SOLDIERS ON LEAVE IN LONDON.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 October 1917, Page 2

SOLDIERS ON LEAVE IN LONDON.

PERNICIOUS DRUGGING HABIT. London, August 10. Two nights ago a member of the New Zealand Field Artillery, youthful, broad, mid handsome, was carried into the Y.M.C.A. kiosk oh Trafalgar Square suf-' fering acutely from the effects of a malicious practice that has become all to* common since Overseas soldiers with well-lined pockets commenced coming to London. He had been drugged. This Bort of thing usually happens in one of the low-class hotels that abound near the principal highways. A soldier enters with one or more companion, lias "just one," then another, and possibly a third. The harpies—both male and female —are watching their chance and while his attention is diverted the contents of a small packet are poured into his glass. Although lie becomes sufficiently fuddled for his pockets to be gone through ho does not actually collapse until the hawks have had time to fly The iXew Zealander in question had walked some distance down Charing Cross road before the slow-working poison caused him to fall heavily to the pavement. A Y.M.C.A. official quickly had a motor ambulance In attendance and very soon the hospital staff were making the customary pronouncement, "Doped again," said the doctor, "why, we had a bad New Zealand case here the night .before last." This is the kind of thing that is causing the New Zealand Y.M.C.A. —and its kindred associations—to redouble its efforts in protecting the men on leave in London,

SUNSHINE AND SHADE. Apart from tlie large Y.M.C.A. lints all over London there arc smaller structures which serve as places of inquiry. Here the soldiers come to as!; their way, Write the London' letter home, or rest while watching the ceaseless flow of traffic outside. Each little bureau could provide many stories of mirth and tragedy, of the laughter that follows wholesomo pastimes and the silence that occasionally hreeds over a fellow in distress. 'Looking in one evening last week at the kiosk in Trafalgar' Square the writer viewed a homely scene such as would delight the hearts of many New Zealand mothers. In an ante room sat a lady who is well known in our North la. hind, and seated around hj« sipping cofl'cs were a dozen or more soldiers who had come 14,000 miles to light for King and Country, (.lathered together promiscuously this happy party chatted about Maoriland and mutual friends 1 until the long twilight ended. In striking contrast had been the scene outside. , As on any other evening dozens of soldiers were lounging about the fountain—now waterless and iinpicturesque.—and it Avaj not the inspiring figuro at the head of the Nelson column that claim;.!, their attention. The brazen street flappers saw to that.. Perched dn the encircling stone wall beside the soldiers, with dangling feet, and unwomanly actions, they defied both police and'public. None bothered except the Y.M.C.A. workers who moved about inviting, the men to partake of supper or visit one of their many establishments where music, song and story are to be enjoyed without'charge. The Delihahs of London 'have a bitter grudge against the Y.M.C.A. because it so persistently stands between them'and many fino young Samsons who might otherwise be shorn. But in the years to be many a man will breathe a prayer of thankfulness for the timely warning.

SALVAGING HUMAN LIVES. Quite recently a New Zealand boy, slightly under the influences of drink, was induced to leave the company of a questionable female character ho was embracing in the open space of Trafalgar Square. The story ho told to the Y.M.C.A. secretary is particularly sad. Coming from France on leave a. f ew t months ago he fell in with a drinking crew in London and paid the penalty of lengthy isolation. After liberation he was again in London on his way back to Trance, and almost against his will had once more- got into bad company Questioned about his home life, he said he, had a good Christian mother of whom he had been proud and for her sake he bad in the earlier stages played the game. A quiet talk, a friendly supper, and a walk to his sleeping quarters did much to set the chords of memory vibrating. The lad realised lio\v close he. had again approached to the .precipice, and before leaving for France on the morrow gave promise of a sincere endeavor to rise on stepping stone 3 of his dead self to higher things. This is but one illustration of the salvage' in human lives that is constantly taking place in the midst of London's whirl and bustle. Here a. soldier has sometimes to put up just as stiff a light as in t the front line trenches. i -"'

One night not long since a New Zealander rushed into the Trafalgar Square Kiosk with an indignant protest against the actions 9! a female who had followed him to the very doorway from an East End hotel. He' had got into a motor bus and she had followed. He jumped out at the next stop and darted down an underground stairway, but on taking a seat in the train found tho apparition still at his side. It was only the shelter of the Y.M.O.A. that gave him freedom from a harpio who had observed him drinking and had therefore concluded that lie was lit game for the wolves. This New Zealander comes of a family of five soldier sons, of whom three hive "gone west" leaving two still fighting in France. Men of this mettle are worth saving.