1917-01-22 — Page 7

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"BKORRATION HUTS.

AT THE WESTERN FRONT.

YEREIR VATAN

THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, MONDAT, JANUARY 22xb, 1917.

IS NATIONAL PAMINE POSSIBLE?

SOME PRACTICAL THINKING.

THE

CAMP "TERROR.” AN WHO COULD NOT BE

DISCIPLINED,

[BY A GUNNER.]

Recreation Auta, at the front are afar PERCY W. D. IZZARD, THE WELL-KNOWN ascessity of trench warfare, writes a:

„AGRICULTURAL WRITER. correspondent in The Times. They are

Ja the war to be lost for want of food | a military necessity, but they are the for the people of the British Isles, as at achievement of philanthropy-an sabieeone time it was in danger of being lost ment in the face of immense difficulties, for want of food for the guns?

This is the grave question which con They are invaluable many sectisas of

fronts: the nation at the present moment, the army in the field-to the countless The success which is attending the enemy discipline into Charles. - -

submarine campaign, now taking heavy daily toll of food-carrying ships, the loss of our huge purchase of Roumanian wheat, the shortage of labour owing to the needs and demands of the Army, and the ill weather which has seriously re duced the area of autumn wheat have brought us within sight of a famine of immediate and drastic Government action to control the supply, production, and ditribution of food can prevent much tragedy.

AN OPEN LETTER. TO HERE VON BETHMANN: HOLLWEG

My dear Bothmann-Hollweg,-Allow me to introduce myself. Amero Charles is an excellent signaller but Canadian bata professional pesce an indifferent soldier. His skill at the maker and an enthusiastic peace-lover, “buzier " is the admiration of.. the instructor and his appearance ou parade stand, therefore, how my heart lesped Canadians are. You will under- is the despair of the depot. Three with joy the other day, when I saw the geants, two corporals, and a battery of bombardier, have grown thin and haggard headline in one of the London newe- in trying to instil the rudiments of papera, Germany Offers Peace." We Canadians ardently long for peace. It Everything of or appertaining to is for peace some thousands of us are soldiers who share danger and discomfort

Charles is undisciplined. The clothes on the war-path just now. For 95 years wears, the bed he sleeps in, the manner four sky has been disfigured by a dark but do not fight, to soldiers geing its

in which he does or does not brush his cloud-bank on the horizon, which we re action, and to those back from the ordeals

hair, the way he walks, and the way he oognised as the German Menace. We of the trenclics. Parhaps the service

looks are a perpetual challenge to the grew tired of that cloud-bank, and now -rendered to mon coming out of the

Army Code and the King's Regulations. that is has broken into a fery halo of tronches is the most important;"

The regimental sergeant-major has lost war we are bore to do what little we ena After å spell in the trenches our men

precious hours thinking what he should to change the world's sky into the bright, 216.moved back to get some rest; A great essential food commodities, and only do with Charles, and the youngest and sunlis blue of peace. Canadians we are;|| deal depends on this rest. From the

most enthusiastic corporal lost a stripe do you know Ask your beys who military point of view alone it is just

for doing things to Charles. na vital to revive the spirits of soldiers

expresion that dismaya the most harden also, who wore at the Somme, determined There is something about Charles were at Ypres, once twice, thrice, those as to renew munitions. The Commands

