Canada applied the War Measures Act, which had passed into law four days before. The Act gave the federal government exceptional powers to ensure the “the safety, defence, peace, order, and welfare of Canada ». One measure authorized the detention of persons from nations at war with the British Empire; some 8,500 people would be held in prison camps in Canada during the conflict. On this same day, in Europe, 27,000 French soldiers fighting on the borders lost their lives in just a few hours. This would remain the bloodiest day of the war.
