15 FEBRUARY 1919, Page 11

ITo THE EDITOR or inc " SPECTATOB.."1 Sza.—Having seen your

article in your paper of February lot. and the letters, I am writing to ask you if you know that last October, before anything was known of Sir F. Kenyon's Report, the "cemeteries were being levelled and all boundaries removed." Railings from my son's grave were removed, and I beard of it accidentally when Peace was declared. I Bay accidentally, as it was a friend of his (who did not take it for granted that they had been removed by my request) who mentioned it to me. Others had missed them previously and not written. On writing about them, I heard what I have previously quoted; since then I have been sent a massage from Mr. Baker, architect for graves, that the Committee of which he was one had decided to have level lawns, as being easier to keep. My grave since May, 1917, has been carefully tended each week, and some one has often written to me about it. Even during the time the cemetery was being shelled, people took risks to go and see it, and 1 have been relieved to hear "it is untouched by shell and I removed a weed." It has been scrupulously kept, and I looked forward to seeing it as his friends who had gone on had left it and as those who remained kept it. I valued the railings for the many prayers said there, and should have liked to remove theta myself, General Ware, the Director, knew nothing of the removal of the railings and was " making inghiries." 1 have not heard any result of the inquiries, nor de I know what the fate of my grave is to he. But although not yet a part c.f a "level lawn," unless through your paper ur -otherwise something is done to malts wept:: knew about this, all cemeteries will be level lawns, writing-for the uniform headstones. This will happen before people can go to France, or any controversy is possible, asd most people will be too heart-broken over it to find any condors in trying to have their grave again as it was. My grave is in site of the Arras cemeteries. Since I have known all that has happened since the retreat began, I have wished my grave ha.l. been shelled. That would have been realized by a soldier's mother as unavoidable. But the drastic treatment of our graves sieve Penee has been declared makes one feel, "Was it worth while)" I was a soldier's mother, and now with the loss of my only son I am an absolute coward over the fate of his grave. Its being touched before I could see it has been absolute agony. Eiery plant and every bit of the railingS were sacred, and by letters and photograph I felt I could go there blindfold. Now all is altered, and 1 :mist contemplate it being part of a " level lawn." I hove written again to thmerat Ware, lot possibly Mr. Raker's statement I shall find is final.--I am,