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Austrian Prisoners of War (26 May 1915)

By • On • In 1915, German Newspapers, Timeline

On May 26, the Berliner Journal reported on the arrest of 51 Austrians in Guelph. The newspaper stated that six Austrians had come to the police station, asking to get arrested as they had no jobs and could not make a living. Thereupon the police commissioner in Ottawa commanded that every Austrian in Guelph should be arrested. 51 Austrians voluntarily got arrested and were brought to the detention camp in Toronto where they would be employed until the end of the war.

BJ-1915-05-26-Austrian Prisoners of War

(“Gefangenentransport in Guelph” Berliner Journal, 26 May 1915)

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Canadian Prisoners of War Treated Well (27 May 1915)

By • On • In 1915, German-Canadian Identity, Home Front, Timeline, War

Censorship in the First World War varied and became more intense as the war continued. This article, however, is still surprising. A Canadian prisoner of war being held in Giessen claimed that he and some others had surrendered after being heavily fired upon for two days and nights by rifles, machine guns, and shells. This soldier himself had bullets go through his sack and cap. While he hoped that those at home would understand why they surrendered and not be disgraced by their actions, they were being treated well. Their prison was very clean and they were well fed, receiving three meals per day, including bread and coffee for breakfast and vegetable soup for dinner and supper and they could buy butter and sardines. The soldier claimed in regards to cleanliness and comfort, they were better off in the prison than at Salisbury Plain. The experiences of this Canadian soldier and British officer C.B. Vandaleur stand in stark contrast to each other.

“Canadian Prisoners of War are Well Treated,” Berlin Daily Telegraph, May 27, 1915.

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Shall Berlin Change Its Name? (27 May 1915)

By • On • In 1915, German-Canadian Identity

One year into the war, relations between English and German Canadians still remained reasonably civil. As the conflict between Canada and Germany dragged on, however, it became more and more awkward for Ontarians to live and do business in a city named Berlin. In May 1915, the Berlin Daily Telegraph was reporting instances in which buyers were refusing to purchase goods with ‘Berlin’ printed on the label. This situation was gradually hurting local manufacturers, who were a significant component of the local economy. This economic argument in favour of changing the city’s name continued a debate that had been slowly intensifying since the war began. Unlike an article in the Berliner Journal, however, the English papers did not yet make any specific reference to ‘Kitchener’ as a possible replacement for ‘Berlin.’

Berlin Daily Telegraph, May 27, 1915.

 

Shal Berlin Change its Name

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The Name of Canada Now Has New Meaning (1 June 1915)

By • On • In 1915, German-Canadian Identity, Home Front, Timeline

05For many Canadians, Vimy Ridge is the battle where Canada defined itself as a nation in the Great War. However, the idea of Canada defining itself on an international scale began earlier in the war. On June 1, 1915 the Berlin Daily Telegraph printed “The Name of Canada Now Has New Meaning” with the sub-title “Glorified before World by Magnificent Deeds Preformed by her Soldiers at Langemarck and Ypres”. The article even stated: “The wave that fell on us around Ypres had Christened the Dominion into Nationhood: the mere written word “Canada” glows now with a new meaning before all the civilized world.”

The First World War is where Canada’s birth through blood and sacrifice narrative is usually believed to have originated, and this article proves this narrative was being used years before Vimy Ridge.

This report was written by Sir Max Aitken, the “eye-witness” reporter with the Canadian troops on the front line, who also ensured Canadian deeds were reported on and featured in many newspapers. His aim was to ensure the deeds of Canadian soldiers were recognized as deeds done by Canadian troops, not just troops of the Dominions or Britain, and therefore, his works took on a very nationalistic and patriotic tone.

 

“The Name of Canada Now Has New Meaning,” Berlin Daily Telegraph, June 1, 1915.

Jeffery A. Keshen, Propaganda and Censorship During Canada’s Great War (Edmonton: University of Alberta Press, 1996).

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Galt Joins the Ranks of Canadian Cities (1 June 1915)

By • On • In 1915, Home Front, Politics

By January of 1915, town councillors in Galt had already begun the necessary motions towards having their town recognized as a city. At first the plans were progressing smoothly, but in February they hit a snag. As the Berlin Daily Telegraph later reported, the “Scotch instinct” to save money had been the original motivation for Galt’s movement to become a city, and this met with resentment from members of the Waterloo County Council who represented other municipalities.

By becoming a city, Galt would leave the county jurisdiction and no longer pay taxes into it. Fearing this loss of revenue, several Waterloo County reeves objected to Galt’s removal from the county based on the fact that Galt only had a population of 12,000 and city status was usually not granted until a municipality contained 15,000 residents. A compromise was reached at a meeting held on February 3, in which Galt could become a city immediately, but would continue to pay county taxes until it grew to 15,000 residents. With that out of the way, Galt officially gained city status on June 1, 1915, roughly 99 years after its original founding in 1816. After Berlin, this made Galt the second municipality to reach city status in Waterloo County. The war put constraints on the new city’s celebration, but mild festivities were held throughout the day.

Berlin Daily Telegraph June 1, 1915.

Waterloo Chronicle Feb 4, 1915 and January 28, 1915.

