"ALIEN'S" LETTER FROM ENGLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 3352, 12 June 1918, Page 51

"ALIEN'S" LETTER FROM ENGLAND.

(Specially Written for the Ladiee' Page.)

WORKING AND PRAYING

April 2. When the King paid his visit to this old • town by the soa the other day to bestow honours 'upon navy and airmy] men for gallant and distinguished service there was only one civilian presentation made to his Majesty all day, and that was a little girl. The child, when she heard that King George was coming, asked, "Is it the same King that I pray for every night?" and on being told that it was, said, " Oh, I sjiotxld like to see him!'' She is the daughter of a major, who repeated the child's words to General White, in attendance on his Majesty, who was so touched by the fact of the child praying for him that he expressed the wisn that she might be presented, and in the afternoon when the delighted child was made known to her prayed-for King he took her hand and said : "I need your prayers, child— I need the prayers of all my people."

This Passion Week and 'Easter haa been a week of prayer, of intercession, of faith, and thanksgiving. Never has the old, old story been told to more understanding hearts; the agony, the crucifixion, the tomb, and hopelessness of death have been realised in countless hearts that last year regarded Eastertide as a holiday—a little restricted, perhaps, but still as a holiday. The grief of the bereaved has been a sacred grief, hallowed by the best blood of our manhood, by the sorrows of the widow and fatherless, and the sacrifices of us all. Once again the forces of evil are unchained. Mankind is under torture, and the hope of civilisation is on the Cross, as, 1200 years ago, when the sun was darkened in the sky and to the waiting disciples hope seemed to have fled from the earth. But there was a marvellous Easter. Hope, joy, lived once again. Our soldiers are carrying the heavy end of the cross; but we can be Simeons and come to their jiid. The King's thanks and confidence in these splendid men of the Empire for their wonderful spirit in this greatest battle the world has ever known is echoed in every heart throughout the land. If love and gratitude and trust can help, the love and trust and gratitude of the people has gone out every hour to the soldiers struggling and suffering so gloriouslv for our sakes. England has not "slept," but is watching through the dark hours of its night—• watching and praying. But nob in inactivity. The nation has been thrilled and inspired as never since the war began. Instead of fears a new courage, has come to the surface. Thi'ough all classes this courage and hope, born of the heroism of our splendid men at the front, and of the unquenchable British spirit that rises the higher the greater the need. The German offensive has convinced every man and woman in the country that we are literally fighting for our lives, and the result of that knowledge is that lesser things have dropped into the background—industrial and political disputes have for the time being been laid aside, and the whole country is backing the Government in every endeavour to " get on with the war." It is the enthusiasm of 1914 revived, with the experience added that is knowledge. England has prayed this Eastertide. Hundreds of thousands had been looking forward in anticipation to the Easter holidays in -which to rest. After the long and arduous winter the spell of mild airs and sunshine filled all workers with a longing to be in the open, even if it was only a <siange of occupation tilling the garden or the allotment. But the entreaty of the Government to those on urgent war work to abandon the holiday met with a loyal response. All are agreed that the chief aim is to crush the evil thing that is oppressing the world. The toil of the munition girls is not easily described. They ached for their rest. Many of them have worked in day shifts and night shifts since 1915, but .with one voice they affirmed that there should be no Easter holidays for them this year. They_ intended to go on piling up the munitions; all that the fighting men need that they can do they will do. There is scarcely a girl in the factories who has not a " boy " —husband, sweetheart, or brother—at the front, " so what do we want holidays for?" they asked. Their grand holidav. will be when their " boy " returns —and if he does not return, still less reason to fail his comrades.

There are a thousand happy programmes unfulfilled this Easter. Tha news from the ifront has altered everything. Easter, despite the -war, still remains the great marrying season of the working classes, chiefly perhaps because of the vacation, and in part because tha springtime is "ring time." Thousands of munition girls had arranged their weddings for Easter. Many of the marriages have taken place, but the honeymoon holiday was abandoned, the bride going back to her lathe and bench after the ceremony. Many of the marriages are postponed, leave from France being cancelled. There have been many widowed this last week in ttfie factories—quite young girls. They leave off work for a day or so, the matrons say, and then come back and work desperately. The first trains bringing back the wounded from the greatest battle of all history have not come in unnoticed or greeted in silence as the first trains of the war brought the heroes home. The shyness of demonstration has been overborne by the passionate emotion of 'the people, and cheers and tears mingle in welcome. Those of the weary, pale, bandaged men who can sit up and smile and wave a hand let everyone understand that this is not a moment for pity, but their happiest hour since 1914— their

