22 JULY 1943, Page 2

Canada's Great Effort

Nothing is more difficult in the framing of communiqués than to 'give the right measure of publicity to the different national units engaged—Indian, Dominion, Colonial,' British and now American, or even as between English and Scottish. In the earlier phases of the North African fighting so much prominence (just in itself) was given to Australian, New Zealand and Indian troops, that most p.tople in the United States came to suppose that the inhabitants 01 this island were leaving others to fight for them, at a time when in fact 75 per cent. of the casualties were native British. That these d:fficulties still exist is shown by Mr. Mackenzie King's objection to General Eisenhower's opening communique on Sicily, which said that the landings were made by " Allied troops " and did not mention Canadians specifically. Mr. Churchill dealt with the point sensibly and tactfully in replying last Tuesday to a question in the House of Commons, and it is to be hoped that the large amount of separate mention since accorded to the Canadians has effaced any sense of grievance in the Dominion. That Canadians should be sensitive was not surprising, for their all-round war effort has been phenomenal, and they had gone all this time with hardly any battle-glory to adorn it. Even now only part of their fighting strength has joined in ; part is reserved for a further enterprise. As to their industrial war record, two facts may convey some idea of its scale. First, that among all the Allied countries Canada ranks fourth as a war-producer—that is, behind America, Britain and Russia only. Secondly, that (as stated in Parliament ten days ago by Sir Arthur Salter) the Dominion; besides building quantities of naval craft, is now producing as much new merchant tonnage as the United Kingdom.