PRISONERS OF WAR: EDUCATIONAL APPEAL.
[TO THE EDITOR OP THE " SPECTATOR."]
Sta,—Within the past few days repatriated prisoners of war have called to deliver personally to me, by word of mouth, messages from the heads of several of the educational organizations in internment camps in enemy countries served by our Book Scheme. What those messages, which have made a deep impression upon me, were, from what countries and camps they have come, and what an agony of suffering lies behind them, it would not be prudent for me to attempt to say. But I ask your permission to tell your readers, and all under whose eyes this letter may come, what they conveyed to me—namely, that the parcels of educational books which we are sending out, hour by hour and in increasing numbers, to our brave men who have had the misfortune to fall into the hands of our enemies are proving invaluable in enabling them to resist the demoralizing effects of long imprisonment as well as to prepare themselves by serious study to take up improved positions on their return from captivity.
If I could but repeat some of the pathetic stories which have reached me there is, I am sure, not a reader of the Spectator who would not desire to help us in our work by (a) an offer of books (which should always be accompanied by a detailed list); or by (b) a donation in money to enable us to buy the up-to-date scien- tific and technical works which the men are asking for, and which we are sending out by the thousand; or by (c) an offer of personal service in the Book Room, where we can find regular employment for more voluntary packers, whole- or part-time.
If it were realized that there are probably more earnest (male) students now in these internment camps than in all the Univer- sities in the British Empire put together, that there is hardly a subject which is not being studied in them, and that we have sent out books in as many as forty-nine languages, there would, I am sure, be an overwhelming response to my appeal. As the present terrible struggle now going on in Prance is bound to mean a large increase in the number of prisoners who will be dependent upon our scheme, the urgency of this appeal must be apparent to all. In this work there is no overlapping or duplication, for no other war charity attempts to do the educational work which we are doing, a fact which only serves to emphasize its importance.—I
Chairman and Hon. Director of the British Prisoners of War Book Scheme
(Educational).
Victoria and Albert Museum, South Kensington, S.W. 7.
[Mental food is quite as necessary as bodily food to the unhappy prisoner. In some cases, if we may judge from the reports from certain German internment camps, mental food is almost moro important. The mind which is never distracted from its troubles, but revolves continuously and monotonously in a circle of self- centred suffering, is in the worst possible condition to last through a time of intense trial. If madness does not lie that way, at all events demoralization may. Mental refreghment is not only a positive good, but a preparation for the great national reorganiza- tion after the war. We wish heartily to support Sir Alfred Davies's appeal. All offers of help or gifts should be directed to Sir Alfred T. Davies, K.B.E., C.B., at the address given above.— ED. Spectator.]
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