“I Want to Join Your Club”: Letters from Rural Children, 1900-1920

"My Father Has Enlisted": Children and the First World War [Includes Image Plates]

"My Father Has Enlisted" Children and the First World War Although Canadian and Newfoundland children were far from the war zone, war touched and shaped their lives and their attitudes . In 1914, they, like many adults, were swept up in the patriotic fervour of the time. They were anxious to do their part and ready to sacrifice time and energy, if not their very lives, for king and country. They were appalled and saddened when the human toll of war touched their families and communities. They rejoiced when the "war to end all wars" was over and they hoped peace would endure forever. 213 Explains theWar Dear Maple Leaves: Maurine, an Ontario girl, asks if any of the Leaves can tell her the cause of the present European War. The quarrel began by the murder of the Crown Prince of Austria and his wife, by a Servin. For this horrid outrage, the Austrian government made certain demands on the Servin government. Servia yielded to most of these demands, and what she could not agree to, she wished to settle by arbitration. This did not satisfy Austria, so Austria declared war on Servia. The European nations are like a band of warriors who live together as neighbors, but do not agree very well. Some are big and strong, others are small and weak. When any trouble arises the big powers generally take a large share in it and help to decide the matter. The parties on either side are pretty equally divided, and this often makes it difficult to prevent a war. A war between Austria and Servia was like a fight between a strong man and a small boy, and Russia being related to Servia, would not stand aside to allow Servia to be crushed. When Russia began to collect her troops to warn Austria to be cautious, Germany sent word to Russia that unless she stopped these war preparations within twelve hours Germany would declare war on Russia. Russia had no intention of making war so long as there was hope of a peaceful settlement . France, Britain, and Italy tried to get the other powers to work together for peace, but before anything could be done, Germany declared war against Russia, and at the same time, Germany set out to attack France, because France had agreed to help Russia if war broke out. Now Germany had planned to attack France by sending soldiers through Belgium in order to attack France at her weakest part. This was breaking the law of nations and the Belgians would not allow it without a fight. It was also breaking a treaty with Britain, which declared that neither France nor Germany should be allowed to attack each other by sending troops through Belgium. So Belgium and Britain were drawn into the struggle against Germany. Some years ago France took all her warships away from the coasts that lie near Britain. This relieved the British from fear of attack by France and showed the British that the French trusted them, so when war broke out, Britain felt obliged to defend these coasts against German attack. So Russia is helping Servia against 214 Austria and is also at war with Germany. France entered the war to help Russia. Belgium is fighting against an unprovoked invasion by Germany, and Britain is helping France and Belgium. The German Government would not take part in helping to arrange for a peaceful settlement when the quarrel began between Austria and Servia. They seem to have wanted a war to get a chance to rule all western Europe, by driving as the Boers would say, the Danes, the Dutch, the Belgians and the French into the sea and making these countries states of the German Empire. This would soon cause the downfall of Britain also. Then Austria would like to rule the Balkan States, but Russia cannot allow this. Germany's ambition is to build an empire greater than any the world has yet known. This is what her great armies and navies are for. It is hoped that the European War may show that it is better to build an empire on justice, freedom and brotherhood, rather than on armaments. Farm Boy Sask. Family Herald and Weekly Star October 28, 1914 215 Canada and theWar When England was forced to take a place in this great war she appealed to her colonies for help. The loyality of the...