THE CONFIDENCE OF GREAT BRITAIN
The llev. Charles W. Abel, of the London Jlissionary Society, who has re(niraed from a visit to England and America, extending over about a year, related interesting impressions which lie gained of England in war time (states the "Sydney Morning Hsr.ild"). ' "England," said Mr. Abel, "bears the marks of her long straggle almost everywhere,.. But her scars, tlibugh deep, are superficial, and there is no sign of her having been hit in a vital place., Her spirit is splendid in aIL circumstances. 1 was in London, on and u ff. -all through the eight months I spenl in England. I was there for a week'after March 21, when the torrinV'o'iislanght of the'Gernians necessitated retirement, but there was no alarm expressed, Men spoka of tho enemy taking,the Channel ports, lind of their reaching Paris as possibilities but even' such losses . wo.ro regarded as merely temporary set-backs, incidental to so great , a war, which could have no bearing on its final issue. , England' , is suffering great things without ci inpli.iniug. She is prepared tu etiffet much greater things if necessary, yhe.is c«mplaeent and confident., '
"Now that food is rationed vny. few people appoiiv to mind tlie leslrictions. There is absolutely no idea for anyone starving in Clircnt Britain, or, so far as I heard," of anyone suffering on <i(count of insufficient nourishment, On the other hand, there are cases known to everybody whero food slioi'tage has reistiHed in considerable benefit to health. People are learning how much less than ihey were accustomed to-cat, is r.uccssavy to maintain gcod health. In May there was a-slight improvement in .supplies, and it was expected that the food question would.still further improve as Jhe dimmer advanced. Prices for-all foodbull's are very high, and tho cost of living lins almost doubled as compared wjlh ui'o-".var figures, but it must bo remombcied thac ncople eat less, there is no , waste, and also that most people to-day are food producers. It is no remarkable Ibiiij to see the wife-of a London suburban . househoMor leave her comfortable home in. tho morning dressed in breeches :ind leggings, and garden fork in hand, walk to tlie corner of,a local common, :ind spend a couple of hours digging, or planting or weeding the family 'allotment,' where about the year's supply of potatoes and cabbages is harvested. "Cominred with pre-war times, there is very little noverty in England. Men ire so scarce that women can got. remunerative employment 'anywhere. Amongst tho poorer classes the girls are coining money as mnnilion workers, railway porters, tram conductors; women in various uniforms tire to bo seen everywhere; women police, land workers, the W.A.A.C.'s, and the V.A.D.'s, antl a rW.en ot'icir branelies of service. Domeslie servants, except for O.w rich, who can afford t<! pry h'gh wages, are unprocurable."
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Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 263, 25 July 1918, Page 2
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466THE CONFIDENCE OF GREAT BRITAIN Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 263, 25 July 1918, Page 2
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