22 SEPTEMBER 1917, Page 14

PERISCOPES AND TELESCOPES FOR GUNNERS. (To ssz Farms or TEl

"Sererseoa."1 Ste,—Thanks to the publicity afforded by your valuable paper and to the generosity of the subscribers to this Fund (registered nosier the War Charitiee Act, 1916) I have been able to send a very large number of periscopes and telescopes to each of our fronts. I enclose the last printed Statement of Account. Not a single penny has been absorbed in any expenses other than the coat of postages and printing lists of subscribers and balance- sheets. In response to my previous appeal published by your paper, money amounting to over ±5,500 has been sent to Ins from all parts of the world, but the Fund is now exhausted. The instruments that I have sent out are of high magnifying-power. It is necessary to get the very best, and these cost money. Every good instrument sent means the saving of many lives. They arc, of course, constantly being destroyed or damaged, and this inevi- table wastage must promptly be made good. I receive an enormous number of letters from officers at the front, showing how greatly these powerful instruments are appreciated and impressing upon me the imperative necessity for a continued supply. Let actual letters written to me by officers at the front speak for them- selves:—

A GENERAL : "Perfectly invaluable to the forward observing officers."

A Carrels: "The exact type of instrument most needed and hitherto unobtainable."

As grease IN THE R.F.A.: "The sine is just suited to our needs in the present form of campaign. We have often found it neces- sary to observe from all sorts of odd corners, such as cramp- holes, sayheads, and so on, where it would have been impossible to use the ordinary service telescope without giving ourselves away to the enemy. It was on these occasions that we found the telescope you sent quite invaluable."

The writers of such letters know the need, and it is indeed significant that they are not content to bear the burden and heat of the day out there, but insist on sending me subscriptions from the trenches by way of expressing their appreciation of the good work of the Fund, and of the practical value of the instruments. I shall be grateful if your readers will send me donations, however small, addressed: Judge Tobin. K.C., clo London City and Midland Bank, 36 Castle Street, Liverpool. I will personally acknowledge them. I have requested that these valuable glasses should, if practicable, be returned to me at the end of the war.

I hope it may thus prove possible to realize a Fund in aid of