ves were the only persons there." And it is rather a striking
instance of Police methods to find Edgenton putting in the usual
detachment report and, under the head of discipline, speaking highly of
Conway: "I have had to leave him alone during my patrols, and always
found everything in good order on returning. He is a good man for duty
in the North, and has made several patrols in very cold weather." Other
men well known in that district were non-commissioned officers like
Sergeants Handcock, Belcher, Currie, Mellor, LaNauze, Jones and several
Constables. And, like the army of Sparta, which was the wall around that
country, "every man was a brick."

CHAPTER XVII

THE GREAT WAR PERIOD

The year 1914 gave us in history the spectacle of world-wide sword play,
the rattle of machine-guns, and the roar of heavy artillery, along with
an unprecedented loss of human life. It saw the British Empire, taken
unprepared save for the Grand Fleet, hurling itself against the most
colossal war machinery the world had ever seen assembled by one nation.
And it saw this because Britain, pledged by a "scrap of paper,"
ordinarily called a treaty, to preserve the undamaged neutrality of
Belgium against Germany or any one else, counted no cost too great for
the maintenance of her sacred honour. But that fateful year saw our men
not only on the field of struggle, but witnessed our people, whom the
necessities of the case forced to remain behind, steadily keeping the
wheels of industry turning at the base of supply, preventing internal
discord and maintaining the integrity of the country unbroken, despite
hostile influences that were at work. It is a common expression that
when the Empire is at war Canada is at war. That saying has been proven
again and again till it has become an undisputed axiom. It had been
demonstrated before 1914, and then demonstrated again, till it needs no
further proof. It is part of the Empire's history that the far-flung
colonies of Britain are at her side when danger threatens their mother.
Hence, at the sound of the war trumpet, Canadians rushed to the Colours.

Amongst the first who desired to be sent to the Front after the general
call had gone out were the Royal North-West Mounted Police, who hoped to
go as a unit. The request was made at the outset, renewed in 1917 and
1918. But the Canadian Government, fully aware of certain conditions in
the country, not only refused this request, but ordered that t