RACE TO FRONTIER.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 204, 2 October 1914, Page 8

RACE TO FRONTIER.

THRILLING RIDE BY NIGHT. DESPERATE EFFORTS TO REAP HARVEST. PARIS, August 19. I am just back from the first, and probably the last, visit that a civilian will be able to pay to the French frontier until the situation has considerably developed, wrote the special correspondent of an English exchange. To have to wait a day in a queue to obtain a permit to leave, another to secure a ticket, and even a third to confirm it by getting a definite seat on a numbered train, can discourage the most patient. The miracle, however, took place; and it was-brought about by the agency of a chance meeting with, a genial chauffeur. There followed an introduction to his employers, a party of Belgian officers returning to their own army, and an amiable invitation to evade some of the weariness of the irregular train journey by taking a lift. That this was extended beyond all limits contemplated by military regulations must be, attributed to a reluctance to turn out on a dark, wet night, in unknown districts, one of a nation whose*, intervention, as I was assured, has contributed much to the magnificent., spirit with which the Belgian troops have supported the first rush of the '' invincible machine." We left Paris with the Boulevards almost as crowded as ever, but with half the colour and light gone, and a note of unusual gravity in the aspect and talk of the moving stream. Out through the long, dark suburbs, with the last signal, the flare of the searchlight from the Eiffel Tower, "blinking its messages across the clouds high above our heads, in front. In the first two miles we were stopped half-a-dozen times j business-like question and answer in quick, suppressed voices. Then the checks decreased as we ran out into the dark fields, though the flash of light upon arms, the challenge and halt came still at bridge and corner. An arrangement of signals passed us at only reduced pace through the larger picket's, but the less well-informed solitary sentry had to be more fully satisfied; and the more the further from Paris. AT RACING SPEED. Then longer and longer intervals of tremendous racing, unchecked; for the car drove at full Speed, and there is no peace traffic. Through Senlis, Com--piegne, St.- Quentin, and, at last, Cambrai. It was only possible to calculate, the probable towns by the intervals of time, for in each case we were turned off on to side circuits. * When I nad passed south to Paris a few days before, on a more westerly line, the country had still seemed inhabited, though by a mixed race; crowds of little red and blue soldiers, .resting, marching, crammed in troop-trains, and knots of men and women at tlie village corners, or hanging at the gates of the huge deserted factories. , Now it seemed an empty land. All the life had passed east into the great war cloud. Only now and again . the flash of the lamp on a cluster of boys and older men, sitting or lying by the road; the non-combatants of the villages from the war region tramping west, : with blue check bundles tied on the handles of their reaping hooks, to earn what they could for the later repair of their losses by helping to harvest. , Need for it, too> as the sight of the immense fields pf grain, unreaped or half-reaped, yellowing the lonely fields of the uninhabited country, suggest ruin to the traveller passing in the train. Before Cambrai we passed under a thicker darkness of cloud,- and met a torrent of rain that for the rest of .the night and morning hid everything but the flash of the lamps on falling drops, or the more vivid gleam of fixed bayonets. 