WAR QUESTIONS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2643, 14 December 1915, Page 6

WAR QUESTIONS

4 '" "SHIRKERS" AND OTHER MATTERS • CORRESPONDENTS' OPINIONS . (To the Editor.) ANOTHER HINT FOR THE MINISTER OF DEFENCE. Sii-—Your "absolutely to the point" article in this morning's Dominion, suggesting to the Defence Minister a means of punishing those "physically lit" shirkers who refuse to come to the assistance of their country, must meet with the approval of all. In addition to the disfranchisement and ' annual contribution that you suggest these shirkers should be compelled to pay, I would-- suggest' thai a well-bound durable pamphlet be published, setting forth the in full, ages, occupatioiis, and addresses of overj man who has taken part in this war ; those who have volunteered, but for reasons that need not be given have not been called upon to go into camp; and those shirkers who have deliberately refused to render any assistance whatever to their country in her tour of need. Under these three headings, the names to appear alphabetically,' thus enabling the general public and employers of labour to form their own opinions as to persons they may come hi contact with. I suggest that' this information should be embodied , in strongly-bound book form, that should hold together for'at least a century, and I venture to say that at 2s. 6d. per copy every bank, office, shop, or private house would purchase one of these, books for after reference. Employers would know who. were, applying for work.. No girl with (iny. respect for her sex would even toleralte the attention elf. those whose names appeared in Class 3. No father would give his consent to his daughter marrying a recognised shirker, and no country would desire that such undesirables should propagate their species. The sooner their class die out and cease to* exist tho better for the community at. large. I feel'convinced that this proposed pamphlet - would havo air officacious effect, while should any ' of ■these shirkers later on, to, avoid detection; change their names, au Act should bo /passed tr,eating them with special severity.—l am,'etc.j ; i , DISGUSTED. December 10. i .-. WOMEN ANXIOUS TO SERVE; , Sir,ttl ;have read in your -paper two letters' which interested, me a-great .'deal. .' They., wete.; on . the subject of /."Women'and the' War." ; I juite agree ■with-everything that; was said in those letters, and I am -sure -there are thousands'of other girls think the same: I can both; ride and - shoot; but -as our two friends say, there is -heaps of room for improvement. I'think, with them, that if the Defence Minister was to put a squad of. girls through a severe task ,'of military training, and send them to the front, they would.be able to releaso hundreds- of men to go direct to the firing line. Koy instance, they could very well.do the 1 work.of the Red Cross' men, or those .employed ._iii the' postal department, and even, drive the transport wagons, and most probably look after the horses in-Egypt. I think it is only fair that the women should be allowed to go -aid fight for/ fheir' King and country when they-are both ready and willing to do so. Can nothing bo done? It is absolute cruelty to be laffc behind when we are so anxious to serve the colours. Why not give .us a chance?-' -- I feel -confident that we would make as good soldiers as the meii, and it would be no more, {.rouble to train us either. I hope some other girls'will take t up their pens and give us their ideas; in the matter. Thanking you kilidly for the space this letter has taken up,—l am, etc., • COUNTRY BUMPKIN 111. ' [While all must admire the spirit of our correspondents on this subject, the suggestion .that they might serve their country at the. seat ' of war is not one .-that can be given effect to.] : ■, . RED CROSS WORK. ! Sir,—Would jou permit me, as a member of our Ist Field Ambulance, N.Z.M.C., Main 'Body,- to state per the medium'of your valuafile paper a few. facts in reference to and eulogising the good work that --is * everywhere being done in this direction? Personally, oil duty I have visited nearly every receiv-ing-station and hojspital in Egypt and .other bases. Twice I have returned on duty accompanying my less forturiate 'comrades to our Dominion. I have noted everywhere the kind consideration they are receiving; nothing now to complain of. '• The loyalty of our nurses, medical officers, .and orderlies in all the many branches of this most important bervice is kindness-truly personified. Our •A.D.M.5.,; Ijieut.-Col. Fenwick, of thp Australian': and New Zealand Forces in Egyijt, is never .tired of making the conditions of every hospital, home, and charge under liis jurisdiction all that is possible to, alleviate pain and suffering and make cheerfulness reign within. To Lady/Godley we indeed owe a great deal. The /two homes, one at Alexandria and ;,the other,at Zeitoun, Cairo, organised Jby herself; are/ truly convalescent havens \of rest' after, ahe arduous times in the trenches. •• Tbe bringing back of our wounded men from hospitals, and giving them' a further fortnight in these homes, ;..w/orks' wondersj ( in- building . them up again for further service.' - . As first',assi_staht' : at the. Zeitoun Home I bad an.-'insight as to what men will do to help one another. Thi3 convalescent, honieliis -managed and nin entirely ■.by" a' woman on' its. staff.' It consists,of sixteen rooms, numerous balconies; and out shelters.'_ Hot baths, spacious gardens, with chairs aniong'st the trees to rest, and all kinds'of out- ' side 'games, help I.to make one .forget 'their; past'strenuous .times and sufEer;ings. ■The soldiers' state room contains : an .upright grand piano, phonograph and Records';(which 'by the way now want renewing), lounge chairs,-writing tables and'material, library of books, and papers: 'it is 1 there from jars" and' discord free, the soldiers merry, and' wise i united be, with mirth and song the them again for our'. brave army; . .-/The/ work- was. done by a staff of six trained N.Z.M.C. orderlies j a-soldier cook and his assistant; Sergeant-Major Howard, N.Z.M.C.y and myself as assistant director. Discipline . is observed, and here again one sees tho proof- of. their early sound military training: are the rules'.,broken, soldierly, order is maintained. Provision is made for 60 men to take a rest, with till the freedom.and comfort of a proper home. They usually stay a fortnight to 21 days, and havo au enjoyablo time. Not a drop of alcoholic liquor comes, into tho homo, and our less fortunate inmates get every help and care from those who are well, It would do one gcod to listen, say, at lunch time to the inquiry as to where is "So-and-So.M "Not down to dinner!" and off they go to feed him and see if they call get him to eat . something. Truly, tho characteristics of human nature arc wonderfully portrayed amongst those who havo Wn in trenches. Returning again to the management, the homo is cleansed thoroughly daily by 10.30 a.m., during such time men'go out in the garden or out for liberty walks. Should the services of a medical officer be required, lie can be seen at onco almost, by reporting, to the Sergeant-Major or' myself. ; . One of our greatest troubles has been I to keep the' home free from vermin; this J u Jiffinult owine; to the man, coming

