Woman's World.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 128, 23 October 1914, Page 6

Woman's World.

j bed Cross work. The work of the different Red Cross societies has an especial interest for most women in these days of war when so many of their members at the front kept very busy in their noblo work ol tending and caring for the wounded and suffering soldiers on the battlefields of the terrible war now raging and devastating so much of tho Continent of Europe. Apropos of this the following extracts Trom an Eastern State's contemporary is interesting regarding the work of the British Red Cross movement and the National Leagne s of Defence. The writer of the article Was really writing of the members of the British scientists visiting the State, and gave most J interesting little resumes of some of the , lady visitors. In conclusion slid says: — "It will be interesting to know that one •:f our visitors belongs to the British Red Cross Society, 'Mrs Tiinms, and to a league called the National League of Defence, whose head is* trie Grand Old Man of the Army, Lord Roberts. This league was founded about three year sago by the earnest preaching, preaching, preaching, of the little General who forecasted the present big conflict, and who has been urging England's unpreparedness. The women are called Dames of Defence, and their duty lies in inculcating in everyone the realisation of their duty tb defend tlioir country. Each city and town is divided'into districts, and the Dames' duty is to visit the homes. Her endeavour has been to plant the idea in the women's mind that England's greatness depends upon her units, that these I units are the men born in the country, : I and that each one should be able lo take a part as a trained man in its do- : fence. She would start with the mothers and fathers, and try to interest the ' children. The work was uphill; the little I Engenders used the greatest influence i preaching against the necessity, and in- | sinuating that age b making the ' glorious old General fear a war that j would never come. "Now," she said, ''they will prove, how surely he was I right, and are, glad of his wise counsel. ! Mr:tain lias a magnificent man in Kitch- ( eiicr," she added. Speaking of the British Red Cross movement, in wnich. we, nve J .all naturally interested at present, she * said England in that direction is quite { ready. "The women have everything! ready," she said, with assurance—both j themselves and their equipment. They know how to start a hospital in a ' minute, how to equip it with the things, j nearest hand, they know how to make • hospital beds, how to lift a wounded sol- I dier, bow to make a stretcher out of a couple of stocks, how to transport him, how lo manage his clothing so that Mi sufferings are not added to. They know how to give first aid, and stop at that point, making the wounded as comfortable as possible until skilled medical attention and nursing are available, j They know how to do things with nothing, to do rough work under rough conditions. They "nave been taught cooking. "Yes," she added, "the women have for years been preparing; they have been taught not to expect fine conditions, and now, when their men need their help, thank God!" she concluded, with enthusiasm, "there are thousands of trained women ready for the response."