The Times Great War Letters: Correspondence during the First World War. James Owen
CASE OF A RAID
3 December 1914
SIR,—THERE IS CONSIDERABLE talk in East Anglia and Essex of the martial spirit of the civilian inhabitants and of the deeds they mean to perform against invading Germans if they get the chance. This martial spirit is creditable, but it cannot be too clearly stated that at the present time a civilian’s martial spirit can only be properly shown in one way.
That way is to enlist in the Regular Forces.
The Germans have not fought according to the rules of civilized warfare as laid down at The Hague. But in this regrettable fact we can find no excuse for imitating them. It is against the rules of civilized warfare for civilians to attempt to kill soldiers. Single snipers would expose their villages to reprisals whose nature we know; and, further, no bands of snipers formed suddenly in an emergency would have the slightest chance of being recognized by the enemy as combatants.
Moreover, the majority of potential snipers could only be armed with a shot-gun, a weapon hopelessly outranged by, and practically useless against, the military rifle.
But there is a stronger reason against civilian fighting. As the military representative on the Emergency Committee which has charge of a large district as dangerously situated as any, I have received a personal positive instruction from the General Officer commanding the South Midland Division that the military authorities absolutely discountenance, and strongly object to, any form of civilian fighting. The arrangements to repel a raid are in their hands; the responsibility is theirs; and any man who acts contrary to their wishes must thereby confuse their plans, impede their operations, and endanger their success.
Any civilian who wants to help against a raid should go to the chairman of his parish council, and through him offer his services to the Emergency Committee of his district. The details of the very exhaustive and elaborate arrangements are now being completed, and there is, or will be, should the moment come, sufficient work to employ all male civilians with wit enough to understand the high value of hearty and obedient cooperation. It would perhaps be impolitic to publish particulars, but the chairman of every parish council has full information and is in a position to allocate duties.
Any civilian, whatever his motive, who tries to repel a raid on his own initiative and by his own devices will be guilty of an act essentially unpatriotic.
ARNOLD BENNETT, Military Representative on the Emergency
Committee of the Tendring Division (Essex)
WOMEN DOCTORS AND THE WAR
5 December 1914
SIR,—AMONG THE MOST urgent national necessities of the moment is an ample supply of experienced, and well-trained doctors—and there is a very marked shortage. Many of our best physicians and surgeons have already gone to the front and as their ranks are thinned by the inevitable wastage of war many more are prepared to follow.
To some extent medical women are already filling the vacancies thus caused at hospitals and other institutions, and are proving themselves equal to their professional and administrative duties. Partly in consequence of the present emergency it has become apparent that the demand for the services of medical women is greatly in excess of the supply. In addition to this the principal missionary societies are suffering from the impossibility of obtaining sufficient medical women to staff their hospitals and dispensaries, and a similar difficulty exists at home in the case of various departments of the public service.
May we not hope that when this urgent demand for women doctors is realized by the public many women of good birth, education, and ability will be desirous of entering the medical profession? It is certain that all such women cannot, and do not, expect to marry, and that in default of this most natural and desirable condition of life some women must seek other spheres of usefulness. From an experience of medical life now verging on 40 years, I venture to think that no career could offer greater happiness and satisfaction to a woman, nor greater opportunities of practical usefulness, than medicine. I should like to point out that women medical students need not of necessity be very young. The more mature woman has certain great qualifications for the task; her verbal memory may not be so strong as that of her juniors, but her trained mind, experience of life, and general savoir faire are of considerable service to her as a student and still more as a practitioner.
That women are capable of rendering efficient professional aid is proved by the fact that at the present time several hospitals officered entirely by women are at work in the theatre of war, and that the services of these medical women are much appreciated by their professional brethren and by their patients.
I am, Sir, faithfully yours,
MARY SCHARLIEB
THE TREATMENT OF THE GERMAN WOUNDED
8 December 1914
SIR,—I HAVE JUST returned from an official visit to the military and private hospitals organized for the care of British and French wounded at Paris and Versailles.
In many of these hospitals are German wounded. I spoke to every German wounded man that I saw and learnt from them that not only had they no complaints but were more than satisfied with the way they are tended and treated. As far as I could learn there is no difference of condition between a German wounded soldier and a British or French. I understand that in Germany there is a widespread erroneous impression that their wounded are being harshly treated by us. So strong is this belief that I hear that my brother, a colonel of the Guards, who is lying very grievously wounded in the military hospital at Frankfurt a/M, although now admirably cared for, is not allowed to be visited by German friends in retaliation for the supposed ill-treatment of their wounded by us. The German wounded in British and neutral hospitals in France are allowed to be visited by the many kind ladies who bring gifts and comforts for the wounded, and receive their share.
In view of the wide circulation of The Times, which I understand still continues in Germany, I shall be glad if you can publish this letter.
I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
LIONEL EARLE
SWISS RESORTS FOR THE WOUNDED
9 December 1914
SIR,—WILL YOU KINDLY permit me to contradict the rumours more or less prevalent to the effect that St. Moritz and the other resorts in the Engadine will not be open to visitors this winter owing to the war? St. Moritz already has a fair number of its old patrons, and although it is not expected that the season will be a full one, still the conditions now prevailing ought to encourage those who wish to enjoy their usual holiday in the High Alps to do so under favourable circumstances. Perhaps the following facts might help to dispel all hesitation:—(1) The journey out by Paris, Lyons, Culoz, and Geneva with sleeping cars is short and comfortable. Passengers may take as much luggage with them as they please. (2) There need be no fear whatever with regard to the supply of provisions; food of all sorts is abundant in Switzerland; the same may be said with regard to fuel, and there will be no lack of servants. (3) An English chaplain is already in residence at St. Moritz. (4) There are no difficulties about money; English cheques are cashed at the current rate of exchange. (5) The skating and curling rinks will be efficiently maintained as in previous years.
The hotels at St. Moritz are throwing open their doors in a very hospitable fashion to our wounded and invalid officers. A certain number of these will be received gratis, the others at merely nominal charges, and the local medical men are generously offering their professional services free. There will be no subscriptions demanded from officers for the use of rinks, or any outdoor or indoor amusements. I may here mention that the Swiss Government offers