The Telegraph Book of Readers' Letters from the Great War (2 page)

With profound assurances of regard,

I am, dear Sir,

Sincerely yours,

S. Gross Horwitz

Berkeley Hotel, Piccadilly, W.

There will certainly be an influx of sick and wounded to this country within a short time, and we must make every possible effort to accommodate them under the most comfortable conditions.

For the purpose of converting the houses into hospitals and convalescent homes expert advice is advisable, and will those who are prepared to offer their houses on these lines write to me with full particulars of their houses and accommodation at 26 Victoria Street, London S.W., where I have made arrangements for all inquiries to be attended to by those who are fully competent to do so.

I feel certain a central bureau of this description would considerably facilitate the medical departments of the Admiralty and of the War Office, and enable them to get a list of people willing to lend their houses at the shortest notice, and, in addition, enable those who wish to help in this way to do so in the most efficient manner.

Yours faithfully,

Sutherland

Dunrobin Castle, Sutherland

Naturally, plans for the moment must be obscure, but it would seem that it is at present intended to bring disabled soldiers back to England for hospital treatment. When I was in South Africa during the Boer War, I constantly witnessed the arrival of the injured after an engagement, and I can only say, with such scenes vividly before me, that I am haunted day and night by the idea of those grievously wounded having to face additional discomforts in the shape of a crowded ship, of a rough sea. I am not referring to those slightly wounded.

We know full well that the Government arrangements for the sick and wounded will be in every way as efficient as the expeditionary force itself; but in a struggle of this kind, when all available hospital space will be taxed to its utmost limits, it would be an inestimable boon to the Army base hospitals to have some cases – perhaps the most severe ones – taken off their hands.

It should be called to mind that during the Boer War over 20,000 patients were treated in a supplementary hospital. I allude to the Imperial Yeomanry Hospital organised by my sister, the late Countess Howe, and the late Lady Chesham.

I propose to form a small committee and to run the hospital under the auspices of the Red Cross Society.

I further hope to engage the best available surgeons and nurses.

If the public will entrust me with their money, I will guarantee that, as far as energy and hard work will go, the soldiers will get full benefit for every penny subscribed.

He gives twice who gives quickly! Surely this were never more true than now, for seldom, if ever, have our dear ones been so suddenly called to the battlefield.

Subscriptions and any gifts in kind will be gratefully received and acknowledged by me at 16 Grosvenor Street, W., which the Hon. Mrs George Keppel has generously offered as an office for the proposed fund.

Yours faithfully,

Sarah Wilson

On Saturday, 1 August, a party, consisting of a German officer, who had permission to escort me as far as the Dutch frontier, my chauffeur, and myself, left Homburg in a motor car, intending to make for Cologne. We travelled on the right bank of the Rhine as far as Rüdesheim, and took the ferry boat across to Bingerbrüch, where we were turned back. There were pickets everywhere, and whenever our car was stopped, which happened frequently, people crowded round it. We were not actually molested, but the attitude of the inhabitants was distinctly hostile, and they made use of many uncomplimentary expressions.

We returned to Rüdesheim, and made progress as far as Braubach. There we were met by a hostile crowd, and were forced to go before the Burgomaster, who told us he had been informed by telephone that we were spies. This was not pleasant news, because we had heard that a good many alleged spies had been arrested, and some of them had been shot almost immediately.

Finally, after our luggage had been searched, we were taken by train under military escort to Coblenz. Next morning we
were required to present ourselves at the prefecture, and after telephoning in various directions the officials permitted us to depart.

Returning to Braubach, we recovered our motor car, and succeeded in reaching Cleves about ten o'clock the same night. Next morning we resumed our journey, but were stopped on the German side of the Dutch frontier, just beside the barrier, and rigorously searched. After being kept waiting for five hours in a village street, we were informed that the road by which we had come was closed to motors, and two soldiers were told to accompany us to Wesel.

On arriving at Wesel we were instructed to drive to the citadel, and, to our extreme astonishment, the officer in charge ordered us to be thrown into prison. I was put in a dirty cell, bad enough for the worst criminal, and as a special concession I was given a cane chair to sit upon. The weather was very hot, and the want of air in the cell caused me much physical distress. After a couple of hours or so the sergeant yielded to my earnest entreaties that I should be given better quarters, and conveyed me to the rooms occupied by himself and his wife.

However, the authorities would not release me until a telegram came from the British Ambassador, about half-past nine in the evening, after which both my chauffeur and myself were set free. My German companion was detained until the following morning. In the meantime I heard from the wife that he had been given a high appointment on the general staff of one of the army corps.

Thanks to his good offices I afterwards obtained a pass for myself and my chauffeur, as well as permission to buy petrol. My troubles were not yet at an end, but it will suffice to say that, escorted by four soldiers in a motor car, I at length reached the frontier at Gronaü. Here I thankfully bade goodbye to German territory.

I was received most kindly by the Dutch officials, who provided me with a pass to Rotterdam, where I spent the night. The next day I got another pass from the British Legation at The Hague, and in the afternoon I motored as far as Bergen-op-Zoom, where the car was obliged to be put in an open truck. Sitting in the car, my chauffeur and I accomplished the journey to Flushing in six hours. The steamer was waiting already, and I was thankful to have a good night's rest. Next day the ship left at eleven o'clock, and I reached Folkestone at seven o'clock, where I was met by my husband.

Yours, &c.,

Mary Stewart Mackenzie.
47 Berkeley Square, W.

In this small town we have raised 200 such men, who are hard at work drilling and at the butts. We have had 250 applications from other centres for details as to our method of organisation.

I should be happy to send these to anyone who desires it. No one can tell the course of this war, nor predict how far in a few months' time the existence of some hundreds of thousands of additional who have had some elementary military training may affect the situation.

Yours faithfully,

Arthur Conan Doyle

Windlesham, Crowborough, Sussex