During the First World War, the Allied victory was caused by the stalemate on the Western Front at the Battle of Vimy Ridge. It was “the willingness of Canadians to renounce nationalism in the interest of efficiency and effectiveness that marked a new” (Dickson 40) transition toward the end of the war. Through the Second Battle of Ypres, the Battle of Aras, and observing the previous bloodbath at the Battle of the Somme, the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) perfected its defensive tactics and techniques to fight in the evolving battle that made Canada a nation. Britain declared war on Germany in 1914, and the Dominion of Canada was automatically prompted to mobilize. Nationalism and determination prompted Prime Minister Robert Borden to send the first Canadian contingent overseas, which numbered 33,000 men.1 As Byng's biographer says, "Byng admired the Canadians for their 'fighting qualities and their high morale,” but he believed they were undisciplined. and insufficiently trained” (Dickson 41), showing how the CEF was considered ineffective and unproductive. The CEF was not mentioned or given credit until the Battle of Ypres. Indeed, the contingents sent were considered part of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF). The Canadians tried to strengthen their nationalism through technology and military artillery, for example the Ross rifle was made in Canada, but this shotgun was a better target shot and overheated in the middle of battle. Another example is the Macadam shield shovel which was used as both a shield and a shovel. Designed by Ena Macadam, it was a complete failure in every way. The handle was too short, the shovel was too dull for digging, the hole in the middle of the paper......unners from Canada; the history of the Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery. Toronto: McClelland and Stewart, 1967. “MacAdam Shovel – Sir Sam Hughes – We Were There – Canada and the First World War – Library and Archives Canada.” " (Online). http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/firstworldwar/025005-2600.009-e.html Duffy, Michael. "First World War.com - Battles - The Second Battle of Ypres, 1915." First World War.com - A multimedia history of the First World War. http://www.firstworldwar.com/battles/ypres2.htm.Duffy, Michael. "First World War.com - Weapons of War: Machine Guns." First World War.com - A multimedia history of the First World War. http://www.firstworldwar.com/weaponry/machineguns.htm.Graves, Gary. “CBC News In Depth: Vimy Ridge Remembers. » CBC.ca - Canadian News Sports Entertainment Kids Docs Radio TV. http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/vimy/.