A NEW APPEAL

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 14, 11 October 1917, Page 8

A NEW APPEAL

TUK CHUK<!H ADAIV >,V!Ji(K. TIIO Clnurli .Army is one of Ilio-c orgiinisiilions wliicli iimvo cxpiinileil woinlorfnlly wilh Iho nwiis i-rciti-il by tlm ffi'c'it war, iiiiil il is noir lo !«• found rigliL u]i close to the frunl-liiio Ironclics "doing ils Int." in us own cll<rli\o way. The Church Ann.v, which lius lh« Hrv. V. \X. \VliibU\v us orgiiiii>pr in Ncw iißalp.iul, spocialisr.s on its huts mid k-jils (mostly Itnts, in the siuninor limp, at all events, on account of their lnobiiily) close*, up lo the lislitinE lini , , whern llio boys Eoing in anil roming from Hip. trenches :iro ciiiirW; and pro(T«rcd that refreshment, and ricrcnlion I hat a. man often needs to prevent his breaking down under the strain his experiences impose upon him. Theso huts and tents of t.ho (;hurch .A.rmy are so vitally efficacious as to earn the blessing not only of tho poor fellows who are in need of their hospitality, but of the head of the Stato. tho Army and the Navy.

Tho Eight Hon. J). Lloyd Georgo (Prime Minister of England), speakinc of the huts, said: "I tnkfi this opportunity of beariuir my testimony to the extreme usefulness of the. Church Army recreation huts, at borne and. in all tho thea-tres of war, to 11.JI. Forr.es for comfort and cheer. The combination of refreshment bar and jrames villi the quiet corner shut off lor devotion, is 11 happy blend, directed ,by superintendents ineligible for the Army, men of high tone, many voluntarily helping from the highest motives. In the shell zone, then* lulls are invaluable. T. heartily wish success to the. effort to respond before Chrietmaß to tho request for 80 more portable huts, many to be erected in the devastated region recently taken from the enemy." Admiral Sir John .TolHcoe, G.C.8., said: "Tho war work of the\ Church Army, and particularly the provision of the Church Army huts, hns hoen o£ tho Krca.tost valuei to those who are fightins for their country, and I can assuro you that it is most ivarujly appreciated by all ranks."

Lieut-Colonel Sir William K. Robertsou, K.C.8., stated: "I am fully alive to the great work you have done, and are. (join?, for our soldiers, both at home and abroad. The value of your huts is evident by the great demand lor them, and by the way enormous numbers of the men use them. I can eay from experience that in muuy parts of the line in France, they are the greatest comfort to the troops, and are valued by them beyond measure. I can only offer you my warmest thanks for the sympathy and help you have already shown to our brave fellows, and wish you Godspeed in the future." The Rev. E. W. Wkiblcy is at present in Wellington arousing interest in the work, which New Zealand has, so far, not supported to any marked extent, chiefly because the Church Army is not very well known in this country. Up till' September 30 the Dominion had only subscribed some ,£I3OO since the. war to this organisation, but recently, since Mr. Whibley has made its existence and its needs known, the money is coming in. at the rate of about .615 a day, and is beinq dispatehed to the army's headquarters at 55 Bryanston Street, London, at the earliest opportunity.

The need now, of course, is for tlie coming winter with nil its horrors in the low-lying Flanders plain. "France is heaven in summer, but hell in winter," wrote one soldier recently, and the desire is to make as much provision as possible- for the comfort of our men in tho drear, wet. freezing winter which now stares our forces in the fate. Any communications forwarded to the Rev. F. W. Whibley, Ormondville. will be promptly acknowledged.