deserved to be. In the higher circles of command Maj.-Gen. Arthur Wm. Currie, c.B., Maj.-Gen. Richard Ernest Wm. Turner, V.C., C.B., D.S.O., and Maj.-Gen. Samuel Benfield Steele, C.B., M.V.O., were knighted with a K.C.M.G. in each case. The awards of D.S.O., M.C., and D.S.C., and Military and Distinguished Conduct Medals, Royal Red Cross and other Honours were very numerous-numbering at least 3,000 by the close of the year if mention in Despatches be included. Next to the V.C. was the D.S.O. and ranking high, therefore, were the Bars to that Honour with Lieut.-Col. C. W. Weldon McLean, D.S.O., son of Maj.-Gen. H. H. McLean, M.P., of St. John, as the only Canadian winner of three Bars-and, it was said, the only one in the whole British Army. Another exceptional matter was the winning of both the D.S.O. and M.C. with Lieut.Col. J. B. Rogers, Majors T. R. Coleman, A. P. Miller, Cyril North, Fred Lister, H. W. A. Foster, Charles Reynolds, S. C. Nors worthy, K. A. Mahaffy, H. M. Urquhart and Captains C. E. Bailey (a Bar to the M.C. also), L. D. Heron, and D. E. McIntyre amongst the recipients, while Fl. Lieut. Basil D. Hobbs won the D.S.O. and D.S.C. Other incidents were the fact of Col. W. P. Anderson, Ottawa, having three sons on active service and each decorated with the D.S.O.; the mention in Despatches five times (up to January, 1917) of Brig.-Gen. J. H. Elmsley, C.M.G., D.S.O., of Toronto; the volunteering for service of Vice-Adm. John Denison, R.N., from the retired list and, when over 60 years of age, his reversion to the rank of Captain and winning of the D.S.O.; the conferring of Military Medals upon 90 Western Canadians in September for bravery shown during the battles around Lens and the rapidity of promotion and honours won by Canadians in the Imperial Service. Special Honours of the year 1917 were as follows: C.M.G. Col. C. A. Hodgetts. C.M.G. Lieut.-Col. H. F. McDonald, D.8.0. C.M.G. Maj.-Gen. S. C. Mewburn. C.M.G. Lieut.-Col. C. C. Van Straubenzie. D.S.O. Col. H. S. Birkett. Brig.-Gen. A. C. Joly de Lotbini C.B. C.B. C.M.G. Lieut.-Col. M. Murray Alexander. C.M.G. Colonel G. P. Murphy C.B. C.M.G. Hon. Col. The Rev. R. H. Steacy. C.B. Col. J. A. Roberts. FOREIGN DECORATIONS ére, c.s.I., C.I.E. Brig.-Gen. A. D. McRae. Brig.-Gen. P. E. Thacker, C.M.G. Commander Order of Leopold.... Belgium.....Maj.-Gen. David Watson. Russia. . Maj.-Gen. H. C. Uniacke. . Brig.-Gen. H. E. Burstall, c. B. Lieut.-Col. J. J. Creelman. France. France. France. Lieut.-Col. D. S. MacInnes, c. M. G., D.8.0. .Surg.-Gen. Eugene Fiset, C.M.G. Lieut.-Col. Albert E. LeBel, M.D. Lieut. Ronald Neil Stuart, D.8.0.. Pte. Michael James O'Rourke Sgt. Fred. Hobson.. Pte. Harry Brown. . Royal Naval Reserve....P.E. Island. (K).. Canadian Infantry Canadian Infantry. Major Wm. Avery Bishop, M.C., D.8.o... Royal Flying Corps and Cpl. Filip Konowal.... Lieut. Robert Grierson Combe. Pte. John George Pattison. Capt. Francis Alex. Caron Scrimger. Lieut. Fred. Wm. Campbell (K).. D.S.O.. Lieut. Fred. Maurice Watson Harvey.. Major Fred. Lumsden. Čavalry. Canadian Infantry Winnipeg. Quebec. New Westminster. East Emily, Ont. Owen Sound. . Melville, Sask. Med. Officer 14th Batt'n .Montreal Marine Artillery.. Lieut. Thomas Orde Lawder Wilkinson... North Lancashire Regt... Pte. John Chipman Kerr. Pte. Leo Clarke (K)... Canadian Infantry. Medicine Hat. .Fox River, N.S. Winnipeg. FORMATION OF THE UNION GOVERNMENT The Popular Movement Toward Union Government. The ideal of united or national Government, in face of a great crisis, or in days of a vast war struggle such as this of 1914-17, was a natural, instinctive impulse. It had long been a fact in Britain-though not always in name; it was practically a reality in France except for a small Socialist minority; it became one in New Zealand in 1916 and in Australia during 1917; all parties in South Africa were united-excepting the incorrigible Hertzog following. At the beginning of the War the Liberals of Canada stood instantly and loyally behind the Borden Government; after a time rifts appeared in the co-operation and political differences developed; then came greater problems evolved by the pressure of war the failure of Recruiting, the situation in Quebec, the Conscription issue and enforcement when passed, the complications of Western thought and policy. At this stage Sir Wilfrid Laurier appeared to have abandoned his co-operative attitude. He refused to join the Government in a Recruiting appeal, he was understood from the first to be opposed to Conscription and finally fought it to the end, he keenly contested the War-times Election Act and refused to support a further extension of the Parliamentary term. While these events were transpiring public opinion was slowly being formed and consolidated. Sir Robert Borden, as the head of the Government since War began the only original War Premier left in the world except M. Radislavoff of Bulgaria-was the target of attack, and also the rallying point of action. The Liberal press, in an increasing degree during 1916 and then 1917, denounced him as slow in thought and policy, lacking in all initiative, devoid of personal or political strength. The very keenness and continuous character of this criticism proved the Premier to be a bigger man than his opponents would admit; at the same time the Opposition could not, or did not, suggest anyone who could take his place in party leadership and war-action -except, of course, their own Leader. As a matter of logical argument, if Sir Robert Borden was responsible for all the inevitable faults and weaknesses of a War Government in a nation of pacifists and of unpreparedness, he was also responsible for what was accomplished by that Government-for cabling and pledging Canadian co-operation two days before the War began, for having 30,000 men ready to ship abroad in six weeks, for enlisting 420,000 men and sending 325,000 Overseas in three years, for keeping the industries of Canada going and building up a vast munition business of $1,000,000,000, for trebling Canada's trade in the years of war, for the establishment of pensions and a great Hospital system, for organizing a Soldiers' land settlement scheme, for large revenues, for taxation of varied interests. The fact was that many others shared with |