ed drill sergeant, As one of them to "hack through." We are some of the look of course, and look carefully, to Far secing men saw the possibility of forcibly phrased it," He looks a cross chape that took your "hacking *; but lood, clothing, cleanliness, and health the coatingoney many months ago. Ap betwoom a mutiny and a fres pardon. If you didn't get through, and-a- But the conditions of existence in the parently not until the Board of Trade bo does anything wrong he forgives you." friendly warning—you won't. abomination of the field of war, desolate Food Supply Committee, with its two Nobody has over found Charles con You can't imagine how bitterly you for miles behind the line, strain the meetings a week, brought expert opinionscious of wrong. He nevor avoids disappointed ma by your speech, in choorfulness of citizen soldiers For all together and set it to work to state the offence; he simply does not recognise it which you introduced your “world- that they are wonderful. Officers to theiresso and make suggestions was the ex-Since Charles joined the depot there has historic" peace offer. You may earncat- test to keep them in good heart, but they treme urgency of the question compre been no joy in the sergeants" mess ly desire panco; I firmly believe you lack the means of Ffting the minds of the bonded by the Government. Then, with As a last hope they put Charles under and your people do; but as a preliminary Inds above the miry clay. Recreation hat other docisions respecting the nation's the care of a corporal who measured to peace negotiations your speech was supply the meENS.

eft. 7in.- mán malk, flour, and bread, it was announced mutineers in Singapore. When Charles pardon my blunt, alliterative way of who bad handled hardly a success. In short, if you will that B Food Controller would be

was handed over appointed,

to, Tiny, the tall speaking, your speech, at this distance, The post should have corporal, I was lying in bod recovering been created and filled months ago.

from inoculation and it was in my but sounded like blazing, bombastic, bullying not second to that which has given us the class a lesson on the heliograph. For

Awaiting him is a task of organisation that Tiny gave Charles and the rest of banku. The dore of peace is supposed to coo; your dove pawed the earth like 1,000 controlled munitions factories to- the first five minutes Tiny addressed bellowing ball.

himself solely to Charles, who did nothing except shod another button from his

THE ROMANCE OF THE HUTS.

It is up to the British public to neo that means are increased for reinvigorat- ing the spirits of our men before they loave their rest to face again the hell of the trenches. Falk at home should o the men as they come out of the onches. Photographs and cinemane lead people to think that Tommy or Jack is always smiling. They must get rid of that idea. I have seen many, very many trudging back from the line dared and done. They look like men who will never smile again. They look like men who have done with life. That is the story of

Their lips tell another story, Grimly set, they express & purpose alive in Death, Bg it wore, "Stick it," they say.

day. The supply of food from over-sons the question of freights (with which the next report of the Board of Trade Com mittee is expected to deal), the produe tion of food at home, and marketing and distribution will be matters of direct concern in his Department.

FARMERS AND COMPULSION.

tunic.

You say "look at the map." You have been changing the colour in spots, and Tiny told Charles to find the so pleased are you that you summon the button, and Charles came to look for it world to admire your handiwork "Look under my bed. He sat on the bed,at the map," you say. Wo answer, looked at me critically, sadly shook his "Look at the men." Maps don't win head, took half a cigarette from behind wars-men do-men, my dear Bethmann, his car, solemnly struck a match, and mon, do you hear? You can roll up i had one long, deliberate draw, swallow-map with one hand; but can you roll up ing or otherwise disposing of the smokemon Look at the men on your every

watched for the sinke to appear and

Italian men, those steady, stern-faced,

Home production, especially of bread thoir eyes. It is uncanay. It is piteous. auffs, must, and can be increased, mot-Charles watched me. I was about to a front: those hosts of Russian men, of

withstanding the fact that, owing very largely to delay in organising the sowing of wheat, the area at present under what is considerably smaller than at this time last year. Agriculture must be marshalled at once for a great spring advance.

Men sent back for rest, expect, nothing, hope for nothing. Usually they get next to nothing. They are soldiers enduring hardness. Field canteens are necessarily emall, and little better than midnight chestnut stalls at a sluta corner. They do tle to raise droping spirits in the cold, wet, mud and darkness of winter. Erecta hut. The effect is magical. Shelter, warmth, light, refreshment, and above all amusement, act like a talisman. It is the relief of pain, Strained nerves pass from the abriormal to the normal, and in a few days, with few exceptions, the boys are laughing again. That is the most telling part of the work of recree tion huts, with the red traingle. They

re-create.

