THOUGHTS IN A SOLDIERS' HUT.
(To THE EDITOR 07 THE "SPECTATOR:)
SIR,—" This is a war of finance." "It is the non-combatants that must vin this war." I quote these words spoken in Edinburgh lately by members of "The National Food League," and I feel confident that the efforts of this League to arouse and stimulate non-combatants throughout the country to enter on a campaign of the most rigid coonomy will be crowned with success. We will do our part in aiding our forces by sea and land to win us the victory. We can but do our part to the utmost—but what then In your issue of February 19th a letter appeared entitled "Thoughts in a Soldiers' Hut" After speaking warmly of the benefits conferred on the men by such a place of rest, the writer goes on to speak of the excessive and continuous drinking in camp, and also of the great prevalence of immorality among the troops. In one camp he refers to, as many as twenty men fall out a day, in consequence of disease connected with vice. Though I trust the camp he mentions —in which officers do not realize their responsibilities and neither chaplains nor doctors have influence to check vice—is not the rule, yet I know that the charge of immorality is too true My connexion with our Association for the protection of young women and girls brings this fact forcibly before me. The men who make themselves unfit through self-indulgence are traitors to us and to our country. Do they dare to appropriate to themselves the praise so well deserved by many brave men, heroes who are fighting in a true spirit of self- sacrifice for the honour of their country. What about the raids
of the Germans ? They merely kill women and children. What about German atrocities Are they worse than the acts of those who spread abroad loathsome disease and death, especially among
the very young ?—I am, Sir, &c., HOUSEHOLDER.
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