'As we neared the frontier the country seemed to become populous again. The cottages had lights, lights in the fields and through the trees, Only, as we passed, the strangeness increased, for the population had come from a different planet. Quiet cottages, with the glow of uniforms through the wet jmnes, fields with a few, tireless peasant women, helped by good-humoured soldiers, using even the darkness for a desperate effort to get in the forsaken crops. The sight of arms and waggons seemed all the less fitting in the quiet villages because there was no suggestion of war. One picture stands out vividly; the glare of the lights through the rain on a sentry motionless on guard, while quite a dozen peasant women, tired froni the day's reaping, sle}>t in his charge, lying under the ridge of the field where they had been working. Beyond Cambrai I am not at liberty to give our direction or record any details —a natural condition. VICTORIA LEAGUE. SPECIAL WAR FUND. The following additional donations have been received by the Victoria League towards its Special War Fund: —Already acknowledged .£lßl 12/6, collected by Mrs Frank Cowlishaw £lO, -Mrs F. M. Barker 5/-, collected by Mrs Boyle £1 1/-, Mr G. D. Greenwood £lO. Additional gifts for the" Victoria League case for the Black country have also been received from the following: —Mrs Appleby 2 complete outfits for girls of ten and 4 boys' shirts, Miss Young 8 new children's garments, Mrs E. Webb coat and skirt, Mrs Evelyn Wright, sen., 5 infants' flannel gowns, Mrs Biggs 2 outfits for boy of two and man's suit, Mrs Dampier Crossley complete outfit for girl of fifteen, Misses Bishop 12 new flannel garments, Mrs Frank Cowlishaw 42 new garments, Mrs Button la new garments, Mrs ,'J. H. Hall 3 knitted scarves, Miss Gladys Diamond child's dress, Mrs Rice long knitted coat, Mrs J. Stevenson 13 children's garments, Mrs Peter Wood. 28 garments. Subscribers are asked to send to the secretary, before October 8, any gifts they wish to go in the first case. THE LIVERPOOL FUND. CHRISTCHURCH BRANCH. The Mayoress, Mrs Holland, has received the following gifts this week at the depot:—Mrs Blackstock (Lyttelton) 2 Balaclava caps, Mrs Warren (Lyttelton), 2 scarves, Miss Greig 2 Balaclava caps, Mrs Murray .Jackson 2 Balaclava caps, Mrs J. C. 'Bayley (Fernside) 2 pairs socks, Miss A. Taylor and Miss M. Doeherty 7 Balaclava caps, Mrs Quane 3 Balaclava caps, Bible-in-Schools League 10 Balaclava caps, T. Harris 8 pairs socks. COMMITTEE MEETING. A meeting of the Committee of the Liverpool Fund was held in the Coun-

cil Chambers this morning. The Mayoress presided, and the Mayor and Mr C. H. Gilby (treasurer) were also present.

The Mayoress reported that the appeal for cake had resulted in about SuOlb being donated, and the executive had decided to make this up to 10001b with money that they had in hand. This action was confirmed. Mrs Holland read a letter from Sir Alexander Godley, thanking the Liverpool Committee, on behalf of the troops, for the splendid way in which the appeal for equipment had been received by the women of the Canterbury military district. The treasurer (Mrs Gilby) presented accounts totalling £767 2/3, which were subsequently passed for payment, leaving a balance in hand of £1407 11/2. Of this it was decided to place, £IOOO on interest at 3 per cent., at call, with the City Council. The question of sending a quantity of socks and cholera "belts Home, in answer to Lord Kitchener's appeal to the Queen, was discussed at length, and it was decided, on the motion of Mrs Holland, seconded by Mrs Stewart, to purchase and send home 2000 cholera j belts and 2000 pairs of socks for the use of the troops. It was stated by one of the committee that several ladies desired to help this movement, and it was agreed that the best way of assisting would be to send the money along to the Mayoress, ear-marked for this special purpose, so that it could be spent to the best advantage, as she will x be i able to obtain the goods at wholesale prices,, It was also decided that a sum of £SO be voted to the Red Cross Society. The following articles were reported to have been sent away from the depot ! since September 3 to date: —116 