OUR DEBT TO THE SAILORS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 230, 17 June 1918, Page 2

OUR DEBT TO THE SAILORS

MINJ3-SWEBPERS AND TORPEDOED JfEN. Last August Mrs. Hamilton Niinmo. superintendent for ilie W.C.T.I'. throughout New Zealand for ivork among seamen, mado an appeal for comforts for wine-sweepers and the men of torpedoed vessels. Tho appeal wa.s a most succc.\sM one, both ns regards Ihe number of warm woollen garments that were sent to Engjand for tlioso mnn and money. Jlrs. Nimmo is now making another appeal for Iho same cause, for tho war still goes on, and the. men who aro facing such hardships and dangers are in greater need than ever of warm garments and comforts. People who are living safely upon land, ayay from all sight and sound of tho war and of everything that, could in any way visualise for theni what its horrors and trials mean, aro sometimes apt to let the needs of the sailors slip from their memories, but the fact that our own waters aro not froo from the cowardly menace of Ger-man-laid mines should make them re-1 member. Tho mine-sweeper's job .is probably the most exacting and prosaic in the service. No glory of spectacuhi' achievement'is his, no brilliant "stunt"; iust tho hard work and plenty of it. 13ut what tlia sea would ho without thoso dingy vessels that paddle so unobtrusively about it would bo difficult to imagine. As for tho men who have been on torpedoed vessels, who have faced such experiences not once but, in many cases, soveral times, their bravery cannot bo over-estimated, and without it Britain would have found herself in a very tragic plight. . Tho transportation of troops, of food, of immitbns would long ago 'have ceascd had. it not been for tho courage and endurance of her sailors. To be content to admire is not enough. With that admiration must needs go acts—such acts as sending warm clothing and money, which this country can still afford to do. The woollens required are the same as last year, viz., heavy underpants, heavy shirts, heavy singlets, jerseys, socks, mittens, wristlets, balaclavas, and mufflers. All goods to be large sizes, and must be new, as second-hand clothing canr.ot be sent. Contribute as . much cash as possible, as the sending of such a large consignment of goods is too risky, and money cabled to Lndv Dimadulo to purchase goods is not liable to bo'lost by enemy submarines. The registered name of the fund is the British and Foreign-Sailors' Society's War Fund, Wellington, for Mine-sweep-ers and Torpedoed Crews. It takes .£3OO a day to meet tlie needs of torpedoed men, and this money the British and Foreign Sailors' Society must needs-find.