The Telegraph Book of Readers' Letters from the Great War (13 page)
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Authors: Gavin Fuller
I propose with the money standing in my name to the credit of âThe Indian Troops' Comforts Account' at Messrs H.S. King & Co., 9 Pall Mall, S.W., so far as it will go, to procure some of these things. Knickerbocker stockings of which the
feet are worn out would be very acceptable, but all socks and stockings should be washed before they are sent for despatch.
I am requested by âThe Indian Soldiers' Fund' to mention that their receiving depot at 29 Somerset Street, W. receives and despatches any gifts sent to them.
Yours faithfully,
Ameer Ali
2 Cadogan Place, S.W.
7 January 1915
Would it be Welcomed?
SIR â Surely it is high time to stop the wretched farce of inviting young men to join the Army. It is is not to be expected that Mr Seymour Hicks's appeal, âYour flesh and your blood are crying for help', will garner more recruits than the statement that âYour King and country need you'; neither will âpertinent' questions obtain them.
Under the sub-heading, âA Fool's Paradise' in the descriptive account by âEye Witness' of the warfare in Flanders, as set forth in your columns today, we learn that the Germans still think England is decadent, apparently because we continue
to rely on such a half-measure as voluntary service, while all other nations engaged in this titanic struggle are enrolling the whole of their manhood.
It is we who are living in a Fool's Paradise, wasting money upon printing and distributing invitations to householders to furnish the names of those who may be willing to serve â a totally inadequate measure only calculated to encourage the enemy to continue. There are many of us debarred by age and physical disabilities from serving who view with disgust, if not with alarm, the apathy (or is it fear?) of those who could compel the shirkers to come forward.
I live in a little town near to some well-known camps, and have on several occasions had the honour and privilege of entertaining soldiers of the new Army to tea. Typical examples were two of yesterday. Men from Ayrshire, both with large families, who had cheerfully thrown up their occupations (one had sold off his pigs and other animals to lessen the work that would fall upon his wife) and come forward without hesitation to fight for the Empire.
They are now roughing it in a mud-swept camp here in the south of England, in a district where, to my knowledge, are many young men who, without claims upon them in any other way, are apparently afraid to risk their precious skins in defend of their hearths and homes.
I have conversed with many working men on this matter, and all are of one voice: that compulsory service for all men between the ages of nineteen and thirty-five during the period of the war is most desirable. They tell me of many who are waiting on the bank in a condition of half-fear to make the plunge, yet hoping to be pushed into the stream by sheer force.
It is up to our Government to shove them in. It has been hinted that the farmers have not come forward well, but in the south-west of England, and probably elsewhere, there are villages from which the farmers have gone off to the fighting ranks with their sons, the labourers have followed their masters, and the women and lads are left to carry on the farm work as best they can.
On the other hand, in many districts, down south at least, there are dozens of young men, sons of shopkeepers, wealthy and otherwise, who could well be spared at this time of grave national peril.
Yours, &c.,
Patriot
P.S. The warning to slackers voiced by Dr Macnamara on Sunday encourages the hope that the Government will not allow them to evade their obvious duty.
SIR â For some months I have been devoting my time to visiting our wounded heroes. It has brought home to note as nothing else could have done, without being on the spot, the cruel hardships and sufferings these men have gone through to save their country from the horrors and atrocities that have been perpetrated in Belgium. Their patience and cheerfulness under great suffering can hardly be described. Some of these poor fellows, alas! will be crippled for life. I have seen several cases where the sight of both eyes is lost. What has caused me more pain than anything else is the mental suffering these poor fellows endure. They do not know what is to become of them. I endeavoured to assure them that they need not worry, that a grateful country would see to it that they did not want; but they said they had been told that so often, only to be deceived, and I found it impossible to reassure them.
Now it is inconceivable to me that these men will not be amply provided for. The country would not suffer it. Would it not be possible for the War Office to give instructions to the officer in command at the various hospitals to tell these poor fellows that they need not worry; to tell them definitely what will be done for them as soon as they leave the hospital, and so save them from the mental torture which adds so much to their sufferings?
