NOTES FROM CODFORD.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXVI, Issue 17569, 13 May 1919, Page 3

NOTES FROM CODFORD.

(By CAPT.-CHAPLAIN WINTON)

New Zealand Command Depot, Codford, Wilts. 23rd March, 1919

I have before me written on a piece of paper "Bigger and Sunnier Houses to be built." Local authorities met in London to decide how#they could improve the workers by supplying them with a decent house to live in, instead of a warehouse "as one speaker remarked." In London city 30,000 houses are set down to be built, Manchester with a population oi 500,000 souls, 16,000 is the present proposal. People in our country have no idea how these poor creatures exist. The whole country is in a bad way—for weeks our boats have been held up, and we do not even knew which way the coal crisis is going to end. A schoolmaster found a note in his desk reading as fol- ■ lows:— i

"We the undersiderl want 2 hole hollydays a wa-k, 4 hours school a day, 2 in the mornin and 2 in the afternoon, and no home lessons, and we wont do no more lessons till we get it."

Alas; the boys had parents, so the strike did not come off.

Our Depot has been overcrowded, carrying close on 5000 men. The hospital sisters have been kept very busy, and we have had quite a number of serious cases of flu—many going West. It is indeed sad—many going through Gallipoli and Prance and then dying in Codford. Major Powley—one of our chaplains attached to the Imperial Forces went through France, came home for a few days leave to see his wife and child, and while home passed away with the flu. A military funeral was given him. A large following of men paid the last respects to his mortal remains—those who knew him on the battlefield. General March of America gives the number of men killed in action and died of wounds being 7,354,000. Can one setimate what sorrow those above figures mean? Each heart knows its own bitterness.

Miss Nina Boyle, in going to France to try and attend some Peace Conferences, stated to the "Sketch" tha. girls in Europe may be pui*chased as ordinary merchandise for immoral purposes. In Macedonia, while she was there, for 60 drachma (about £2 12s. in English money) the girl was the slave oC the buyer for what purpose he cared to use her. ■

1 received from a soldier this letter, and I think it is very nice— showing plainly mother's early training

Captain Winton,

Sir; —When at Codford I posted one of your hymn books to my mother in New Zealand, and I now enclose 6d to you. I hope it will cover the price of it. When I was a kiddie my mother used to sing most of those hymns to me with many others, quite a few years ago, seeing 1 am nearly 30. With best wishes to you and with happy remembrances of the evenings spent at your institution, 1 remain, One. of the boys.

Soon after the signing of the Armistice, the Government decided to take over a large number (65) big houses in different parts of London for the purpose of using for billeting soldiers and sailors in connection \vith their scheme;, for demobilisation. The War Office sought the assistance of the Salvation Army to undertake the running of this project, and the General decided to give his assistance. The scheme is as follows:,—These 65 houses are divided into 5 groups and evei-y house is furnished for sleeping accommodation. An experienced officer with his wife has been appointed as joint managers at each of these groups, and Colonel Elborne has been appointed as secretary for the whole. It is only some two months since we took them over, but Curing that time we have not only furnished, but we huve also housed hundreds of men. The beginning of February Colonel Elborne was called to the War Office and given definite instructions to prepare to receive at two hours' notice, some 750 men—this we did — housed and fed them for eight da.vs with great success, and at the end yere highly comraended by both *ho Military and Naval Authorities for all we had accomplished. Last Thursday we saw 1200 soldie.v leave these hostels for another part of the country—many of them having been with us for the space of three WS3XR, ar-J the Colonel of the regiment before his departure—taking Colonel Elbourne's hand—thanked him and all our officers for alll they had done for them. The Colonel, in writing, states: "I am now expecting ano t0(-r 500 in at any hour, and I have be^n informed by the War Office th'il i have during the coming month to ever be ready to receive 2000 mo:i, and probably 2500 at a very few hours' notice." Sj by this you will see that the Salvation Army Las undertaken ,to do great things to help tlie Government ia these days. Comfortable rest rooms are providad lor them so as to take them off the streets and make it as much like home as possible. .Many from New Zealand and Australia are our guests and they will remember something of what the Salvation Army has clone for them when they get back to Home, Sweet Home.