COMFORTS FOR OUR SOLDIERS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2785, 1 June 1916, Page 2

COMFORTS FOR OUR SOLDIERS

WORD FROM THE FRONT. The Mayoress, J Irs. J. P. Luke, president of the 'Countess of . Liverpool Fund Committee (local-branch) has received tho following letter from Her Excellency the Countess of Liverpool:— "Dear Mrs. havo received the following particulars regarding comforts for tho mon in France from an Imperial officer who has served in France for a good many months. I forward them to you in tho hope that they may' be -useful to you and your committee. .The. officer writes as follows:— '"As second in command to my. battalion, part of my many duties was to ascertain what was esential and what was valueless, and in order that those at home might send us things we required, • The Supply Service in France is. most excellent—butter, jam, tobacco, cigarettes, etc., etc., being issued from the Supply Department. In addition to this, troops nre now seldom in the trenches for more than a week at a time, and when back in billets can 1 generally get whatever "luxuries" they require. As an example of this: two miles behind tho last trenches I was in, could be found an afternoon tea shop and a branch of Messrs. Burberry's (waterproof coats, etc.). Orders from London can be executed within a week. '"'Every week.or ten days all ranks can get a good hot bath and a complete change of underclothing. The old ones are left one side of a huge bath and clean ones;found on the other side.- This being so, it would seem almost unnecessary to send shirts, etc., to individuals, although a man might prefer to keep his .own anil put np wijilr the difficulties them'himself. The only things 5 would, ask to havo sent to my men were I still at tho front, would be as-follows :™ " '1. Cigarettes and tobacco. The soldier consumes an inordinate quantity of both; with tho Government issue, I still found my battalion could smoke another 9000 cigarettes a week. " '2. Chocolate. Milk and plain chocolate is always appreciated. " '8. Electric torches and refils. These am invaluable for use in billets, and a fixed size of torch should be supplied in order that the question of re-fills can be simplified. "'1 Socks. Hand-knitted socks are always welcome, and aro infinitely preferable to the machine-knitted. 1 " '5 Writing materials. The best solution is for everyone who writes' to a soldier t,o enclose a couple of envelopes and sheets of paper. " 'G. Soup squares, bovril, cake. These are ever welcome, to all ranks.. ]' "Woollen waistcoats and mufflers. 'France just now is.. pleasantly warm. I" always found, however, that a woollen waistcoat was appreciated at night. Tho Government issue quite a good one, but' a hand-knitted one is .preferable. M.v advice is to concentrate ;on 'those tilings which a man can either eat. smoke, or cany. In Franco, a man's "all" has to travel on .his back. His equipment already weighs between' 401b. and 501b., owl he cannot carry lmtch more or do so without a reduction of fighting efficiency/ ..."Ton are very welcome to p-ive this 'to ■Xlio local Press and to any of tho com-, mittees who may be interested.—Yours' sincerely, Annette Liverpool." Ladles, Listen!! ""No; Hubbing Laundry Help" washes all olothns'iHean', without nibbing or injury to hands or finest fabrics; Is. package, sufficient ff*i' 'seven weekly washings. Wm. Campbell,, Ltd.—Advt.