16 JANUARY 1915, Page 15

GERMAN-CANADIANS.

[To roe Emma or TEM arm...Toe-1 SIR,—There is obviously much misconception in this country regarding the nature of the German element in the United States and Canada respectively. The former, certainly the noisy and powerful portion of it, is in the main of recent importation. The bulk of Teutonic-Canadians, on the other hand, have been for generations in the country, and came out of various German States long before a United Germany or the "German idea" existed. Berlin, for instance, the town alluded to by your correspondent (Spectator, January 2nd), lies in a large German settled district in Ontario, which dates back for the greater part of a century. Some districts in Canada, too, were settled after the Revolutionary War by German immi- grants from Pennsylvania and elsewhere, either civilians who for various reasons preferred British rule to the untried new Republic, or were frankly loyalists, having served in Colonial loyalist corps or with the German mercenaries utilized by Great Britain in that war. Elaboration is impossible and unnecessary here. But this roughly describes the situation. These German communities, it is true, retained their national characteristics with curious tenacity. But one cannot imagine such ever loyal Canadian-British as they have proved sympathizing with modern Germany and Kaiserism.—I am, Sir, &c., A. G. BRADLEY. Bye Dornzy House Club, Bye, Busses.