PROTECT THE SOLDIER

Evening Post, Volume XCIII, Issue 47, 23 February 1917, Page 2

PROTECT THE SOLDIER

1(1 THE EDIIOIt. Sir, —There appeared in your issue of Friday, 26th January, an article entitled "Lambing-down," from your' London correspondent, which tended to show what our wounded soldiers, who are allowed leave from hospital in England, have to contend with, if so be, through their fault or otherwise, they fall into the hands'of ■unscrupulous women. That article was read with interest by many. Not the least being myself, wife of the officer oE military police mentioned iii the article, and, methinks, that.'tis not at all necessary to go so far afield to find the evil; it is apparently hero, even in our midst. .

One incident has come under my notice quite recently. Having occasion to travel—my car was awaited p.t the junction in the vicinity of Wellington's most select locality; not more than one mils from heart of city. Whilst waiting, my attention was drawn to u'couple on the opposite footpath. For the woman—pardon the term, my head went down in shame; the other, a soldier lad, 20 years perhaps, slightly built, and very drunk. For him my blood surged conflictingly, whilst his companion—a strapping creature of about 30 —strode beside him. Despite disgust, I watched the pair, such times as one was not forced to turn one's back, and saw her make him' search his pockets for coin, on' production of which she tripped to the adjacent publichouse, re-t-urmns: shortly with a large' bottle clasped to her unwomanly bosom. They | ■then proceeded to the park near by, and with unspeakable ' indignation at the spectacle the desire was to go and speak to'the soldier boy—ask him about his mother, and draw him out of the danger zone, but the risk and fear. of. making bad matters -^ worse was a deterent; and the car was boarded with an inarti- I culate cry that such things are—here and now, ere our lads are given the chance to get, to.other, and. older, and possibly more wicked lands. ■ One felt the need, of a brief authority to deal with such, matters, and wonders why a guild of citizens—men and women —has not bean formed, with power to act for the. protection of our soldier lads'on-final lea-va who, perhaps, have no home or friend in the capital city; yet must spend their leave here. So, herewith, as the wife of one who is doing his level best to cope with the evil in the vicinity of Brockenhurst, and who has fathered many a wandering lad, I make my protest, and appeal on behalf of those soldier boys who are yet to' leave our shores. One would ask: is it all inclination which. leads astray ? Is it not, rather, that nothing can be accomplished without opportunity; and - are wo not all susceptible *,o temptation? Wo citizens of the garrison city should say every day, as grace before meat: ''Lead not our soldiers into temptation', 0 Our Father, and deliver them from.'the evil one."' (If we-remove a cause, the effect ceases). Will you not, dear Editor, add your influential pen to my weak effort; 'tis a battle, of the pen for the sword? Whieli shall be mightier?—l am, etc.,.

. ' .ISABEL WOODHOUSE. '21st February