JEWS IN THE FIELD.

Free Lance, Volume XV, Issue 792, 3 September 1915, Page 6

JEWS IN THE FIELD.

THE cabled news that-.. "Issy"- or "Izzy" Smith, a Jew, has received the Victoria Cross, the first of his race to gain this much coveted and supremely honourable distinction, will probably revive the old; eld discussion as to what part the Jews are taking in the war. So much cheap, ill-natured, and often undeserved satire is directed against the alleged "pacificist" tendencies of the present-day Jew, that it is just as well that the real facts of: the case should be more widely known than thev are. As a matter of fact, the'proportion, of Jews in the British army .'s immeasurably larger than most people imagine, and the same remark applies to the French army. **' * * It is in Russia, however, that the Jews are most numerous, and much has been written of their alleged greed and cowardice. Unfortunately for the detractors of a race which, though not devoid of racial and individual faults, at least; in these days of reason, and tolerance, has a right to expect fair play •from all 1 other civilised races: the facts as to the part played in the war by the Russian Jews are greatly to their credit. In a speech delivered in London recently by a Mr. Alix Aladin, a member of the Russian Duma, it was stated that there are no fewer than 300,000 men of the Jewish, race fighting asainst Germany on behalf of the Russian, democracv- No doubt, did we know the truth, >many of them have carried themselves with the same splendid gallantry that has won for "Issy"'Smith the proud distinction of the Victoria Cross. For to-day it suffices to doff our hats to the first British Jew to win the V.C. Here's to you, "Issy," whoever -you may be.