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Article: Battle of Ottawa (or conscription).
- Article from:
- Esprit de Corps
- Article date:
- July 1, 2000
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2000 S.R. Taylor Publishing. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Prime Minister Borden returned from the Commonwealth Conference in London in the spring of 1917 a worried but determined man. The glory of Canada's victory at Vimy Ridge turned to bitterness when he counted some 10,600 dead and wounded. During a one-year period, casualties approached 75,000 while total recruitment stood at 85,000. During April and May casualties exceeded enlistments by some 5,500. A similar crisis existed in Britain, New Zealand and Australia and, to make matters worse, the French Army on the Western Front was in revolt. Before he left Canada, Borden had floated a trial balloon of conscription although his party showed serious signs of being defeated by ...