Balaclava caps, 115 jerseys, 5 cardigan jackets, 36 hold-alls, 28 housewives, 42 handkerchiefs, 44 pairs socks, 11 mufflers, 12 halters for horses, 100 ambulance brassards, 6 cases ,eake (about 10001b), 6 sacks books. A hearty vote of thanks to the Press for the assistance it had rendered the fund concluded,the meeting. CANTERBURY PATRIOTIC FUND. ——. This fund is established with the following . objects: —(a) To provide for those dependent on our volunteers should it be found necessary; (b) to assist volunteers returning physically unfit until such time as they are again restored to health; (c) generally to apply the funds in such manner as the executive may deem necessary to alleviate suffering and distress caused by the present crisis. Donation.} may fce forwarded to his Worship the Mayor of Christchurch, the Town Clerk, or the secretary (Mr R. T. Tosswill, Royal Exchange Buildings), and will be acknowledged through these columns. The following are additional donations towards the Patriotic Fund:— £ sr d. Misses Gavin .. .... 2 0 0 Staff of Hospital and Charitable Aid Board 20 13 0 Very Rev. W. Harper .. 110 Coachworkers' Union .."•-•■ '2 2 0 R. Walker .. .. .. 11 0 A.H ■■■..■ .. .. 11 -0 H.E.■■■;. .. ... .. .. 10 0 J. Lowry ........ 110 Norman Paterson .... 110 F. Martin 22 0 Dunlop Rubber Co ~.50" 0 0 Mr Sexton ~,. ... .... 010 .0 H. Cross '. .. 0 5 0 G. Timmings ...... 0 5 0 City Council Waterworks employees (fourth con- [ tribution) 012 0 ! Pirihona .' 10 0 j Hornby and Islington ■ contributions ...•' .. 2.3. 0 0 Total to date .. £14,260 14 0 WEST MELTON. The following subscriptions have been received: —G. Watson £lO, E." MeLen"nan £1 1/-, Mrs D. McLennan, sen., £1 1/-, W. Calder £1 1/-, Mrs W. Calder 10/6/ F. C. Carter £1 1/-, E. D. Hunter £t I/-, J. Simms £l, W. H. Hitchins £1 1/-, R. M. .Tones £1 1/-, J. H. Hutton £1 1/-, S. Mcllwraith £1 1/-, J as. Langdale £5, G. C. .Towers 10/-, Anonymous .10/-, W. Griffiths Smith £lO 10/-, J. Jaunet 10/-, -T...T. Stonyer £1 °L/-, S. Humm 5/-, F. Sandrey £1 1/-, E. Davis 10/-, C. E. Walker £1 1/-, W. ,G. Hille £5, D. C. Ferguson £1 1/-, F; C. Hack 10/6, Mrs Hack 10/6, W. Renwick 10/-, E. McGilvarev 10/-, W. Matson 5/-, W. E. Mulcoek £1 1/-, Finlay Bros. £l, S. Hayes £l, J. F. Tipping £1 1/-, "Aaron Bell 5/-, C. McLennan 5/-, s J. H. Nelson £l, 1/-, J. Nelson, jun., 10/-, C. Whyte £1 1/-, half proceeds picture' show (W. Oakley) 18/6, sale of flag 5/-; total, £SB 12/-. FOOD FOR BRITAIN AND BELGIUM FUND. YESTERDAY'S DONATIONS. £ s. d. Previously acknowledged 13,226 22 Ballantyne and Co. .. 10 JW 0 "John" 0 2 6 Pirihona .. .... 10 0 J. R. Wilkinson (Loburn) 0. 11 0 Springston Social Club . . .0 7 6 One month's contribution, members North CanterI burv Hospital and Ohar- . itable Aid Board staff . 5 0 0 C. W. Wood 3 3 0 | Total to date .. .. £13,246 16 2 The residents of Halswell have arranged to hold a concert in the Halswell Town Hall on Saturday night in aid of the fund' for the Relief of the Poor of Great Britain, Ireland, and Belgium. WOMEN'S COMMITTEE. Gifts of clothing were received yesterday at the depot of the Women's Connuittt.ee, 139 Gloucester Street, from the following:—A.B., IVlrs Firth, A Friend, Mrs F. M. Warren,' A Friend, Mrs A. (.'lark, Pnpanui Sewing Guild (per Miss Nevin) (new' and t worn), Mrs Peak, Mrs .J. A. Patoli and family, Anonymous, Mrs Neave, Miss E. Thomson, Mr H. M. Parnass, 38 Cashel Street, A Friend, Mrs Boag (St. Andrew's congregation), Anonymous, Mrs .Pratt, Anonymous, Mrs Prebble, the ladies of "Quamby," Lower Riccarton Sewing Committee, "A Soldier's Sister," Miss Shadrach, Mrs Con lan, St. Andrew's congregation, Anonymous, East Christchurch School, A Friend. HORORATA. Additional donations from Hororata to the Food for Britain and Belgium Fund comprise:—£l from C. A. Thome and £5 from T. Payne. The women of Hororata have sent in 250 garments for the poor of Britain and Belgium, and are still working for that object,