1914-12-05al

From the Hamilton Herald, December 5, 1914, three stories.

As Christmas was approaching and the war that was supposed to be over by that time was showing no signs of slowing down, Hamilton manufacturers were starting to get orders for materials to help in the war effort.

Hamilton’s Steel Company of Canada was reportedly in line for a largest order in its history to date, an order to provide steel as part of the manufacture of submarines from the French and British navies.

 As was the case with so much in the times of warfare, rumors would circulate, denials would be provided and then some aspects of the rumors would turn out to be true.

Charles Schwab from the Bethlehem Steel Company had just returned from England and had come to Hamilton to speak with representatives of Hamilton’s steel industry. While claiming that he had no official business with Hamilton’s steel manufacturers, it was noted that the United States could not provide materials for any of the combatants in the war, as that would be a breach of neutrality.

In other war related news, it was mentioned that the Hamilton volunteers in training at divisional headquarters near Ottawa were always anxious for news from Hamilton :

“The Herald is in receipt of a letter from Lieutenant A. Langsford Robinson who states that the men from here are all hungry for Hamilton news and requests that the Herald be sent to supply that need.

“Lieut. Robinson says that the boys on the way down chalked on the side of the cars, ‘From Hamilton to Berlin. Stop at Ottawa and England for water. We’ll bring Kaiser Bill to Hamilton asylum.’ ’¹

¹ “Must Have Herald”

Hamilton Herald.     December 5, 1914.

Finally, December 5, 1914 was deemed to be Belgian Flag Day in Hamilton, as canvassers were being sent out across the city to get donations to help relieve distress in Belgium. Each flag cost 10 cents each.

The majority of canvassers were young ladies, whose entreaties, in the words of the Herald reporter, “would be very hard to refuse” :

“One young lady when she approached a young man to sell a flag was somewhat taken aback when he said : ‘I’ll buy one will if you give me a kiss.’

“ She hesitated a moment, and then said, ‘I will if you pay me a dollar for the flag.’

“She got the dollar”¹

Not all canvassers were young ladies however:

“While at the office on John street this morning, a Herald reporter saw a small boy who had been trying to sell the little flags, but who had not met with as much success as he had expected., turn over his remaining articles to the lady in charge saying: ‘It’s no use, the men won’t buy from me, they want the girls.’ ” ¹

A fund-raising goal of $20,000 had been sent for the Belgian Flag Day campaign. With just a half of the day done, the Herald reporter was told that it appeared that, not only would that goal be reached, it would be exceeded.