The Telegraph Book of Readers' Letters from the Great War (15 page)

For the objects above enumerated, as well as for carrying on and extending the social work of the base camps in France, I venture to appeal the public, who ever respond so generously to a real need, to help us to raise the funds necessary to carry on the work which is proving of such inestimable value to our soldiers.

Victoria, Princess of Schleswig-Holstein
23 Bruton Street, London W.

In that proposal I recommend that the question of the after-employment of these men should be regarded as an Imperial one, and that the Home Government, through, say, the Secretary of State for the Colonies, should consult the London representatives of the Dominions, in order to ascertain how far it may be possible for their respective Governments to co-operate with the home authorities in finding openings on the land and in their rural districts, for such of the men who may be unable to obtain suitable employment at home, and who may be desirous of availing themselves of the opportunities and facilities the Dominions can offer.

I would urge this point the more strongly in view of the fact that while, as we know, there was a great surplusage of efficient labour after the Boer War, after this war the surplusage is likely to be far greater, notwithstanding all the
efforts that may be made by the Government, the various municipalities, and patriotic employers of labour, and much suffering will ensue unless we proceed now to prepare, in collaboration with the Dominions, to deal with the question on broad Imperial lines.

I hold the view, also, that were it known that the Imperial and Dominions' Governments were conferring together on the subject, it would be a welcome assurance to the men now serving and to their dependents, and would be a material encouragement to further recruiting.

Lord Grey, I may mention, and others are cordially in sympathy with the proposal, which I venture to think should command the support of all who are interested in the welfare of our men at the front, and who believe in the unity of the Empire.

I am, &c.,

E.T. Scammell

The Royal Colonial Institute

I understand that in many cases many of the gifts have been wasted, as they cannot be stored or carried with the regiments. I am venturing, therefore, to suggest that our kind friends should concentrate their efforts by sending money to enable what is really required to be bought.

The Hon. Mrs Alwyne Greville, who is in charge of the Essex County Depot, 67 High Street, Chelmsford, would be glad to receive donations or comforts, and will try and forward from time to time those things which are wanted.

The requirements of the regiments will be notified to her by Colonel Wood, of the depot at Warley.

I trust that this plan meets with your approval, and that thereby great waste and overlapping will be avoided.

I am, &c.,

Warwick, Lord-Lieutenant County of Essex
Easton Lodge, Dunmow, Essex

In no other country at war with another can such a thing be seen as enemies living along coasts and in the large towns quite at their ease, in many cases in great affluence. Nothing ought to be refused to the women of Great Britain on this subject. It is no more than a reasonable request that those enemies of military age should be interned and the pest removed from our coasts.

The Government have to thank the women of Great Britain for the glorious way our men have behaved at the front. Never once has there been an unchivalrous act recorded, either towards women and their foes, and here the influence of their womenkind has come in. The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world, and thank God the appalling deeds of the Germans can never be done by Englishmen.

Therefore I say honour their women and let the Government do as we ask.

Yours,

Edith Glanusk
30 Bruton Street, W.

The period proposed to be devoted to making a serious endeavour to rouse the nation to a sense of the position is from tomorrow (St George's Day), until 24 June (St John's Day), with special celebrations on Empire Day (Whit Monday), and the proposals which appear to find general favour may be summarised as follows:

1. That a special appeal be made for voluntary total abstinence during those two months.

2. That Empire Day, which falls on Whit Monday, 24 May, shall be observed as a Red Cross Day everywhere.

3. That the newly authorised badge of the Red Cross and St John Societies shall be generally worn as a mark of sympathy and seriousness during all that time, but particularly on the three days mentioned. Over a quarter of a million of these badges were sold during the first three days after issue this week.

4. That in the interests of our workers, as well as our soldiers in training, all clocks and watches shall be put forward an hour on St George's Day, and so give ‘daylight saving' two months' fair trial at a most opportune time.

5. That on one of the three days mentioned great processions shall go to Hyde Park and other places in the country, where solemn services shall be conducted from as many platforms as may be necessary.

6. That a genuine attempt be made to schedule and coordinate the numberless charitable and patriotic schemes which have been started, so as to get the best possible results with as little waste and overlapping as possible.

7. That during the two months in question every employer shall give an undertaking that when engaging new hands after the war preference shall always be given to those who have served their country under arms or making them. With the help of the
Daily Telegraph
this recommendation should be carried out splendidly.

8. That the future of all incapacitated soldiers and sailors shall he made absolutely secure before Midsummer.

9. That the Government should soon appoint a home and Colonial non-party business committee to consider the grave questions involved by the new conditions which will be created directly after the war under the headings of Employment, Industry and Commerce.

10. That all employers be compelled to guarantee reinstatement to men who leave present situations to join the colours or to assist in making munitions of war.

A personal appeal to employers drew 35,000 to the Army in two months last autumn, but the attitude of many
Government offices, banks, business houses, and factories today is detrimental to recruiting, and thousands of willing men are thus more or less ‘shirkers by compulsion'.

Yours faithfully,

George Pragnell, Chairman Employers' Territorial Association
22 St Paul's Churchyard, E.C.

In circumstances like these I wish to suggest that an appeal should be made to the Germans in our midst, many of whom have attained to a high position in our land, and all of whom have received from us not only hospitality in the past, but a large measure of courtesy and consideration in the present. It was mentioned in the
Daily Telegraph
the other day that out of a total of over 27,000 male Germans above the age of seventeen in the United Kingdom, only 8,600 have been interned. Moreover, a considerable number have been released – up to 5 December last 600 had been liberated. On the other hand, practically all male British subjects in Germany are believed to be interned.