Enter &orowded hug and think for yourself that euch man in it, not many hours before, has heen elbowing death, dodging death, defying death, and you will shiver at the pall of the fell magnet that has made men fight to the death through the ages. The soldier thinks nothing of all this. Nor is there any pose in him. In the hut he wants to forget it all; he does forget it all. He rests. Without the hut ho might rest his body somehow, I there would be no blessed respite, no forgetting. In the but he forgets everything, in iris games, or in a magazine story.

TYPICAL SCENES

You cannot compel the production of specified quantities of food on a farm, for the reason that you cannot compel the sun and the clouds, but specific sow ings and plantings can be compelled, and also the labour for cultivation.

The idea of compulsion as to their industrial methods will be distasteful to the farmers of this country. They are

repose.

You come here and lay this helio," roared Tiny.

Charles smoothed my blanket, stole my matches, and rose with a sigh.

Where shall I lay it, corporal" he asked, spinning the duplex mirror like a top,

Charles how he did, when the voice of enduring men of France; and those cool- Tiny was raised in anger inquiring for Charles and asking what the bluseaded, cheery-hearted, dogged men of British breed. Have you rolled them Alsatians he meant by it.

"Hush!" said Charles, lifting anp You thought you bad rolled up admonishing finger and nodding his head the men of little Belgium, gallant little at me. The man is sick and needs Belgium, and the men of Serbia; but they are coming back at you again. True, you have rolled back those men on your every front, but you haven't rolled them up, and to day there are millions of us unbroken, unbeaten, and note this card- fully, my dear Hollweg-when next they como at you they will come with the machinery of war, and will meet you Lay it on the door hinge," growled on something like even terms; and they Tiny.

Which door hinge, corporal?" murno favour. You know this is true. You ask_nothing more than a fair field and mured Charles.

Verdun disastrous, "The top one, of course. Look lively arnt this at With a turn of the wrist, a squint of glorious Verdun-you learnt this on the its confidence, get into direct contact the eye, and two flicks of his forefinger, Somme. I cannot speak for other armies with them, and tell them exactly what is Charles aligned the heliograph accur. but throughout that section of the wanted, few would not be compelled by ately, and while the corporal was inspect British Army that met your men on the conviction to run their farms on the ing it Charles turned to me with the Somme there is only one conviction, and necessary lines,

remark: Queer thing, inoculation, that is that they have "got you beat " Some say drink beer and take exercise. They may be mistaken, but I am telling Others advise you to give up beer and what I know, that they are absolutely convinced that they have got you beaten. stick to bed. Now, I should "

"Keep quiet." roared Tiny,

So, my dear Holly, when you are writing "Precisely," said Charles, beaming at your next peace speech, get your eyes off maps for a time and let them rest the corporal.

upon mon. Then your dove of will utter itself in notes more in keeping| with its own gentle nature.

very independent community, but at the same time intensely patriotic. If the Government would take them into

The farmers should have a guaranteed price for their wheat, and the guarantee should be extended over several years, while the producers of the wheat regain order from the chaos which will arise from interference with their methods of cropping.

*

After this episode I did not see Charles Agriculture must have its machinery for two or three days. Tiny and he had and implements, Something must be differed on the question of falling in. done to ensure & sufficient out from The parade ground was several inches the manufactories and proper distribu- deep in mud. tion, the Government itself acquiring usual, and the only spaco left in the rank Charles arrived late a and leaning machinery if necessary. was a pool about a yard wido and

There must be an adequate supply of ankle-deep. labour on every farm to carry out the agricultural advance. At present one finds the workers very unevenly dis tributed On some farms the labour is above the scale agreed on by the Board of Agriculture and the War Office; on many others it is below it, and there are farmers in the Eastern Counties especialme lad ly who are in despair at their position.

STANDARD PRICES,

Step lively; fall in," ordered Tiny. Charles looked at the pool, then at his boots, then gazed thoughtfully skywards,

"Fall in." repeated Tiny.

