(_May 12, 1917_)
It must not be forgotten that in the month of February, 1915, at
Ypres, in the north of France, near the Belgian frontier, in a country
devastated by floods, after the terrific assault of the German soldiers
by means of asphyxiating gases--Germany, the country that has caused
science to swerve from its true ends, and, instead of pouring its
benefits upon mankind, has visited humanity with manifold evils and
crimes--that same Germany had to meet your Canadian soldiers. On that
terrific day, your sons, rising in their might, saved the situation.
And throughout many battles, throughout numerous and recent victories,
the soldiers of Canada stood up heroically against the foe. Even at
this moment, we have before our eyes your boys, so alert, so athletic,
so brave, the first to storm, victoriously carrying their flag to those
heights of Vimy which were reputed to be impregnable.
Hail to all these soldiers; let us bow our heads reverently before
those who fight, those who suffer, and those who have laid down their
lives for their country. They had a clear perception of what their
action meant; when they left this country they were well aware that
it was not only Great Britain that they were called upon to defend,
that it was not only France that they were going to protect against
the attacks of invaders:--their clear vision upturned toward Heaven,
detected the higher object; they were well aware that it was the
sacred cause of humanity, of democracy, and of justice, that they were
defending.