WAR LETTERS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3175, 28 August 1917, Page 7

WAR LETTERS

TO MY OLD FRIENDS . NO. 2. . Dear Kate,—You certainly did not expect a letter from me. Why, wo haven't met since you married, and that was 1 forget now longr ago. But I do not forget the bright, smiling face of tho flower <>-' the flock, who made,- as fihe«so richly deserved to do, the marriage- of the family. Toll remember the old days when you used to sing and recite 'at the church entertainments, and "Became 1 was perhaps four years the elder you always regarded me as grown up . Now I see your name in the papers as. taking your share in the various efforts on tiehalf of the men who aro cheerfully endeavouring to keep the accursed Hun out of Now Zealand. If you have half the vim you had when I called you. Katie, I can rely on you as a stayer —you'll keep things moving. That is why I am writing to you. We are moving ilia Germans, many of them to the Hsxt world, ■ many of them to England. If s grim work, but we're hero to do it, and we're seeing it through. Some of us, alas, are being passed out in the attempt. Wβ seo New Zealand jjapers and receivo cruito a number of private letters. We know that ,7oe Ward is doing his best to-finance tho war. We realise as you cannot how very necessary is tho help of those who stay at home. Our supplies can only be kept up if they find the iimds. Tot we see fur coats advertised at from fifty to a hundred guineas, boots and shoes up to four and five pounds, stockings at anything up to forty shillings, hats at, say, iivo guineas. Not only 'that, but we learn that there are many women in Now Zealand wearing these clothes. Do they realise wo are fighting for tho very existenco of. New Zealand as a free country? Do they know, as I know, that of all England's vast Empire Now Zealand was tho Dominion tho Germans were keenest to acquire ? Do they realise what that would mean? Have they read What tho Hun has done to the women and children of Belgium and IVunra? Havo they yet ■"■ denied 'themselves any entertainmont, any finery, any luxury, much less any necessity, in order to' aid ■ those who aro making their continued freedom-possible? For the 6ake of all that' is noble and true I appeal to you, and to all of them, to follow the noble example of the French women, and wear far less expensive clothing, putting tho money saved into tho War Loan. Why, the clothes I havo mentioned would mean from .£SO 'to ,£IOO. Then tho denial of two visits to tho Opera House would buy a thirteen-shil-ling War Loan Certificate. You think this paltry! Is it paltry that we should seo brave fellows shattered and dying every day? No saving, no economy is too small if the women are to help win this war. Do try iuid get all your friends to help us. Wo are proud indeed to be entrusted with tho honour of defending your safety and your lives. We do not even ask your thanks, but wo do ask all of you to live as though life is serious and not a matter of sheer.waste of money on unnecessary luxuries in dress and pleasure. Do I seem too strong on this point? If you. could ouly come over here to Franco lor one single hour you would bo ten times as emphatic.

God help, you, little Katie t to awaken our women to the need of supplying every penny to make our victory assured. As it' is so serious a question'you must pardon tho familiar terras in which I havis addressed you. God bless you, littlu woman. Do your best. .

Yours sincerely, THE LITTLE CORPORAL.