"ALIEN'S" LETTER FROM ENGLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 3315, 26 September 1917, Page 51

"ALIEN'S" LETTER FROM ENGLAND.

(Specially Written for the Ladies' Page). UNCERTAINTIES. July 16. The slow progress of the war, the terrible sacrifice for every yard progressed, the uncertainty of many undertakings, and not least of all the daily -demand on the faith in leaders, is taxing-the pesple -to the uttermost. Either of intent or by design the press in a measure diverts attention from, our own troubles when it has no victories to relate by drawing attention to the troubles of our enemies. Thus, I note, when we are most unhappy, most uncertain, we hear most of the unhappiness and uncertainties of others. The fact is we are passing through deep waters, and. the Mesopotamia scandal and the practically undefended air raids on London have depressed the people for the moment with that sullen depression of the British that must never be mistaken for despair, or an acknowledgment of defeat, but is a mood which breeds a more dogged determination for renewed and sustained effort.

It seems so long ago that it might have been in a pre-existence that England was asleep to the danger at her door, and ignorant of the almost insurmountable obstacles in her path to the conquest of a foe secretly armed at all points. The awakening from a dream of self-sufficiency has been followed by growing-pains .most painful; but as every cramped limb has been stretched and put to strenuous use, the whole body of the country has been vigorously tested and found not wanting in the greatness that has made the British Empire what it is. No outside foes have assailed us to our discouragement; it is the failure ,or the betrayal of our own that weaken our courage, and more force is spent in anger than would take a city. And the country is very angry over Mesopotamia and the London air raids, and will not let these and other matters rest till the wrongs are righted or reasonably explained. Reports of a " chastened Kaiser " or of a reinvigorated Russia, or the American embargo on food exports to the neutrals who supply Germanj' with food and war material, will suffice to draw but momentary attention from the burning questions at -home. John Bull, when once he is aroused, is not easily pacified. Insular in outlook and conservative of British supremacy, when once it is quite plain that that supremacy is threatened, he demands the reason why. "I have sinned " only succeeds when the fortress is taken.

"Dignity and composure," the new formula for air raids now that " darkness " and composure are out of count because of the daylight raids, by no means satisfies as a recipe the denizens of London's 2000 miles of streets. Something more definite und defensive is demanded. London mothers of all classes aTe reluctant to send the children from their care. The parks this last week have been strangely deserted of children, and the children of mean streets and cramped alleys have no health resort save the parks and open spaces. The Mayor of Poplar and other friends of little children are seeking through "The Children's Country Holiday Fund'* to send as many as possible of poor East End children suffering from raid shock away to Gloucestershire to recuperate. Nearly 200 children have already gone, all belonging to a school that was bombed. The children are bo "nervy," it is said, that when it is necessary to move a desk the school has to be informed, as any unusual noise now frightens them. It is

hoped to send some 16,000 to 17,000 children away this summer j but the cost has considerably increased. Not only the food, but the conveyances to take the children to the station aro more expensive. But the joy of the children when they get into the open country is inexpressible. That "there is a green hill far away" is all that tens of thousands of London's children know of the country. Mr Lloyd George in his speeches last week made it perfectly clear that we are short of aeroplanes, although that was not the object of his statement, but rather to convince the people that by withdrawing aeroplanes, "the eyes of the army," from the front to protect the homeland, we should lose tens, even hundreds, of thousands, of men where we lose tens in an air raid, which the Germans know, and probably calculate upon our withdrawal of our aeroplanes from France to watch these shores. But in this they will not gain their object, for there is not a British man or woman in the Kingdom, even those who sit among the ruins of their home 3 mourning their dead, who would consent to the army being put in danger for local protection's sake. But—, and here lies the bitterness and discontent—:since the first year of the w r ar one section of the press and of the people have been demanding more and more aeroplanes, and pointing out exactly what would happen if we did not have them. "Aeroplanes and an offensive" is the demand now that the country really knows what was behind the gentle persuasives to take the enemy's bombs quietly, and more aeroplanes and activity we shall now get.

