25 SEPTEMBER 1915, Page 13

SIPPERS AND—MINERS.

r TO TER EDITOZI Or TUN " BrNOTATOR."1 Sin,—We in England are perhaps justified in leaving difficult problems of labour and wages to responsible authorities and skilled experts in such matters. But we must not forget that the generous gratitude felt and expressed by our allies for the valour of our Navy and Army is dashed with a natural disappointment at a failure on the part of our civil popula- tion to see that they too must make resolute sacrifices. May I quote a few words from a letter written by a member of the Institut de France who is taking a leading part in the useful work of the Alliance Francais° P The writer, who has his share of irreparable losses and present personal anxieties, bids us be of good cheer, and concludes by saying :— "Mais dites it vos mineurs gallois, qu'ils ne mettent pas des barres dana les roues de votre defense at de votre vidoire ; dites- leur n'y a pas, en Franco une mine, pas une urine, bi petite qu'elle soit, oil l'on ne fabrique des armee at des munitions. C'est in condition du succes, at plus on s'y mettra promptement, plus on vuinera sfirement et vita."

This statement of the case may seem to some of us as trite as it is true. But it has its value as showing what is thought of our domestic differences by men who are subordinating all other considerations to the one task that matters—the con- centr•ation of all our efforts on the business of providing our gallant soldiers and sailors with the means of victory. All else can wait for happier times.-1 am, Sir, ctc., J. D. A.