FOR SOLDIERS

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 81, 5 April 1923, Page 8

FOR SOLDIERS

"A CORNER OF BLIGHTY"

FAMOUS WAR WORKER'S VISIT

WAR INCIDENTS.

A lady who will be welcomed by many returned soldiers in New Zealand arrived in Wellington yesterday in the person of Miss Lily Butler, C.8.E., better known as the "Mother of the Corner of Blighty" of Paris. The "Corner of Blighty" was a picturesque mansion in the Place Vendome, at which many thousands of New Zealand and Australian soldiers were made at home when they went on leave to Paris. Miss Butler will traverse New Zealand on a lecturing tour, especially directed to the women of New Zealand who sent their menfolk to the war. For several years she and sixty-five assistants toiled in Paris for the overseas, troops, and her story, the personal incidents, and her general impressions form an entrancing story too long for the space available. Her assistants included members of the English and French aristocracy, and Miss Massey was for-, some time a_ helper. Miss Butler spoke to a "Post" reporter this morning in terms of the highest praise of the New Zealand and Australian soldiers who visited the "comer" and.acted as the shepherds of her assistants when occasion demanded. ' One of the things that struck.her most of the men from the Dominions was their chivalry. She • said their love of their mothers was greater than any she had seen, and a mother's photo would keep them out of mischief where no other thing would. One of the most wonderful things was men from other parts of- the Empire were not jealous of the New Zealanders, who were recognised as the pick of the fighting forces when every aspect was considered. Nothing else could, in her opinion, be so nattering. Speaking of New Zealand, she said she was already in love with it and its remarkable greenness after the wastes she had seen while travelling by camel, pack-horse, train, 1 and car. in Australia. The autumn tints were wonderful, and everything reminded her of England' much more than did anything in Australia.'

THE SPIRIT OF FRANCE.

A series of interesting incidents that happened in France at the beginning of and during the war were spoken of byMiss Butler. At the time the war broke out she was in England, and went immediately to Paris. The excitement over the . ultimatum from Austria to Serbia was at its height. The one and onlyaim of Britishers was to get back to England, and every taxi and train was employed for a time on their behalf. Paris was in a state of turmoil. The day of the general mobilisation in Paris, was one of the most wonderful she had experienced. Some countries had accepted the war in a spirit of mourning, but in France the one idea was that they would get back the provinces that hadbeen stolen from them in 1870. Patriotism ran riot. Banks closed down and the largest cheque book could not produce cash. ,She happened to have a lot of money at the time, but could not get anywhere, as the trains and every other conveyance were required for the soldiers, who were able to commandeer any vehicle they could got. By means of telling a soldier that she had enlisted in a canteen, which she had done immediately, she was able to get to the place she wanted to by means of a dust cart and then a gig. The gig also contained five soldiers, who "broke a crust" at every village and rapidly became worse for liquor. Finally she appealed to them as gentlemen of France to act as such, and their behaviour improved in such a manner that she decided on the trip to devote her time to the wellbeing of the soldiers from that time, as long as she,was required. It was whon she was promoted in rank in the Bed Cross that she took control of the "Corner in Blighty." "I never left France during the war, because I am such coward that had I gone away I know I would never have returned," stated Hiss Butler. "The first time a bomb fell in Paris in the air raids I ran away. When I returned I kneeled beside the first victim of the air raids on Paris. It was a little girl, whose leg had been smashed. She looked at me with her big blue eyes filled with tears, and said 'Don't tell mother; she will be afraid!' That is an incident of bravery that should be repeated to the New Zealand ■ children. After that the big black Taubes came over every day. On 24th August one of the machines came so close that we could see the officers. They let fall a lot of dodgers in French,, English, and German, stating that when they took Paris, in a few days, they would bayonet every man, woman, and child of the accursed British race in the city. I remember well what happened. One small lad, one of those whom Victor Hugo described as the 'Sparrows of Paris,' rushed into the square, seized a handful of the papers, and cried 'It is forbidden to throw papers in the street.' A scene of immense enthusiasm followed, the crowd crying 'Sale Boche! Voici l'espirit de Paris.' ('Dirty Hun. That is the spirit of Paris. ) The Germans were so angry that they flew away and did not even bomb us. They apparently thought that with the German troops practically at the gates of the city the people were broken in spirit."

I Continuing, Miss Butler stated, that the first two months of the war were the most terrible that could be experienced. The women refugees came into the city raving in madness, and there were terrible scenes.. She knew that the reports of the German doings that were made in the beginning of the war were not exaggerated. . England was wonderful at that time, and even, the peasants offered to take refugees. A WOMAN IN THE PULPIT. • Beturning to her favourite subject, the "Corner of Blighty," the speaker mentioned the undenominational services. These were held every Sunday. On one occasion she found the service I ready to start and no minister of any denomination. It became necessary . for her to take the service. When it came to a conclusion there was a feeling of dissatisfaction in evidence, and it was then pointed out by the men that they had not got their "moneys worth," which they demanded, and Miss Butler had to 1 give a sermon, which she did, on the "Evils of Paris." On several occasions, the club was visited by the Prince of Wales in a most informal manner. Miss Butler treasures one incident which is characteristic of the Prince. He wanted cigarettes, and on being given them aßked how much they were. Miss Butler said nothing was charged for in the club, to which the Prince replied 'Right oh! I'll fill my pockets." . Of the bodies which did wa-v work Miss Butler stated she glorified the Salvation Army, not only for their war work, but also, for their work in the slums of Paris and.other'towns slie visited. She said they undertook reformative work which no other denomination would think of doing, and carried it through successfully. They were truly the "Army of God."