From the News

Dated: April 5, 1916

290,000 MEN HAVE ENLISTED

Total War Expenditure at the End of Last Month Totals $187,000,000.

Ottawa, March 30. - Sir Robert Borden stated in the house today, in reply to a question by Mr. Mareil regarding the decision to raise 500,000 troops, that the government always took pains to get the views of the war office in regard to what Canada should do in the matter of raising troops or giving other assistance.  He said that nothing had happened to cause the government to change its mind as to authorizing the enlistment of 500,000 men.  The time necessary to raise this number would depend on conditions, including the demands of agricultural and other industries.  He said that it took six months to get infantry units ready for action, and longer for other units.

To date, the prime minister added, 290,000 men had been enlisted, of whom 112,000 were in Britain or at the front, 135,000 in Canada, 22,000 casualties and 21,700 wastage.  The total expenditure to the end of February last for war purposes was $187,000,000.

The prime minister read a cable which he had received from the minister of militia, stating that the report that Brigadier-General Currie was behind Ypres at the time of the battle of St. Julien was not correct.  He was behind the British lines, and was there for a perfectly good reason.