IN BRITAIN.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8464, 1 June 1916, Page 6

IN BRITAIN.

COLOMEL CHURCHSLL'S STATEMENT BY LOUD KJ/rCHENEiI. LONDON, >J:i.y .10. "Jn the Houko of Lords, Lord ;\Jid<i!.--ton drew aiteutio]] to Colomd WijiHton Churchill's stiit-enKMit that there were 200 ; {}00 officers' sorva-nts and /jO.O'K; grooms behind the. BritinJi linos in 'Frruaeo r,nd Flanders. Lord Kitchener said iiso ser\-.?mtH and grooms soi^yed in the trrnohr.;;, a.nd <x;uld not be considered ;is h<;-i^ belliud the- firing-line.. He i:!:-;;;/.';h', thai;- Colonel Churchill thoroughly >--\uHsod tha.t fact.

In the K'ouso oi: Conimojis l«;st vv;'ok Colonel Churchill assorted thsrt there was ;i- grim distinction afc fciK' [>.'.>;; l botffocn the tn^noli ;uk! the* "uo??----tronch" popula-fciojj : vet tlu> (>nrt of

the Army which really counted for ending the war was tho "killing, lighting, and suffering part." Every serviceable man should" be put in to lengthen and strengthen the fighting-line. There were 200,000 officers in tho Army, with 200,000 servants and 50,000 grooms. This was an army in itself. Colonel ChurehilJ declared that the men in the trenches wore living continually under fire. Tho "non-trench population" did nob suffer, aud were enjoying grfod food, and often better pay than the fighters. The share of decorations given to the non-fighters was so disproportionate that it had become a byword.