M

What happens if I don't!" asked Charles, still looking heavenwards,

You'll be for it. It'll be the clink,

Charles lowered his glance to the pool. considered its breadth and depth, gazed reproachfully at Tiny, and requested him to lend the way to the guard-room.

The labour problem must be solved at

When Charles was set free be surprised the earliest possible moment if we are to have any increase at all in the home the guard five minutes later by returning production of food, whether on the farm net more a prisoner. He had met an or the allotment holding, or the officer who asked him what he was doing. Vacant building sites and cultivable com

Nothing," replied. Charles, mon lands which

"Nothing. what?" asked the officer to be taken over for the

sharply, the Def te growing of foodstuffs under

are

од

Let readers picture to themselves a few A group comes in, released but scones. only the night before from the trenches, enced in hard mud frem helmet to de, and to despair of. They are before the opening hour. They sit on forms patiently staring at nothing, talking nut at all, just waiting for the elixir of ten boiling in an urn. To a question if they would like to walk, just as they were, down their village street, the reply was "No, it would only make our friends more unhappy. Again, another scene. The rain is pouring. The wind is cold. The night is falling. From the void a miserable void-men troop into a warm Buk Its lighting might not content Woolwich, but it is a blaze to men who may be living in holes like rabbit warren. They swarm round the count, four or perhaps six deep. The kat sung intendent, with his soldier assistant la man unfit except for such work), urts A nucleus of skilled male labour being about, serving. The men wait their turn left on or supplied to every farm, the with great good humour and take what further requirements of the growers of they get to the tables. Recreation is in food should be met by a great extension full swing, full noise and full smoke. A of femalo labour, by setting to work our soldier is at the piano.

He will be 60,000 German prisoners, and, if neces followed by others. A division might be Rary, by bringing coloured labour from formed of men able to play, and to play India and Africa. Regarding the women able-bodied well. The piano is as necessary as the workers, conscription of

women to work in the fields, and of all but itself and pianos are scarce and nestly. At a hut, holed by thrapnel and women for some form of war work, is not an unthinkable contingency. It could leaky, there is a piano an octase of which he done, and here again there is little was knocked out by the musical Huns, he be the That piano is still used. This is a small tradent to the women of Britain would but run by soldiers at a point of danger. bring them out in their tens of thousands It is the second. The first was stalled for their country's sake. to pieces. At another place, where The fair distribution of food and the asfety can only be found underground, a prices of foodstuffs are other burning large vault has been fitted out as a recte questions to be settled. If a standard tion room. In the crypt, brightly lit loaf, why not a standard price instead and well ventilated by electricity, as, of the disparity which now exists And splattered the corporal, "Get out of my many as three hundred men can be re, why should the well-to-do have a sub-sight, you Freshod and amured. There is a small ciency of sugar, and the poor go without

While Tiny was thinking of new names

billiard table sharing with a cinema the distinction of being, the nearest of their rank to the trenches, Farther back, be sweon two ruined towns, troops are wait- ing to be taken to the trenches. They

thon

Hellweg, because we earnestly and on No, my dear Herr von Bethmann-

intend to press this blood-red path of tinuously long and pray for peace we war for months, or for years, it matters not, until your people are ready to accept the just and honourable peace that we and our Allies stand ready to offer a peace that shall for over eliminate from the world the mind menace of German Militariam.I am, etc., -

CHARLES W. GORDON Major). The Bev. Major Gordon, the writer of the above letter, is a chaplain with the Canadian forces, and has been in Francs for nearly a year and a half, at the sharing the life of the men front. He is now returning to Canada, to do two months recruit- ing work. Major Gordon is better known to the literary world as Ralph Connor, the author of "The Sky Pilot" and many other stories,

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the Realm Ael. All this Just nothing," said Charles, who was now land should be under the ploughent back to the guard-room to learn how to address an officer, and for the next six or the spade

hours he drove a bombardier nearly on his shoulder, and no lank led to the frantic by insisting on addressing him as slaughter looked more innocent than he "Sir."

