SOLDIERS' MORALS.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 219, 25 November 1916, Page 6

SOLDIERS' MORALS.

A CANADIAN ON 'ABSURD TALK.' Efforts for the improvement of the moral tone of the surroundings of the Canadian camps near Folkestone are being made by the Canterbury Diocesan Alssociation (says the London Daily Telegraph). An appeal by that body, and circulated with the consent of Canadian headquarters, sets forth a programme; of work "undertaken in the interests ■of the men'' with a view to clearing out the neighbourhood of undesirable and ''silly women and girls," getting young girls bound over and sent back to friends, under supervision and placed on probation, and watching nouses likely to be suspicious or supplying men with drink. The sum of £3OO is wanted, and the Canadian forces are asked to subscribe. '' It. is proposed to raise funds by monthly subscriptions of £1 from each battalion canteen." What one Canadian commandant thought of the business is shown in the following letter, which he addressed in reply to the circular:— "I decline positively to permit any subscription to be made from regimental funds. My reason for so declining is that the civil and military authorities are perfectly able to cope with the situation. "In my opinion the evil is tremendously exaggerated,and I would rather subscribe to a fund to shut the silly .mouths of those people who, by their absurd talk and exaggerated statements, are endeavouring to cast an undeserved reproach and discredit upon the Avomanhood of England, which,, in my opinion, has never stood on so high a plane as at present. "If I were to subscribe for such a purpose as that indicated, I would be inclined to send them to Canada, where I believe there is quite as much need t>f reform on such lines as there is lere. "The women of England, who have, in my opinion, as a mass, risen to great heights of devotion and self sacrifice, lave been grossly maligned and slandered by a lot of neurotic self-adver-tisers who ought to be horse-whipped in the market-place. You -'k for a frank expression of opinion; I have given it."