SOLDIERS FROM OVERSEA.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15774, 15 December 1916, Page 11

SOLDIERS FROM OVERSEA.

THEIR VISITS TO LONDON,

(FROM OTTR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) LONDON, November 3.

"Wherever w e go in these dapra we come across men from the Dominions, men in khaki, and every private individual does everything in his power to give the soldiers a good time. From their arrival in hospital, or on leave, to their departure from camps back to the front, club s and institutions, and private people vie with one another in looking after the men, taking "them about, and giving helpful information when they set off for their sight-seeing tours. Theatres and music-halls get their quota of men from the oversea Dominions; large numbers of them attend the Cathedral services; a sprinkling will be found at every concert •hall. Yes, undoubtedly, the men seem to be quite happy, and their appreciation of attention is unbounded. But at length "The Morning Post" is wondering whether the countrv as a whole is doing all in its power; indeed, it asks, "What are we doingfor them?'' Officially, 1 suppose, one has tp admit that notning is being done, unofficially much is. As things arc, writes a correspondent in that journal, "when London first glamour has worn off, the capital may seem, after all, a chilling J? the wanderers. l'hey are in it, but not of it. Londoners would prefer that these champions of the Empire should carrv into far-away places a warmei memory of its capital. But Lcindoncrs like other Britons, are inarticulate on matters that touch deeply, and hence it happens that many of the young soldiers whom they so proudly and affectionately admire, wander about, the streets, lounge at the corners, ana rest on seats in the parks, or wherever else they mav pass hours that apparently have no definite purpose, and all ior "lack of the friendly interest and cruidance that would make their visit a lifelong satisfaction. If this were all it would be bad enough, but it is well-known that there are gangs; « sharpers who make a dead 6 et at these careless adventurers, many of whom are well supplied with moneyr It is a blot on London's hospitality that they should be left unbefriended. British hospitality will be judged m the future bv many men and their descendants in distant lands from lmpressions gathered at the present . time. London means much to the visitors, but what do they mean to London P it i s time to answer this question m a clear and practical way. To .do so satisfactorily some kind of organisation seems to be needed. There must, be many a householder who would welcome a son of the Empire as an occasional visitor to his house, letting him feel that it is a retreat for friendly com--panionsliip and the amenities of home i life."