UNDER THE WAR CLOUD.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 9, 10 January 1918, Page 5

UNDER THE WAR CLOUD.

LIFE IN LONDON. A WOMAN'S IMPRESSIONS. Mrs. A. Plugge, the 1 wife of lieut.Colonel Plugge, of the New Zealand Division in France, has returned from the Old Country, where she has been engaged in. war work. Having been particularly employed as an attache of the staff of the High Commissioner for New Zealand, Mns. Plugge ■hae been afforded the opportunity of obtaining a good idea of what war means and the part played by New/Zealand in it.

WORK AMONG N.Z. BOYS. Interviewed yesterday by a reporter,, Mrs. Plugge. said her eight months' experience consisted of noting the movements of New Zealand boys ■who had joined up with the Imperial Forces in England, and matters affecting their welfare. There -were 2000 of them, irrespective of the N.Z.E.F. To these New Zealand papers, parcele, and gifts, purchased with, money from New Zealand were forwarded, and were ''very much appreciated. In her connection with the Prisoners of War Department, Mrs. Plugge learnt that the New Zealand prisoners in Germany received the best attention. The work of the High. CommiEeioner's office had increased to euch an extent that the whole of a six-storey building was now occupied and used by the staff. The whole of. the top floor was deyoted | to a post office- savings bank for the boys. . ..

WAR BREAD—THE LAST THING ON EARTH. - Referring to the war 'bread, Mis. Plugge said, "It is the last thinjf on earth." Of a. grey colour,; it is neves sold in any condition but stale. This is compulsory,, so the people will get full weight and nourishment. "It was accordingly no surprise to see the way paesengers on their return journey to New Zealand made straight for the white bread and butter at meals, said Mrs. Plugge. SUGAR SERVED IN PACKETS. In accordance with the endeavour to conserve foodstuffs sugar ie served- in email envelopes, similar to collection envelopes—two-sevenths of an ounce at each meal. » When Mrs. Plugge received her first envelope she was under the impression that someone was presenting her with a donation. . - FOR THE GREAT CAUSE. The most remarkable thing is that, despite the scarcity of food the submarine activity has helped to bring about, nobody with money need go short of food.

The present month and February were going- to be hard months. Poor people would suffer, because, with transport facilities restricted through a shortage of labour, it would be impossible to get coal. The sovereign is only worth from about 13/ to 15/, food is dear, and there is a Bcarcity of labour, but through it all the people are brave, and are taking things philosophically. IN THE AIE. The air xaids are a common feature of life in London. One week in October London had one every night. There were two daylight raids during Mrs. Plugge's term in the High Commissioner's office. She was not the least bit nervous, however. The anti-aircraft guns made a terrible noise when firing. In the last Zeppelin raid, however, a hole wae made outside a big lingerie establishment sufficient for a motor car'to ibe lost from view. All the windows on either eide of the street were smashed as a result of the explosion of the bomb. The Germans had tried repeatedly to bomb the Air Board, in the Hotel Cecil, but the closest they had been was about 100 yards away. The new Gotha machine need by the Germans makes a low, droning noise. On account of this they could always be distinguished from out own machines.

There, was always an absence of anything approaching , a panic during#the raids. The people who had homes retired thereto, while the ' poor' - people eought refuge.ia the J tube, ■ .■' ;