with the clothes they have worn in the trenches for months, and as your readers are aware, the sandy state cf tho roil harbours microbes, and they will get into' the clothing. First this proved difficult, but we have now methods of remedying it. The question of diet is considered, and fish and chicken can be' obtained by those whose dietic state requires such. Never once did I see an inmate return to tho hoiue under the influenco of liquor, and the men respect the privileges of: the ' soldier-managed home. Those who have no one to write a lino tb can always find those eager for a letter at this home. Well might we men be proud of the good work done everywhere bv the women of this Dominion for the Red Cross work at home, in Egypt, and tho front. lung's regulations prevent me saying too much, but your efforts have saved hundreds of lives. Our Director of Medical' Services and the present National Cabinet are to be indeed complimented for tbeir farseeing thoughthilness in establishing convalescent homes in our Dominion, and I do hope they will give a home for soldiers and run by soldiers a trial. Concluding, may I say I hope the iinemory of those brave nurses will not bo allowed to pass who perished at tho post of duty on -the Marquette, and who called in tho hour of distress, "Take .the wounded soldiers off first" ? They wont down" into, the deep waters and perished self-sacrificingly. May some useful memento be erected by, us men to perpetuate their memory. Thanking you, and urging my'fellow men to rally and enlist, —I'am, etc., . COKPL. E. W. ARNOLD. Wairarapa Hospital Ward, J Trentham, Dec.ember 12. THE SHIRKERS. S/r,— One very, important reason why so many men of military age have not yet offered their services to their country lias, I believe, been entirely overlooked by your correspondents. Personally, I am ■in favour of conscription, and therefore refuse to enlist to bolster up' the voluntary system, which is absolutely unfair and undemocratic. Why should I, a married man, go and shed my blood at the Dardanelles for the good of the Empire while . my. neighbour remains at home making a fortune out of the inflated war prices? Let all men of a cortain age bo called to the colours, then numbers who arc so-called' shirkers will gladly, respond. They are not "'disloyal, but they have no time for the volunteer system, which they regard ns ..absoluteiy wrong in principle.—l am, etc., ; A SO-CALLED SHIEICER.