April 24, 19 1 5 
LAND AND WATER 
THROUGH THE EYES OF A WOMAN 
By MRS. ERIC DE RIDDER. 
Wpmen in Congress 
A PROPOSAL has recently been made, which has 
set many people a-talking. It is suggested that 
a Conference of Women should take place at the 
Hague, before many more days have elapsed. 
It will deal with the question of peace. Women 
from many countries are to be there. Woinon from England, 
Germany, Austria-Hungary, I'elgium, and varoui neutral 
countries. There will be no 
Frenchwomen, for the simj^le 
reason that the women of 
France have flatly refused to 
have anything to do with the 
idea. They will not even cjn- 
sider the notion of meeting 
women from Germany at pre- 
sent. It is a suggestion they 
cannot tolerate. The feeling 
in France runs far too high for 
that. Her sufferings are too 
great, and the knowledge of 
the German menace too sore. 
Various Opinions 
Opinion is by no means 
unanimous in England. There 
seems, indeed, a great depth of 
feeling about it, and not onlv 
criticism, but controversy is 
rife. The women, however, who 
have made up their minds that 
it is the right thing to go have 
probably made up their minds 
to face a vast amount of criti- 
cism also. That, they no^oubt 
recognise, is inevitable. The 
first movement connecting 
women and peace came from 
America in the very early 
stages of the war. A great 
demonstration of wornen took 
place to protest against the 
senseless destruction and bar- 
barity of war. From all ac- 
counts it was a very fine pro- 
ceeding, and made a great 
impression upon the mind of 
everyone who saw it. It was 
the outcry of woman as wife, 
and woman as mother, against 
this ruthless slaying of men, 
and the smashing of homes 
and lives. The American 
woman can look at the question from a more or less unbiassed 
point of view. Circumstances aid her to be an impartial 
critic, and she can regard the question as a whole, and free 
from personal feelings. American women have come to the 
conclusion that war is the most destructive enemy that 
woman can have. Valuable though it is to both, they yet 
consider that peace is infinitely more valuable to women 
than to men. It is almost impossible not to wonder whether 
the women at the Hague can meet under calm conditions 
as the Americans did. If women of enemy countries 
can discuss burning questions without heat and without 
bitterness, it must surely approach a miracle. One glance at 
the names of those who will act in the English deputation must 
convince everybody that the task has not been lightly under- 
taken. It is to be carried out by those who only act from 
fixed convictions, and whose opinions have long been quoted. 
Lord Robert Cecil's criticism of the proposal is that it is 
premature, and with this many will agree. When peace is in 
sight a women's congress is bound to be infinitely more satis- 
factory than it could possibly be at the present moment. 
Then it can be of immense importance. 
The Belgian Soldiers' Fund 
Just behind the " Times Book Club " a wonderful work 
is being carried out. It is known as the Belgian Soldiers' 
Fund, and the object is to provide comforts for Belgian 
soldiers on active service. The address of the Fund is 17-ic). 
James Street, Oxford Street, and the premises can be easily 
recognised, because a large Belgian flag is flying from them. 
The Belgian Soldiers' Fund sends out a great number < f cases 
and bales to the Belgian Army on Monday of every week. 
These packages are shipped to Dunkerque, and the shipping 
Copyyiehl. Mmlame Lallic Cha.Us THE COUNTESS OF LISBURNE 
W!io is the wife of one o( ihe newly-appoint d officers in the Welsh 
Guards, Lord Lisburne having been just gazetted amongst the 
heutcnants. Lady Lisburne is the daughter of Don 
Julio de Bittencourt, of the Chilian Embassy 
is easy and prompt, because it has the advantage of a free pass 
from the Admiralty, and the packages are met the other end 
bv Belgian officials. This, indeed, is one of the chief points 
about the Fund. Not only has it the support and gratitude of 
every member of the Belgian Government, from the King and 
Prime Minister downwards, but it has the approval of our own 
War Office and Admiralty as well. The working of the !«und 
is one of complete harmony. It is a triumph of sound, 
common sense organisation. 
All that is wanted is sufficient 
support. The briefest review 
of the object for which it exists 
will serve^it is indeed all that 
is possible here. 
The Friend in Need 
Everyone who has given 
the matter a moment's thought 
knows that the words " our 
debt to Belgium " are no mere 
formula. It is the clearest of 
realities. The debt we owe 
Belgium is an immense one, 
the seven days she gained for 
us of such vast value, that it 
cannot be reckoned in words. 
The best way in which we can 
show our gratitude is by deeds. 
The Belgian Soldiers' Fund is 
the means through which we 
can act. The keynote of this 
Fund is one of friendship. 
People in England are asked 
to befriend the Belgian soldiers 
who 'have borne and suffered 
so much during the last few 
months. The catastrophe which 
has overtaken Belgium has re- 
sulted in families being parted 
and divided, and many a sol- 
dier in the Belgian Army to- 
day has not the smallest idea 
where his wife and family are. 
As a consequence he has no 
one to send him those comforts 
which hearten him, and mean 
so much to his well-being. 
Through the good services of 
the Fund, many people are 
sending gifts to the Belgian 
soldier, but more friends are 
ever wanted. The cases and 
bales sent out by the Fund 
contain articles of food and clothing. If people send money 
instead of gifts in kind, articles are bought at wholesale 
prices by an experienced buyer. The demands upon every- 
body's purse are heavy in these days, but the Fund makes no 
big requests. It is grateful for the gift of one pound of sugar 
or rice weekly. It is the regular weekly gift — however small 
— that is most appreciated, because then there is a working 
knowledge of the probable amount that can be dispatched 
week by week. 
Pure Water for Belgium 
The Belgian Army appreciate so warmly the packages 
from James Street, .thit the various commanding officers 
draw up lists of their special requirements, and forward them 
to Dunkerque. During the past month a tremendous success 
has been scored by the portable field kitchens, which, under 
the Fund's direction, have been conveying soup and coffee 
to the Belgian troops. Though they carry fifty gallons, 
they are so light that they can pass over many a shell- 
torn road, which could not be crossed by heavier traffic. 
The great problem in front of Belgium is the water supply. 
The floods have, made burying of dead men and animals an 
impossibility ; when they subside and the present mud turns 
into dust, the concHtions in Belgium will be indescribable. 
It is proposed to raise a force of 150 field kitchens, each of 
which will carry fifty gallons of sterilised water. What this 
will mean to the Belgian Army no tongue can tell. By their 
aid the nightmare of typhus that threatens Belgium as fully 
as Serbia will be laid. Every penny that can be spared should 
find its way to the Pure Water Fund, full particulars of wliich 
will always be forwarded on request from James Street, 
though the worth of the work almost speaks for itself. 
5.3 
