As for the Dominions, most valuable help in men and money was instantly offered by Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, and gratefully accepted by the Mother Country. South Africa’s help was not less valuable, for the Union Government undertook to conquer the German colonies on the East and the West. About the middle of October, quite a little army came from Canada: horse, foot, gunners, sappers, all fully equipped. These splendid fellows are used to roughing it, and have their wits sharpened by Colonial life. They brought a great many pets and mascots—dogs, goats, birds, and so on—but the strangest of all was a little boy! He had been a paper boy, and he was so eager to come with the Canadians that one regiment smuggled him into their ship. By the time they landed in England the little chap had blossomed into a bugler! I must tell you about the song sung by the Canadian cavalry contingent composed of British Columbian Rough Riders, as they rode through their beautiful country to the sea. This song soon became extraordinarily popular. Here are two verses: “British Columbia Horse are we, From Canada’s Pacific Sea, To make the Kaiser understand He must respect our Motherland. We’ll make him bow and scrape to us For stirring up this horrid fuss; We’ll make him dance the Highland Fling And ‘Rule Britannia’ loudly sing!” These lines may not be very fine poetry, but they have the merit of letting us know exactly how those who sing them feel about this war. Of course it took some time for the whole British Empire to get to work, but it was clear from the very beginning that the German hopes of trouble were absurd. I cannot help picturing to myself with some amusement what a shock it must have been to the Kaiser and his advisers when they began to understand what a blunder they had made. Instead of breaking up the British Empire, they had actually succeeded in drawing it closer together and making it very much stronger. At home also you remember how the outbreak of war seemed to bring us all nearer together, rich and poor alike. Lord Kitchener became Minister of War, and in response to his appeal hundreds of thousands of fine young men hastened to enlist. Party quarrels stopped like magic, and Conservatives and Liberals and Labour men alike joined together to do what they could to help. The younger members of Parliament went off to join the colours, while the older ones made speeches about the war and took their share of the work of relieving those on whom the war had brought much unmerited suffering.