James Owen - The Times Great War Letters - Correspondence during the First World War

13 November 1914

SIR,—MAY I THROUGH your paper ask your readers to join the League of the Khaki Button? There is no subscription and no expense other than to buy and wear a small khaki button. Every one wearing the button pledges himself not to stand anyone a drink or to be stood a drink until after the war is over and peace has been declared. If every one would pay for their own drinks we should save our soldiers from a great deal of temptation. The pledge of the Khaki Button is not intended to interfere in any way with hospitality in our own homes.

I am, &c.,

E. F. CROSSE, Archdeacon of Chesterfield, Founder of the League

16 November 1914

SIR,—AS I WAS PROBABLY one of the last persons who saw Lord Roberts, outside of his family, on Tuesday night, the day before he left for the Continent, I think it might interest the public to know what were almost the last words be spoke in England in a public capacity. He had granted me an interview for the Echo de Paris , and, before giving me his views on the situation and on the work done by the French Army, he spoke of his visit to France on the morrow and of the reasons for which he was going over to see Sir John French. I have not, in my interview, reported everything he said there, for one at least of his utterances seemed to me to interest solely England. But to you it will certainly be very interesting.

Lord Roberts said that, while the primary reason of his visit was to see his dear Indian troops (of which he was Colonel-in-Chief), he intended to speak to General French about the too great secrecy which was, to his mind, kept by the military authorities at the front and at home concerning the work and the brave deeds of the English soldiers.

“I naturally approve,” said Lord Roberts, “that all the military movements, whatever they be, should be kept absolutely secret from all war correspondents; but it seems to me that they should be allowed to receive at least a fair modicum of information. Why not allow them to write, for instance, in detail of the glorious actions fought by our troops, several days, it goes without saying, after these actions have taken place? I am referring naturally to the English lines. You in France are in a position different from us. You have conscription. Every man is called to the Colours, and you do not rely on the public enthusiasm to recruit your Army, which can very well afford to be ‘la grande silencieuse.’ In England we want men, many more men, and if we do not let our people at home know in detail of the life of our soldiers at the front, of their brave fights and gallant deeds, how shall we awake in the soul of our young men the high sentiment of emulation which will strongly contribute to lead them to the recruiting office? They are brave, no doubt, willing to offer their lives to their country if necessary. But they often do not know that it is absolutely necessary, and that every minute they lose now is a priceless minute, maybe a battle jeopardized in the future. They do not know enough that our men are always fighting against tremendous odds, that we want more men and still more men to equalize matters. They are not sufficiently able to follow day by day—as much, at any rate, as the military necessities would allow it—the life and the fighting of their friends who have enlisted. What has been done for the London Scottish might to my mind be done with great good result for many of the other units, and I will talk to French about it.”

I thought, Sir, that these views would certainly interest you. Lord Roberts spoke strongly and felt, I have no doubt of it, the urgent need of more “advertisement” for the Army, although he did not utter the word, if England was going to get all the men she wants.

It does, perhaps, not become me as a foreigner to broach upon these matters. We value, in France, too highly the value of the English alliance to think of—I would not say criticizing—but even scrutinizing too closely the methods, through which England has got together and increases every day her valiant Army. It is England’s sole business, and nobody in my country would presume to intrude upon these matters. But, knowing the deep interest which is felt in the matter here, I thought it was almost my duty to let you know what he said about it. I have therefore—let me say it once more—only expressed Lord Roberts’s views on a subject on which I personally have none, would have none, and on which I heard no Frenchman ever venture an opinion.

May I add that Lord Roberts expressed that which gave me infinite pleasure—the highest opinion of the French Army, of the French generals, and of General Joffre in particular. He spoke highly, too, of the French gun—“as a gunner,” said he—of the wonderful power of our 75. He added that he knew very well that France had had up to now to hold the longest line of battle, that all her men able to carry arms had been drafted into the Army, that part of France had suffered terrible devastation. But he added that we should shortly feel the effects of the great support which England was preparing to give us.

I am, Sir, your obedient servant,

GASTON DRU

“FOLLOW YOUR PRINCE”

19 November 1914

SIR,—THE APPEALS FOR recruits are too long and not simple enough. I suggest the following, printed in bold type:—“The Prince of Wales is at the front. Men are badly wanted to save the country. Enlist and follow your Prince.”

Yours faithfully,

HENRY F. DICKENS

24 November 1914

SIR,—IN VIEW OF THE eminent position of Sir Oliver Lodge and the prominence you have given in The Times of to-day to the report of his statement that he has obtained definite scientific proofs of the continued existence of some of his dead friends, I ask for permission to request him not to delay longer the publication of his promised information regarding the nature of the proofs on which he bases this announcement.

Sir Oliver’s belief that he has talked with the dead has been published before this; and this is not the first time he has been challenged to produce his proofs to the scientific world. But hitherto he has confined himself to the mere reiteration of his conviction of the reality of his discovery.

That a serious statement of this kind, on such a grave subject, solemnly given forth ex cathedra by a professor of science, must surely have harmful results on the minds of many needs no argument. Numerous mental wrecks have been occasioned by so-called “spiritualistic” studies among the large class of persons who are ready to believe most of what they hear. It is not too much to say that, unless Sir Oliver Lodge is prepared to submit his evidence to competent judges, the reiteration of his claim to have talked with the dead is unjustifiable and even inexcusable.

Your obedient servant,

H. BRYAN DONKIN

Lodge was an eminent physicist who came to believe that the spirit lived on after death in an invisible substance that he thought filled the universe: ether.