 

Galt Becomes City

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The Return of the Army Worm? (1 June 1915)

By • On • In 1915, Economics

As the stakes rose on the Western Front following major battles in France and Belgium, and the Dardanelles campaign raged on in Western Turkey, the Waterloo Region again turned a concerned eye to the threat of the army worm, which had wreaked havoc on local fields the previous summer. By early June, many local farmers would have planted their season’s crops, and the possibility of another army worm outbreak must have weighed heavily on their minds.

Just in time for a possible new outbreak, the federal Department of Agriculture released a bulletin prepared by government entomologist Arthur Gibson. Gibson’s report estimated that the 1914 outbreak caused some $300,000 dollars in damages, the vast majority of which occurred in Ontario. The report also contained extensive methods for preventing or mitigating an outbreak of the pests.

The Berlin Daily Telegraph, which reported on the bulletin’s publication on June 1st, certainly thought the report was of interest to its readers, and emphasized not only the extent to which the document provided practical information for farmers, but also how one could obtain a copy from the Department of Agriculture.

(“The Army Worm,” Berlin Daily Telegraph, 1 June 1915)

ArmyWorm?

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Shortage of German Goods (2 June 1915)

By • On • In 1915, Economics, German Newspapers, Timeline

Due to the war it was hard to get German goods shipped to Canada. Therefore, the German book store suffered from a decrease in profits as German books could not be purchased from Germany anymore.

In other industries, however, the shortage was overcome. In January 1915, the Berliner Journal stated that a German citizen of Berlin had learned how to brew beer that was as good as the beer previously imported from Germany. Therefore, the German population did not have to miss their imported beer anymore.

BJ-1915-06-02-Shortage of German Goods

(“Einen Vortheil” Berliner Journal, 13 January 1915; “Die Buchhandlung” Berliner Journal, 02 June 1915)

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Valuing the German Culture (2 June 1915)

By • On • In 1915, German Newspapers, Timeline

After several violent incidents against German-Canadians, the Berliner Journal published an editorial regarding the current situation of the German community. The editors praised the Canadian government for making a distinction between Germany and its war efforts and the German-Canadian population. They stated that several German-Canadians held responsible positions in politics thanks to the government. Canadians appreciated “German attributes” such as diligence, loyalty, and efficiency. The German population therefore should contribute to the Canadian economy as much as possible, thus showing their loyalty. Furthermore, the editors made it clear that any anti-German actions did not reflect the Canadian government but were war-motivated and not approved by the government.

BJ-1915-06-02-Valuing the German Culture

(“Ehrung des Deutschthums” Berliner Journal, 02 June 1915)

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Tree Caterpillars Damaging Waterloo Region Trees and Causes Tension among Local Farmers (3 June, 12 June 1915)

By • On • In 1915, Economics

Although Waterloo Region farmers were likely alert for a resurgence of the army worm in early June, another insect, the tree caterpillar, was busy damaging local trees. The pest was not unknown to the region, but in late May and early June of 1915, the caterpillars were far more numerous than usual and caused a considerable disturbance in the region..

On June 3rd, the Waterloo Chronicle-Telegraph reported that the tree caterpillar had become the primary concern of the Freeport area of the region. Local farmers found their shade and fruit trees over run and had even resorted to burning infested trees with torches. The outbreak even caused ill will against farmers who were not active in the fight against the caterpillar. Speaking to the Chronicle Telegraph, one Freeport farmer went as far to say that he had made it known to his neighbors that those who did not fight the insects on their own property would be “made to suffer.”

By mid-June, the local outbreak of tree caterpillars was still well underway. Many local trees had been stripped of their leaves and blossoms. In the case of fruit trees, this was a considerable concern for local farmers and the economy in general. On June 12th, the Berlin Daily Telegraph reported on the outbreak, noting accusations of apathy by famers in their efforts to kill the insects. The Department of Agriculture was still investigating the outbreak, but a representative for the agency recommended to the Telegraph that its readers spray their trees with a solution of arsenate of lead, a common insecticide of the period.

(“Ravages of the Tree Caterpillars,” Ayr News, 3 June 1915; “Fighting the Caterpillar,” Berlin Daily Telegraph, 12 June 1915.)
Ayr News, 3 June 1915; “Fighting the Caterpillar,” Berlin Daily Telegraph, 12 June 1915.)

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The Scientific Barbarian (10 June 1915)

By • On • In 1915, Home Front, War

scientific barbarianPortrayals of German soldiers were usually not favourable in English language newspapers, as is clear by this image printed by the Berlin Daily Telegraph. While the image and text is used to evoke fear and distrust in the reader, it also demonstrates how the First World War was changing the way Western countries fought and the equipment used. Before the war, Germany had the strongest chemical dye industry in the world and when the war started, it turned into a war industry. Initially, Germany was hesitant about using the gas as many of the soldiers and Generals did not like the idea of gassing soldiers as if they were insects. As the war continued, the German high command became desperate and at the Battle of Ypres, the Duke of Wurttemberg decided to use the poisonous gas.

 

“The Scientific Barbarian,” Berlin Daily Telegraph, June 10, 1915.

Tim Cook, At the Sharp End: Canadians Fighting the Great War, 1914-1916 Volume 1 (Toronto: Viking Canada, 2007).