The Telegraph Book of Readers' Letters from the Great War (3 page)

We cannot, and must not, wait until the last minute. The motto for every man and woman in England today is, ‘Be prepared!' I therefore ask those men who have not gone to the front to assist me as far as in their power lies, and to do that promptly, without delay, bearing in mind that every hour counts now.

All contributions will he gratefully received by Miss Borthwick, 83 Pall Mall, S.W.

Yours truly,

Jessica Borthwick
83 Pall Mall, S.W.

We are threatened with the same confusion that so crippled the Red Cross effort in the South African War, with the same evils of overlapping, of unco-ordinated and disunited work. Private houses are being turned into hospitals and convalescent homes, without reference to any organising body and without regard to any rational scheme. Nurses are engaged who may never be required in the particular place allotted to them, while, worst of all, stores of surgical material are being hoarded up in scores of houses to such an extent that the market is seriously depleted. Ladies are starting independent base-hospitals of their own, and are appealing for funds for their maintenance.

Surgeons and nurses are struggling to reach the front without any organisation, and without definite orders or definite plans. All these efforts are most kindly meant, but they are
producing an amount of disorder and waste of personnel and equipment which is to be deplored.

The British Red Cross Society is working in close harmony with the St John Ambulance Association, and no one can dispute that these two bodies are competent to deal promptly, efficiently and economically with the intending need, colossal as it is, if only they are supplied with sufficient funds. All but the clerical work of administration of the Red Cross Society is carried out by trained volunteers, every department is in charge of competent experts, while offices and storerooms are provided, free of all cost, by the generosity of the Duke of Devonshire.

In every detail the society keeps in close touch with the War Office and Admiralty, to whom, and to whom alone, they look for instructions as to where help is needed, and of what kind it should be. The expenses for equipment, for personnel and for supplies must needs be heavy, but those who come to our aid have the assurance that the funds subscribed will not be scattered in private enterprises, but will be employed to the direct and prompt relief of the sick and wounded. At this
moment – so many are the calls upon the charitable – the Red Cross Society of this country is in need of means to carry out, on business lines, a mission of mercy, the organisation of which has been the deliberate work of years.

Yours faithfully,

Rothschild, Chairman, Council of the British Red Cross Society

When the appalling news of the war burst on us, naturally our first impulse was to cancel our forthcoming tour, or, at least, the first portion of it. On reflection, however, the thought of over a hundred artists being thrown out of work to their great distress, and the distress of those dependent on them, and the great difficulty of getting fresh engagements just at present, made us reconsider the matter, and we decided to make a start in the ordinary manner.

The expenses of an opera company are, however, so very great that it will be impossible to continue if business is very bad for long. Would you permit me to state that we are at the Coronet Theatre, 7 September; Kennington, 14 September; and the
Marlborough Theatre, 21 September, and I would be most grateful if those members of the public who intend to be present would notify their intention to the respective theatre or myself. We could then get an inkling as to what would be our fate.

The Carl Rosa Opera Company might almost be called a national institution. It has been in existence forty-three years, and is the oldest theatrical enterprise in Great Britain, besides being the oldest English opera company in the world. It has introduced hundreds of great operas and singers to the British public, and I am sure that hundreds and thousands of Britishers all over the world would much regret if it was forced to suspend its operations.

I have just heard that another opera company has cancelled its tour, thus adding to the unemployed.

I am, Sir, yours very truly,

Walter Van Noorden, Managing Director

Carl Rosa Opera Company (Ltd.), 14 and 14a, Wrotham Road,
Camden Road, N.W.

Almost every regiment has now its own association providing adequate machinery for giving relief to its old soldiers. The men are personally known in the regiment, and any assistance they may receive from this source in times of distress is not regarded as charity, but as an honourable recognition of their services with the colours.

The Regimental Agency, of which His Majesty the King is patron, is managed by a committee of officers. It acts as the handmaid of the regimental associations. Nine of these associations carry on their work in these offices, whilst others are helped by the Agency in various ways. The Agency also serves as a clearing house, passing on to the regimental associations applications from, or on behalf of, old soldiers, to be dealt with regimentally. Donations sent to us will at once be forwarded to the regiments in which the donors are specially interested.

We further appeal for funds, as also for personal help, for the Regimental Agency itself, to enable us to carry on our work for the regimental associations at a time when a severe strain is made on our resources and most of our helpers have been called off by the war.

Subscriptions and donations should be sent direct to the Regimental Agency, 33 Tothill Street, Westminster, S.W.

Yours faithfully,

Louise, President

Roberts, F.M., Vice-President
Methuen, Vice-Chairman of Council
Claude M. Macdonald, Chairman of Central Committee
The Regimental Agency, 33 Tothill Street, Westminster, S.W.

The aeroplane fell to the road between Enghien and Ath. Belgians near the place told me the officer was shot down by a column of German infantry, the strength of which column he was evidently trying to discover. The aeroplane was totally destroyed, but on a twisted plate I found the name of an English firm. There were also in the wreck paper forms
for making out reports on reconnaissances. There was no writing on these, but the printed matter was in English.

At the head of the grave the Germans had put a wooden cross, on which they had written ‘Herr Flier, 22 August 1914'. The Belgians had covered the grave with flowers. It should not be difficult to find. It is on the left-hand side of the road as one walks south from Enghien to Ath in a pear orchard, near a very old red-brick house with a square tower.

One hundred yards south of the grave is a signpost that reads, pointing south, ‘Ath – 14 kil.', pointing north, ‘Enghien – 5 kil.' Enghien is about thirty kilometres south of Brussels.

I am, yours truly,

Richard Harding Davis, Correspondent, New York Tribune 10 Clarges Street, W.

What I am asked to state is that there will very shortly be a great want of foodstuffs in many important places in Belgium, and that the sufferings, not only of the wounded, but of the inhabitants, and especially of little children, will probably be excessive. For these reasons I am told that the great merchants of Britain, who may not already have shown their appreciation of the efforts of Belgium, would be only too willing to make gifts of foodstuffs were transit available. It is believed that an opportunity will very shortly be placed at my disposal whereby foodstuffs in large quantities could be delivered in Antwerp and elsewhere, should those hereby appealed to desire to help in the proposed manner.