ENGLAND IN WAR TIME

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2318, 27 November 1914, Page 6

ENGLAND IN WAR TIME

INTERESTING OBSERVATIONS . BY VICAR OF ST. PAUL'S After nearly seven months' absence the Rqv. A. M. Johnson, vicar of St. Paul's, returned to Wellington from the Old Country yesterday morning. Naturally after having been in England during ono of the most momentous times in the history of the nation, Mr. Johnson was approached by a Dominion interviewer, who was desirous of gaining some first-hand knowledge of the condition of life in the big heart of the Empire, and an informative and interesting chat resulted. "When we arrived in London in July," said Mr. Johnson, "the "Ulster trouble was in the air. Conferences'' had been held between the leaders of the ■ parties concerned, but all were abortive, and things looked very ugly indeed. One Sunday we went to the Temple Churoli, and heard a sermon which indicated pretty plainly that-tho nation was on the verge of civil war. Next. Sunday it. was all-gone. The Ulster trouble" had vanisheu—Germany had declared war! The most wonderful thing to me was tho way tho nation accepted the portentous news. There was a. conference of railway managers convened at . once, and | the Government, without; any' fuss or confusion, quietly took control of tho railways and all other_ services essential to the mobilisation of troops. There was what I should describe as a partial panic following the closing of the banks, but when they reopened after four days there was no rush—everyone seemed to accept tho situation with quiet confidence. The Board.of Trade sat at once to fix the price of commodities and prevent exploitation. To show how things were

1 went to the Bank of New Zealand to get some 10s. and £1 notes (the new Government issue), but they had nono —they paid out in gold. Tho situation was handled in the same effective way in the provinces; where the banks restricted " their attention to their own customers. r The banks did well all round. Of the London County .and Midland's Bank staff, no fewer than 500 volunteered to go to the front. ' Their places are being kept open for them, aud in a great many instances lady clerks are being employed to' do the .work.. A Study In Contrasts. "There is nothing • stronger in contrasts than the grim reality of life in England at the present time, and the general vagueness as to the vital issues of the, war as reflected by life in Australia. At Home most of the well-to-do people have put aside their' motors, and all classes are exercising the most rigid economy, partly in order to be able to contribute more liberally to the various funds, and partly on account of tho feeling that they should not be indulging in. extravagances whilst their brethren are suffering so severely at tho front. r At ' Homo county cricket has,'fizzledright out. Before I left, Hobbs (the professional) was given a benefit, which was played at Lord's instead of on tho Oval, as the latter, ground was being used-as a military camp, but there was only a scattering of the public presont. ■ Some of the great Rugby football clubs, including the Harlequins, are not playing at all this season. The Association matehes are being played; generally towretched attendances of. the. public. Business as far as I could gather was affected a good deal, and most of the London houses were running on short staffs. Some of them were adopting tho expedient of employing half the staff on alternate days in order ;to . keep everyone going as far as .was possible. The theatres had been badly hit, and many of them were closed.''

Steadfast Confidence. Mr. Johnson stated that the feeling, of the public was one of quiet, stead? fast confidence, and ultimate victory— that absolutely'. Some of the papers Were complaining about the paucity of the war news, but they made up for it, for they had already killed the Crown Prince of Germany, about seventeen times, ' Lord Kitchenor retained the confidence of the nation —a nation ■ ,that was ready from the jump to make any sacrifice to.maintain its traditions, and all principles affecting national honour. The news of the .ready response of Canadaj Australia, New Zealand,- and -India was received 'with unbounded enthusiasm in London.' : Mr. and Mrs. Johnson made the trip from London to Auckland in the Indrabarah. Before thoy left the captain wa6. warned about a mine-field off Plymouth, but no .call was made there. In the Channel, they were stopped by a French destroyer, and the ship's papers were examined. A cruiser accompanied the steamer until off Ushant, and from that time until the day they arrived in Melbourne'they saw no signs of life,-having sighted the Kildonan Castle when two tho Cape. It was a restful voyage. '. .•