It seems to me that mere humanity demands this. It would at once remove a load of suffering that these brave fellows
ought not to have to undergo. I commend this suggestion most earnestly to our great War Minister, whose sympathy for these gallant men is well known; and I earnestly trust that prompt steps may be taken in this direction.
I remain, obediently yours,
Frederick Milner
Hopetoun House, South Queensferry
8 January 1915
âWaiting on the Bank'
SIR â Your correspondent âPatriot' has rasped the skin off the greatest blister in the so-called âvoluntary' system of recruiting when he refers to âthe many who are waiting on the bank, in a condition of half-fear to make the plunge, yet hoping to be pushed into the stream by sheer force'.
That is the simple fact. Hundreds of thousands of young men fit for service are today held back by a variety of domestic or sentimental appeals who would breathe a tremendous sigh of relief if they were suddenly ticked off by a recruiting sergeant, and compelled to go without another moment in which to procrastinate.
As one not unacquainted with Germany, her soldiers and her fortresses, I may perhaps be permitted to suggest that by the time the war has been on five years Britain will probably have awakened to the fact that in January 1915, she should have been strenuously preparing the fittest five million of her sons for the front.
Yours very faithfully,
F. Annesley
Primrose Club, Park Place, St James's
SIR â The letter of your correspondent âPatriot' in today's issue raises an important point. He refers to a statement that the agricultural community has not responded well to the call to arms. May I, as one who knows something of the agricultural position and favours universal service, draw attention to one or two aspects of the question which may have escaped the attention of the townsman, who is always ready to advise or censure the countryman?
I am in close touch with two agricultural districts in Surrey and Sussex. In the one, ten per cent of one parish have joined the colours. In the other, much nearer London, the sowing of wheat and harvesting of important root crops has been greatly hindered owing to the lack of labour caused by
enlistment. If we look at the matter from the farmer's private point of view, is he likely to urge enlistment on the few remaining eligible men he employs? In some cases he has a young shepherd, and his flock of, say, 200 ewes is about to begin lambing. The heavy and continuous rains have thrown work behind, and when the weather clears there will be all the more to do. Perhaps there are fifty cows to be milked twice daily. A farm cannot be closed down or put on short time like a factory; and as a preliminary handicap the Government came down and took in some cases fifty per cent of the horses, without which the work cannot be done. The labourers know this as well as the farmer and have the sense to realise it. I know of several willing to go but unwilling to strand their employers.
Now, setting aside the farmer's point of view, the country is urged to grow as much wheat and other foodstuffs as possible during the coming summer, so as to minimise distress. I know for a fact that farmers are being prevented by lack of labour from increasing their winter wheat acreage. The Government have already given instructions that they do not wish for the enlistment of men who are engaged in the production of war material, as they are serving their country efficiently where they are. Surely the men who are engaged in producing foodstuffs of various kinds, as well as the important by-products of wool and leather, are also serving their country efficiently, and are already too few in number. It is possible for small farmers to leave their womenfolk to run the place during their absence, but for large acreages this cannot be done.
I have no direct interest to serve, but would only plead for consideration of the points put forward in measure of compulsory recruiting.
Yours faithfully,
Hodge
9 January 1915
SIR â You kindly allowed me in November to appeal in your columns for £210,000 for the hospital for soldiers suffering from shock. May I report progress?
We have had a beautiful house â 10 Palace Green, Kensington â lent to us by the executors of the late Lord Rendel. We have adapted it to hold thirty-three patients in separate rooms, which, with the rest of the house, we have furnished. The house is quiet, âdetached', overlooking Kensington Palace with a small garden of its own. It could not be better.
We have collected over £7,700, and only want £2,300 more to carry it on for two years.
The War Office have asked us to restrict the hospital to officers, as they are providing a similar hospital for the men. This, of course, we have done, and the hospital is to be called
âThe Special Hospital for Officers', as we are anxious not unnecessarily to emphasise to its inmates that they are suffering from shock or nervous breakdown.