CHAPTER IX

THE PRIME MINISTER

The Prime Minister's visit--Passing of Politics--End to domestic dissensions--The Imperial idea--Sir Robert's foresight--Arrival in England--At Shorncliffe--Meeting with General Hughes--Review of Canadian troops--The tour in France--A Canadian base hospital--A British hospital--Canadian graves--Wounded under canvas--Prince Arthur of Connaught--Visiting battle scenes--Received by General Alderson--General Turner's Brigade--Speech to the men--First and Second Brigades--Sir Robert in the trenches--Cheered by Princess Patricias--Enemy aeroplanes--Meeting with Sir John French--The Prince of Wales--With the French Army--General Joffre--A conference in French--The French trenches--The stricken city of Albert--To Paris--The French President--Conference with the French War Minister--Shorncliffe again--Canadian convalescent home--A thousand convalescents--Sir Robert's emotion--His wonderful speech--End of journey