TWENTY THOUSAND WAR BABIES.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 226, 12 June 1915, Page 3

TWENTY THOUSAND WAR BABIES.

ENGLAND'S BIG PROBLEM. (By Cubic to Sail Franeisco Bulletin.) LONDON, K«y 6. Admittedly the greatest side problem of the war will be the caring for the war babies who are, brought into the world without the sanction of the Church or State or a wedding ceremony between their fathers and mothers. Statistics here show there are 20,000 unmaried women and girls living in proximity to the great Brtiish training camps who are to become mothers within the next few months. There tire fully half that number additional in various parts of the country. In addition many women whose husbands have been killed at the front are to acid io the population. They have only the meagre allowance granted to «oldiers' widows to finance them through their ordeal.

In order to solve this problem representatives of more than a score of sociological and philanthopic relief societies met privately in the headquarters of the Women's Imperial Health Asoeiation to agree on a concerted plan for the relief of all who are approaching motherhood.

Included among the relief workers are the Duchess of Marlborough.. Lady Londonderry, Lady Chemsford , and other leaders of .relief work. Muriel Viscountess of Helmsley is the head of the general committee, which has been named to investigate the situation and devise the general plan of relief. It is expected the conference will undertake the immediate relief of all the women and girls in need, but will take the position that the pcrmament solution of the problem must be taken up by the Government. A Suffragette Paper's View.

It is the intention of all ,tlre leaders Of the present work to have Parliament pass a bill legitimatizing the child of every soldier, whether married or not, and on production of proof that the child's father was a soldier the mother and child will be provided fitout of public funds by the new law. Wherever possible the Government trill hold the father responsible for the maintenance of the child. Today's Suffragette, discussing the subject, says: "War babies must not only be welcomed, but must be given a greater rather than a smaller advantage because legally they are fatherless. They ought to be brought up under model conditions so they will become equal iu knowledge and eulure to any in the land. Every one will be needed and must be made a valuable asset to ihe , nation." "BABY FARM" PLANNED.

Mrs. Emmelirie Panhhurst, the noted suffragette lender, to-day explained a plan decided upon the Women's Political Union for the adoptibn of a number of girl '.'war babies." "We have secured a large country place in Surrey, also a place in the vicinity of the ILondon Flower Gardens," said Mrs. Pankhurst. "There the babies to be adopted will be brought *up under eugenic principles and cared for by trained nures. Their education will be

carried forward under the Montes-

sori system. The latest ideas as to

health in food and clothing will be utilised, and we intend to demonstate our solution of this great problem of 'war babies' by developing these children into superwomen.

"Wo are going to depend upon the public for support," continued Mrs Pankhurst. "We will ask wealthy families to stand sponser for one baby each to be legally adopted when the child *s education is complete. We are also considering special insurance for unsponsered babies, and thereby furnish them with a fund for their own start in life at the age of 17 or 18. "The babies to be adopted will be those whose mothers are unable to support them, including many girls who have been wronged." SEEK AMERICAN AID. The babies to. be cared for by the suffragettes will be developed along lines which they demonstrate they are best adapted for, Mrs. Pankhurst said. The full details of the plans will be made public on June 3, she added, and at that time the public will be asked to give the' women both financial and moral support In their efforts to solve the problem confronting England. Even the nUited States and other neutral nations will be asked to aid in the humanitarian movement. The number of babies the suffrage workers will be able to core for will depend entirely upon the support given them. Mrs. Pankhurst said she expected to visit the United States this winter, where she will deliver lectures and personally endeavour to enlist American aid. Mrs. Pankhurst merely smiled when the question of whether the babies would be brought up as suffragettes was suggested. "When they attain that age," she declared, "the world mil have long since been united upon woman suffrage. The objections of the past have been swept away by the work of women sine the war began."