Welsh Journals

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Women Suffragists see clearly the connection which exists between their efforts to obtain the vote for women and true patriotism. They know that if they are to pay something of their debt to the heroic dead they must have free and not fettered hands. We are witnessing the most terrible confiVt ever waged on earth, and this convulsion of Europe is the birthpang of a new world. To that new world women have something to give which none else can give. THE COUNTER ATTACK EVERYTHING had been very quiet. The Prussian Guards had eased this sector by their departure, as had been discovered by the O.C. bombs. He had fallen on Sergt. Slowlank in No. 6 Bay at 3.15 am. the previous night dragging with him from No Man's Land a very muddy Saxon. Junior Headquarters had been particularly perky since then, and spent the early morning hours dodging the C.O. and drinking the Company cocoa, but giving good change in fiery satire on all those people both at home and abroad who slept every night." The war is won by J.H.Q. that was agreed and nothing remained to do but await the first relief at two. The welcome time was near when after four hours of contortions upon the slimy face of Flemish tracks the battalion would go to rest. O, blessed word Rest is sixteen hours work a day, but it includes ø sleep every night in canvas huts beyond the range of pip squeaks, whizz bangs, rum jars, and the other devices for keeping one awake. The rest camp is generally near a 9in. battery, which every few minutes during the night rends a strip out of the heavens and out of the tympanum at the same time. But rest is rest, and primitive cave men greedily count the hours to it. I sat on the solid concrete sandbag that formed the ante room to the dug out with an ear cocked for the shuffle of men down the yellow greasy slit known to thousands in this sector as Paradise Allev. The relief was coming, and I gruffly asked "That the Fusiliers? A \ery young voice answered, and I motioned the subaltern into the mud chamber that was to be his home for six long days. We rather gasped when he entered. Under the tin hat was the most delicate boyish face I heve ever seen he was, I swear, no more than seventeen, and though shy, he soon laughed a ringing baby bark at the J.H.Q. chestnuts. All was new to him, even those hoary jests, and to our amazement he was on a high The right which women are demanding is the right to serve their country freely to the height of their powers. That is why they are working with increasing zeal to hasten the day when full privileges of citizenship shall be theirs, in order that they may stand shoulder to shoulder with their men in the smiling days of Peace as they have stood shoulder to shoulder with them in the sorrowful days of War. Winifred Coombe-Tennant adventure. He alone that night from the end of Colne Valley to the top of Bombing Post No. 6, was not fed up." He was on the line waiting for the whistle to go. We loved him for it, and smiled a little wryly. You are a good lot of chaps, you know I wonder if the C.O. would let me and my platoon join vour battalion." This amazing cherubic belief in the flexibility of units paralysed even the irrepressible J.H.Q. "A gunner fellow told me," said he in the pause, they were strafing to night at eight. The Bosche is to have it before long." A universal damn "-hearty and vigorous- answered the unwelcome news. Did you know that, Skipper ? my subs. asked in one voice. Yes," I nodded, "did not want to worry you about it. It is timed for ten minutes from now. You, Evans, take the first two bays, and you. Hughes. the last one and the post. I will come up later." Out they dodged, and J.H.Q., amid muttered anathemas on gunners and all their kidney, scattered. The boy was eager to play but I wanted him in safety until his company came up and the game could be handed over to an older trench dog. But I could not hold him. Could he and his platoon-dark, silent, figures leaning against the clay wall of Paradise Alley-help us to repel the Bosche ? Poor lad, the only danger was from rum jars and shells, but I had to play for time. So I told him of a defence line placed well down in the Mississippi, where he would be safe, and told him he must be vigilant and await orders. To please the fiery little babe I invented a scheme for a counter attack should I be in difficul- ties and told him very gravely that I would count on him as soon as I sent down orders. And then began three hours of that pleasant proximity to sudden death which the people who sleep of nights know as artillery activity." On the