Volume 2 - ElectricCanadian.com

352 HISTORY OF THE BANKtaken up military duty had risen to 850, and by May to1050. In most cases only women were available to fill theplaces of the enlisted men.The increase in the cost of living had by this time assumedvery serious proportions, and was destined to be an increasinglyburdensome problem for a long time to come. In Septemberthe managers were asked to make enquiries as to thecost of board and lodging and as to the rentals paid by officersof the bank stationed at their branches. In December ageneral bonus was authorized, but the staff was warned thateconomy must be practised by all.An experiment, which proved a great convenience tothe many Canadians who now had relatives at the frontwas tried shortly before Christmas. The branches weresupplied with new five-franc notes of the Bank of Francefor remittance to soldiers overseas. The plan was afterwardextended to include British Treasury notes.The following year (1917) was one of the most tryingof the war. It was largely one of misfortune for the Allies,and throughout its weary months the possibility of an inconclusiveverdict was ever presentin the minds of statesmenand bankers. It closed as it began, with no signs toindicate when the great struggle would come to an end,which side would experience the bitterness of defeat. Itis not necessary to review the incidents of the war in thatdark year, during which the only compensation for the collapseof Russia, and the partial collapse of Italy, was thevictory of British arms in what had once been the TurkishEmpire and the entry of the United States into the conflict,although almost wholly unprepared for war on a large scale.As a result of submarine warfare the Motherland and herEuropean allies began to experience severe privations in thematter of food supplies, and although Canada was sparedthis dreaded accompaniment of the war, the pressure of eventson her financial and political organization was extreme. Theclearest evidence of this lay in her adoption of the policyor