The M.P." explained that they had Several days elapsed uneventfully, and found Charlee and his kit bag at the one cold, frosty morning Charles nearest station four miles away. As be was sent to the stores for signalling flags had no pass they arrested him and inutes passed, but Charles did not brought him back. They would have return. The squad stamped its feet and returned much sooner if Charles had not blew on its fingers. Tiny swors and tried shown them a short cut. to hide his eft. Tin. from the sergeant- What did you want to go off for " JUST TWO TONIGHT. major. Fifteen minutes passed and still asked Tiny as they were on their way to

are all you need of Pinkettes to dispel 20 Charles. Then Tiny and the squad the guard-room. went to look for him. They found him **** Didn't tell me to get out??? constipation, "liverishness," sick hend- ultimately in the washhouse, where her fetorted Charles Then he stopped,ches, biliousness: was frankly surprised to see them. beamed affectionately on the corporal, the store," he explained to the incoherent"Did you miss me."

They had given out all the flees at and, with a sweet agile, exclaimed,

corporal," so I thought I would have a wash. You remember you told me this one, and took his seat in the class and Free once more, Charles forgave every; morning I would be all the batter for a proceeded to work wonders, with the good wash."

Morse Code Secretly, Tiny dreaded the little just-like mature laxatives, stim vibrator "That's done it; I throw my hand in, these hours with Charles and the eletric late digestion, purify the breath. Of all commonly known as the chemista and, post free, 80 cents the phial, buzzer." Charles was easily the best from Dr. Williams Medicine Co., 96, reader not only in the class but in the Brechon Road, Shanghai because they cannot spend the necessary for him Charles disappeared. He and entire depot. ill mad 2% at the grocer's shop in order to be still disappeared at the next parade and Charles

made Tiny nervous, allowed to purchase one pound of sugara search party failed to find him

and he would occasionally tap out so`x Lord Crawford said recently, in an

Where can the blighter have got to for a break or a 6 for a B, whereupon. pealing to the farmers of Norfolk: "We exclaired Tiny for the fitieth time, A Chelen would shake his head reprov

ngivin

Covercrowd a hut, The assistants work do not mean to retire before the enemy recruit suggested that he might have getting out of this," confided.

like conjurers to cope with the press. It is Sunday. The men have already been

in Europe! Do not let us retire before been picked up by one of the seroplanes our difficulties at home!!

PINKETTES

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81-32

at parade service in another hut sort grave problem of the nation's food can appearance that made him shun & mirror

The difficulties in the solution of this things about that recruit's personal last pipe over the stove.

hovering, over the depot, and Tiny said Tiny to me one evening as we smoked a BROADWOOD GRAND PIANO, miles off. A soldier at the piano starts he overcome. There is not one of us who for two days

Where are on going1" I inquired DRAWING ROOM CARFET 15 x 12 playing hymn tunes unsolicited, a group has not a part to play in the solving of

France, Balonica, Macedoni, Meso-Trelor, London). forms of its own Record around bin them. What is necessary is that the man

potamia, anywhere away from that man,” CANTEEN OF CUTLERY (Mappin 8) singing snatches, and an accompanying who will have the control of our food before dark and brought two military hand in.

Charles returned to the camp just was the fiores reply. I'll throw my Wobb

All nearly now and in excellent condition. full confie dence and tell all classes what tired and showed by their manner that

No reasonable offer refused.. is required of them

Tiny was good as his word and Baply

"BROADWOOD." The nation has they had a grievance against somebody joined a battery preparing to leave for

Care of "Daly Proms " Offon, waited overlong to see these dificulties or something. Charles had his kit bag artive service and Charles went with faved and fought.-Daily Mail,

(Continued at foot of neat Column.) him.

hum comes from men at the tables. In suonly should take the nation into his policemen with him. The police looker in this camp room for both of us

N

an hour or two they will be facing the Many are writing on Church enemy. Army

Some of these letters paper. will be the last the very last,

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