duty done, their ordeal passed, and (incredible happiness!) home in "Blighty" once more—minus a Jimij perhaps, bu ■ home. There are other men borne tenderly upon the stretchers of whom the crowd sees only the outlined form—-sees and grows quiet. Women quietly weep, and men raite their hats as to one honoured in passing. Theae heroes from the tiery furnace think themselves most iorlunato to be here and careu for and tended, and bear their sufferings with fortitude. If the public could have its way they would be killed by kindness and besieged by visitors —but the hospital rules protect them.

Great as are our losses, Germany is shuddering at he/ own. Travellers and workmen returning to Amsterdam from Germany tell of the trains of wounded carrying thousands upon thousands daily. Trainloads are being accommodated at all the villages where there are the least facilities for their care available.

The men from the front tell of the awful slaughter—of the heaped-up piles of dead. That the war was bound to reach its climax in the West we have known the Empire over; we nearer at hand had been listening as it were for the sound of the offensive guns for weeks. Yet when the offensive began we were surprised at its stupendous force. But in spite of the map there is great satisfaction that we have stayed the onrush. We have had a rude awakening, but nothing of panic. Inside a week all the achievements of the battle of the Somme, that lasted in some places for eight months, and is said to have cost on both sides over a million casualities, have been wiped out. Every effort is being made by the Ministry of National Service to increase the now of suitable men for the army, and to make good our losses; and the coast defence is to be left to the over-age volunteers; and the district recruiting officers have been instructed to hasten the review of eligible men conditionally exempted by tribunals. Men in agricultural occupations will not be interfered with, for all that are left on the land are doubly needed, for moro than ever we shall depend upon next . aar's harvest. It was hoped to spare 30,000 soldiers to work in the fields till the harvest was past, but tha urgent need for men to meet the German hordes now makes this impossible. The labour and the duty of the nation's food suip-dy now depends more than ever ' pon the" women. The Bishop of London, preaehing at St. Paul's, Knightsbridge, on Good Friday, said:—"l am asked by the Government to make a special appeal to-day for 30,000 women to take the place of 30,000 men, whom the Government can no longer afford to use among the soldiers for "food production." There will without doubt be a big response, for the women have not failed to volunteer in any emergency. The dismissal pf'munitioneers has ceased for we shall want all our munitions; and it is said that a large quantity of ammunition was -lost to the enemy. But the women must work ats well as weep, for if the men of 50 are called up hundreds of thousands more homes will be broken up, and businesses destroyed. Those of the women who volunteer for such a cause as producing the bread we need, said, the Bishop, are working in a cause of love. The call of the spring to the open will work in favour of the necessity, and the land girls themselves are eloquent agents, for they have much to say in favour of open air life. After the back gets used to its burden, and the muscles harden to the toil, these town-girls from office or shop or comfortable homes, in a little while com'e under the spell of nature that gives something always for what is demanded. Then, too, "town" is not the place it used to be, nor home without the men-folk, and it causes no great wrench to leave it in many cases. And the vacant chairs are better forgotten for awhile. In tending the young things, from the seedlings to the lambs, a call is made upon essentially feminine instincts—to nurture, to shelter, to tend. During these holidays between the rain (which was badly needed) thousands of women have beecn allotment digging and planting—young women, middle aged, and old men and boys—who after last year's success no longer look upon themselves as amateurs. The country is being urged again and again to grow more and more potatoes—potatoes chiefly—and then onions. The good crops of last year, the plentiful yieli of all kinds of vegetables, rewarded the multitude of growers for all their labours, and the labour itself in the •'.•pan did for sedentary workers what the country holiday used to do, and in many instances has roused an interest that will net die again. Tha success of the fruitbottling has been most gratifying; the fruit has been a valuable addition in tha times of scarcity, also the home-grown parsnips and carrots which now, before the spring crops are ready, are repaying for all trouble of production. Strange holiday scenes ! —people at work to whom a holiday was a religion. Stirring scenes reminiscent of the ea.rly days of the war were seen at the London terminus, owing to the departure of troops for the front/, and the most wonderful thing of it all is the spirit of almost elation with which soldiers and civilians are facing the new position. There are crowds at the stations wishing the men God-speed. The war entered largely into all the religious observances of Eastertide, and a notable feature of the congregations was the large number of soldiers. On Good Friday morning the Queen, Princess Mary. and Prince Albert attended St. Paul's, where soldiers from overseas were present in large numbers. At Westminster Abbey there was standing room only. and again soldiers from all England, from all the Empire, mingled with tihe crowds. How casually we have prayed in years that are gone. "From battle, and murder, and from sudden death, good Lord deliver us." We know those terrible things now; we pray no longer lightly; we understand.

