MERCANTILE MARINE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 227, 13 June 1918, Page 8

MERCANTILE MARINE

* PROPOSED MEMORIAL We have received a letter Irom Lord lieresford requesting us to publish the following appeal to the wonlen of th« limpire im behalf of a proposal to build a Sailor'' (test and Boys' Hostel for the I'ort of Loudon as "a memorial fruai the women of the Empire to those spiandid men of bo 111 sea services who iiltv« lo?t I heir lives in the service of their try":Waweiield House,, Cheapside, London, T..1V2, April 2D, ISIS. Dear Madam,—As you arc probably mvare this year is the ceulenary of the British and .Foreign Sailors' Society, and as president of our Ladies' Guild, 1 feel it is a very titling occasion for fins women of tlio* Empire. who owe so much to the protection afforded by our splendid .-iiilors, to help us to make the year HllS, one that will leave its mark on tho annuls of our country, at- one specially devoted lo our seamen. It is proposed iat the rtrjuost of the authorities) to build a Saiiors' .Rest and Hoys' Hostel lor the IWt of London, as "a memorial from tiie women of the Kmpire to those splendid men of both sea unices who have lost their lives in the service of their country." There will be in the building, Scotch, Irish, Welsh, ami overseas scclions, as well as the English, so that it will be definitely recorded ihat the "J'e-t" is provided by .subscribers from all parts of Ihe Empire. We, the women of Great Britain and her overseas Dominion, owe them a debt: greater than wo can ever realise, and this "Rest" erected in tho very centre of Ihe "Sailors' Town" in the heart ot' the (jreatst city of the Umpire, will meet a need which is great now, but will he infinitely greater in the days to come. Our sailors come from all parts of the world, at nil hours of the night andday, often finding tho only places available for their 'accommodation very undesirable ones; where temptations assail them at every point, and vet they are the men who have stood between us and the fate of Belgium and Trance, and other nalions. It will indeed be a proud privilege for the women of the Llmpire to feel Ihat they have, been able to erect this Itest to stand as a lasting memorial of their gratitude to.these gallant nien, who for the sake of the women, the InIIDO3 and liberty of the nation, have never counted the cost, but.have one and all proved themselves more than worthy of the proud traditions of the past. A large sum of money will be. required, and the morn we are able lo collect, the more adequate the Kest will be for the needs of tlie men and boys. I earnestly ask you to do all that you can to maks the result of our appeal worthy of the cause.—Yours faithfully, BE ATI! ICE DHISDALE. . President of the Ladies' Guild. Subscriptions and all communications should be sent to mo at tho above address. 'The following is a copy of Lord Beresford's letter lo Lady llimsd'ale:-—, Dear Lady Diinsdale,—Anything that T can do to help the splendid officer* and uien of the mercantile marine. T would gladly undertake. The country will never be able to repay them for their heroism, and their chivalroub and patriotic, efforts in carrying out their duties during this war. Without their aid, the war could not have continued; t.hey have fed the people of this country and our fleets and armies, facing.death on every voyage, and leaving 10,000 ot their shipmates at the bottom of th« sea, who have given their lives for the State. May nil good luck attend you in your efforts on their behalf—Tours sincerely, (Signed) BEEESFOU.D, Admiral.