Canada had offered a second contingent as far back as November 7, so that her Government may claim the credit of first realising the danger. The offer was not accepted till the December defeats had taught the British Ministry the perils of the situation. On December 18, Sir Wilfrid Laurier held a Cabinet Council and instructed the Militia Department to prepare the new contingent with the utmost expedition. Its strength was fixed at three squadrons of mounted rifles and three batteries of artillery, mustering a total of 1,044 men. The Premier of the North West Territories announced, even before the appeal was made, that he would undertake to raise 1,000 expert horsemen and good marksmen at twenty-four hours' notice in his territories alone. When the call for volunteers came, here, as in Australia, many times as many men offered themselves as could be accepted. Finally, the strength of the second Canadian contingent was raised to 1,300 men with six 12-pounder guns, but even so, it was far below the wishes of the people. The men who were picked were active and intelligent, accustomed to an outdoor life, sitting their horses like centaurs. They speedily showed in war that they were a full match for the Boers, man for man, in marksmanship, the art of taking cover, and stubborn courage, while they had that high spirit which preaches attack rather than defence, and which the Boers, among their many fine qualities, altogether lacked. [Sidenote: DEC. 1899.] _Fighting Men, not Fault-finders, Wanted._] Among Canada's most splendid contributions was Lord Strathcona's Corps. At his own expense, over and above the contingent 1,300 strong, he raised in the North West 400 "rough riders," armed them, and equipped them for service. They were all unmarried men of fine physique, and, like all the Canadians sent to the front, good horsemen and excellent shots. Nor was the Canadian Agent-General content with this magnificent gift. He conveyed the corps at his own cost to Capetown, so that the 400 men were landed in South Africa without the expenditure of a penny by the British Government. [Illustration: [_Photo by Lafayette._ THE RIGHT HON. SIR WILFRID LAURIER, The patriotic French-Canadian Premier of Canada.] [Illustration: [_Photo from Mrs. Craigmile, Banchory._ TROOPER TOM MORRIS, Of the New South Wales Lancers; the first Colonial to be recommended for the V.C.] [Sidenote: Mr. Seddon's loyal speech.]