We know for what we pray. Battle, and murder, and sudden death, have poignant, meaning- this Easter'tioe of 1918. And.' to'\ ther* is n breaking through the old barriers of creed to touch each other in our common clanger, our common faith, our common hope. We have fenced cur.elves round so long with class and 'ism.3 that we had begun m il'.rdK that the different enfencements were different worlds. A few years ago, the unity of class and religion of tlie present hour would have been unbelievable. On Good Friday, in Hyde Park, 10,000 people at a united service (and creeds have been of all castes the most obstinate to unite) joined in a united service, and were addressed by the Bishop of London, that notable man of labour and of faith, by the Rev, J. H. Shakespeare, secretary of the Baptist Union, the Rev. Scott Sidgett, editor of the Methodist Times; and a letter was read from the famous Roman Catholic priest (the warrior against social evils-). Father Bernard Vaughan, and a Salvation Army band played the hymns. Think of ail that means of religious union. History will speak of Easter 1918 as the most fateful in the story of our Empire, and in the story of modern civilisation; but if this Easter comes to us heavy with responsibilities it comes to us also with its sense of destiny, not without hope. One of the tragic features of the German advance in France is the flight of the people the second time from their homes, and the destruction of the houses they had rebuilt. The separated mothers and (children iand old folk when the British came bravely started life anew among the ruins. The Despatch says of the work of reconstruction that no inconsiderable part of it has been undertaken by the French Wounded Emergency Fund, and large numbers of Englishwomen, have been sent out by the fund, and. they worked hard. in the devastated villages, putting in doors and windows, repairing the bombarded roofs, painting the ibu.ild.ings>, and doing all manner of work that they could possibly execute. If there was a house destroyed save for one room, they would make that room habitable. Cowsheds have been converted into cottages. The English Tommies have lent most valuable aid, building charming little huts for the villagers, and wherever the Tommies have been they have been kind to everyone. And all once more has been swept away! A most interesting series of articles have been appearing in the Daily Mail, written by Mr E. L. Pyke, who was released a few weeks ago from Ruhleben Oamp after being interned for three and a-half years. He enjoyed extraordinary opportunities for observing the state of affairs in Berlin, as he was allowed to visit the capital under escort several times a month in his capacity as kitchen inspector of the camp. Mr Pyke says that the parcels keep our men alive, and, not only so, but that food has grown so scarce hi Germany that the interned British are envied because of the food that is sent to them. This great offensive, says Mr Pyke*, is the last desperate move of the Kaiser, and had to be because the starving Germans are crying out for food, and if peace or victory does not come soon the Kaiser will be compelled to give in. That Germany has been bluffing the whole world—partly before America came in to bluff America and deceive the neutrals. Since Mr Gerard, the ex-United States Ambassador, expressed his views that Germany was not starving, he reminds readers, a year has passed. A year ago Germany was very tincomf ortable, but was not starving; now she is. The advertised price lists of the big stores, savs Mr Pyke, is bluff—the stores are not there. Mr Pyke's articles have heartened the people here to bear their hardships uncomplainingly. BRITAIN'S DUTY. O! you that suffer pains of hell For Britain and her freedom's sake, •Content if you may serve her well Whose very being is at shake, For you with humble hearts we pray That through the perils of the field The Lord, on this tremendous day, May bo your guard and shield. Nor are our prayers for you alone, But for ourselves, that we may be Through pains and burdens yet unknown All worthy of our chivalry, So may the legions of our dead Sleep on in peace 'neath e'.her skies Knowing that proudly overhead Our flag unsullied flies,. What! shall we slumber in the peace Bought by the torments you endure, Who toil and bleed without surcease That English homes may rest secure? If we should stay to count the cost Of aid to these that keep us free, Then honour, faith, and all were lost. Trust us, it shall no't be! —Touchstone.