The alien population of the East End of London, especially the Jewish fraternity, are not waiting for eventualities. The Ghetto east of Aldgate pump i 3 folding its tents. Men and women and children in thousands, except the British-bSrn Jews, are going to the West ana North countries, where aeroplanes do not trouble, evidently believing London a doomed city. , South Wales, Leeds, Manchester, and Glasgow, where money-making is combined with comparative safety, offer chief attractions for the* course o£ the alien exodus. Many of the aliens in thi3 sudden rush away from the East End are giving up good businesses. Many, others are recent refugees. The Brtish denizens of Whitechapel and Poplar, Aldgate, and other places look on with mixed feelings and occasional uncomplimentary language, for the wives and mothers of the Tommies at the front would scorn to run away, and much resentment is felt that numerous young Russians from 19 to 30 are avoiding • military duty. On Saturday there was another alarm, happily on this occasion without a raid. It was, however, the first test of notifying London that a raid was expected, and some extraordinary scenes were witnessed in the great metropolis. There was no panic, but a good deal of wise precaution. Hero and there—the awful experience of a week ago still in memory — a nervous woman fainted; but, on the whole, the precautionary measure was amply justified. Two thousand miles of streets teeming with humanity, 20CO miles of inhabited houses is no easy burden for the London police to carry through an hour of threatened danger or a crisis of sudden earthquake and fire, as an air raid may be likened to. The first polios officer went along the Strand soon after 7 in the evening* wearing the " Take Cover" notice, and in a few moments the Strand was clear. The underground stations were packed, as were many cellars. Being Saturday, most of the city offices and shops were closed; but outlying London was thronged with shoppers and alarmed mothers, who had left children at home. But the "All dear" signal was soon given, and anxiety passed. The food problems are in no way elucidated as the weeks pass. While the new Food Controller is getting a j»rip_ of the situation the profiteer is gripping exorbitant profits. A lady, comparing her pre-Avar bills with those of the present time, gives the following ta,ble :

But these are London prices, and away from the limelight the seaside town 3 and small inland towns have a local charge of their own, mutton and lamb running from 2s to 2s 6d per lb easily, making a family joint cost £l. There are comparatively few tradesmen who do not fail to profit up to the hilt by the present food scarcity. Local competition has been decreased by the calling up of the men, and " take it or leave it is the attitude of the tradesmen left in the small towns. We also know that tons and tons of food has gone to feed the fish, but much more has been held up by profiteers to swell the profits. From the bacon king down to the retail baker a square deal is difficult. The bread as it should bo made and is made by some bakers according to the Government formula is both wholesome and palatable, but as "we chiefly get it it is neither. While the rumour is that sugar is lying unloaded at the docks and going to waste, suffering as well as inconvenience is spreading for lack of sugar. Tho distribution is so unequal that some places are absolutely sugarless for days together, and all the rest" of the time with not enough to go round. The small fruits have been in abundance, but sugar is so scarce that few private people have been able to preserve this wholesome food for the winter. It was announced

in the spring that if fruit-growers filled jn a special form and sent it to a special department sugar would be supplied to these for jam-making. The forma were forthcoming, but the applicants complain of the non-arrival of the sugar. We had hoped for victory before the coming winter; but Russia has made that hope vain through the- internal troubles that slackened her offensive, the determined renewal of which" had brought satisfaction to the Allies. The experts agree that a decision could have been reached only by a united and simultaneous offensive on all fronts, and this spring, that was impossible to Russia. The optimists that thought Germany was about to follow Russia's example have been disappointed, ffindenburg has won. The triumph of the German army is complete. Dx von Bethmann-Hollweg has been dismissed because he favoured a policy of internal reform. Only conquest by the Allies will overthrow the House of the Hohenzollerns, and Germanv is going to fight it out.

One of the most popular "days " (of which we have had so many since the war) was France's natipnal fete day, the anniversary of the taking of the Bastille In 1789. The French flag floated- all over England, and in London almost all the leading buildings displayed the colours of our gallant Ally. Flags and souvenirs were sold by hundred* of ladies in French" costume, and London was in generous mood. At the chantant'. of the Royal Overseas Club, Pajl Mall, the cap of the famous • French - airman, Lieutenant Nungesser, who recently brought down his forty-sixth German aeroplane, was sold for £IOO, and £300,000 was realised as Eng* land's gift for the French Red Cross.

Old . Presen prices. prices. .. 0 2£ 0 6' Beef (lb) .. ' .. 0 8J 1 10 '. 0 10 1 6 .. 1 0 2 0 .. 0 61 1 3 .. 0 4 1 .0 .. 0 6 „ 1 8 .. 0 8i 1 11§ Macaroni .. 0 2 1 3 Marmalade (Slb^ .. 0 7J 2 0 Matob.es (dozen) . .. .. 0 U 0 9| .. 0 4 0 10 .. 0 2 0 6 Soap (per cake) .. .. .. 0 8 0 10 Sugar (Demerara) .. 0 2 0 6 „ (gramxlated) >. ..- 0 2 0 6 „ (loaf) .. .. .. 0 2 0 <% .. 0 5 1 2 Stout (crate) .. 1 5 6 4