Strachan School. Receiving of Navy League Deputation. Attended Y.M.C.A. Campaign Fund Dinner. Opening of Connaught Laboratories for the University. . Presented War Decorations to Veterans. Nov. 20-26... 44 :: Nanaimo.....Nov. 23. Duncan.. Vancouver. Calgary 44 Regina. Nov. 24 Nov. 26. 44 Review of Military Units and acceptance Provincial Address. Address to Canadian Club and Inspection of Cadet Corps. Inspection of Military Units and Military Hospital. Inspected Ship-yards and urged Construction. Address at High School. Civic Welcome and Address. . Accepted Civic Banquet. Address to the Canadian Club. Opened Returned Soldiers' Club. Visited Hastings Lumber Plant and Opened Holy Rosary .Dec. 1-2......Civic Address and Luncheon. Attended Veterans' Concert. Visit to Victory Loan headquarters; Review of Boy Scouts eral Hospitals. Received Civic Address and visited Grey Nun's Hospital. tions. Visit to Public, Separate, Normal and Collegiate Schools. Received Legislative Address and attended Government Reception. PLACE DATE SPECIAL FUNCTIONS Winnipeg....Dec. 10...... Visited St. Mary's Academy. Halifax.. 44 Dec. 22..... Address to Business and Professional Men. Visit to Devastated Area and Address to Relief Executive. From Halifax to Victoria, therefore, the Duke's activities had spread and everywhere he left the impression of common sense, patriotic feeling and insight into war conditions. An interesting function of his first year at Ottawa was the marriage of Lady Mary Hamilton, daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Abercorn, to Capt. R. O. R. Kenyon-Slaney, A.D.C., on May 25-said to be the first wedding from historic Rideau Hall; the Duke's visit to Cobalt and the North country was, also, the first one of a Vice-regal character. In June it was announced that the Governor-General had donated 26 bronze medals for competition in the Public and High Schools and Collegiate Institutes of Saskatchewan; on Sept. 15 the Duke, as Patron, and the Duchess as President of the Canadian Red Cross Society, issued an appeal for the British Red Cross funds: "The ever-widening theatre of war involves an ever-increasing call upon the resources of the Red Cross, which depends entirely upon the voluntary offerings of a grateful and generous Empire." Through a letter to Sir Thomas White His Excellency on Nov. 11 urged support to the Victory Loan in order "to provide funds for Canada's continued, vigorous prosecution of the War and to furnish needed credits whereby the Imperial Government may be enabled to purchase in the Dominion, grain, foodstuffs, munitions and other supplies." A curious incident in connection with the Governor-General's visit to Calgary developed in a formal protest from the local Ministerial Association against his visit to Mr. Pat. Burns' ranch on a Sunday. On Christmas Day there went a Message from His Excellency to the Canadian forces in France of congratulation upon "the ever-increasing lustre" of their deeds, and from the Duchess a contribution of 2,000 boxes of specially-prepared chocolates for the children of unfortunate Halifax. Flowers went also to the Halifax hospitals and on Dec. 31 the Duke, as President, issued his formal appeal for renewed support to the Canadian Patriotic Fund-"for the families of the gallant men who on land and sea are so nobly defending the Empire and maintaining the principles of liberty and justice. H.R.H. the Duke of Connaught, ex-Governor-General, had not forgotten Canada in 1917 and took a continuous interest in Canadian troops, hospitals, institutions and interests abroad. On Jan. 23 he visited Shorncliffe Camp and inspected the forces in training, visited the Canadian Military Hospital at Beachborough and paid special tribute to the work of the Y.M.C.A., for which he opened a new Hut. The Duchess of Connaught died on Mar. 14 and various tributes were paid to her memory in Canada with kindly recollections of her personality and work. The funeral took place on the 19th with the Dominion represented by Sir Robert Borden, Sir George and Lady Perley, and others; a Memorial Service was also held at Westminster Abbey with other services in Toronto, Ottawa and various Canadian centres. |