The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-22
WAR STORIES
By E. l.. HEITkAMP

| London, January 1-tSpecial. )-Among
 the effects of the war that have belied all prophecy is it's influence upon poverty. ] By poverty l mean the visible destitution 1 that needs state or local relief. Undoubt-
 edly thousands of people in England are | feeling the pinch of altered conditions
 and reduced incomes to degree that
 amounts to actual poverty, but they do
 not come upon the rates or within the | scope of the various official and unoffi-
 cal agencies for dealing with distress.
 Take for instance, the work of the 1 Salvation Army shelters Before the war l this agency alone dealt with more than
 2O0O outca asts-men and women--a night. These were taken off the streets, fed and
 provided with bed and sent out the
 next morning refreshed and encouraged
 to make a new start Of course, in nor l nal conditions the vast majority are
 hopeless cases and reappear night after | night But war seems to have provided the conditions that are necessary to their 1 cure. Since the first week of August the Salvation Army has had less than POO a night on their hands.
 | This extraordinary decrease in the iow- | est form of poverty is due to the fact | that many casual workers have been 1 drawn into the new army, and these out | casts have found it possible to get more
 steady and remunerative work than here
 tofore. Most of them have been com pelled to get what little money finds 1 it's way into their pockets by begging, but
 now they find plenty of light work to do
 and are enabled, as consequence, to | spend the nights in one of the cheap lodg-
 ing houses.
 1 Curiously enough, the war has had a | similar effect upon crime statistics The | returns from the London police courts show that in the past four months there | has been a significant drop In the num-
 Der of men and women charged. This is | undoubtedly due to the fact that many of
 the men who in the ordinary way, largely Y because of poverty, would have been driven to petty thieving, have been drafted | into the army Records show that many of these men make names for themselves l and that often the bad men Of their | neighborhood make the best and bravest
 of fighters Incidentally, their wives or l dependents get separation allowances that | make 1t unnecessary for them to steal Will British Empire Federate? 1 Inevitably this war Is raising momen-
 tous internal questions for the British em- | pire It is probable that the whole ques- | ton of federatio will come up after the I settlement The British colonies are sure | to demand a say in the congress that de- | bates the terms of peace and probably i England will attempt to secure for them
 a separate vote for use in case of dis | agreement.
 l An observer in touch with British onl- l cial circles has for years had the idea that | ho onnnSitinn n a federation or the | British empire, under which the colonies
 would participate in the government as
 equal states, was to be found in London. | Yesterday I was told by famous noble
 imperialst that such is not the case. l Great Britain" he declared lis willing | and proud to bear the whole burden or the ! government When the colonies are ready ami willing to come into a great federa- ] ton they are welcome. l am sure the | opposition is not at this end.
 1 Will Federation Be Worldwide? l There is considerable talk, in a vague
 sort of way, of a European federation
 that is to follow upon this great war. l must say, however, that I can get no l serious politician who is willing to say
 that he believes such result at all like ! ly I met famous Australian landowner yesterday who had a nicely worked out 1 scheme which he declared was bound to | be completed within the next 20 years. l According to him, the British empire. the | United States, France, Belgium and Hol-
 land were to form the great federation, | the yellow man another, the Slav third 1 and the black races fourth. He did not
 explain what would happen to the very considerable bits of the world left out | side this convenient plan except that he | declared parts of Germany might be re- Il ceived into the Anglo-American federa- ton When I expressed an opin' 'n that the United States would not be at all | willing to come into such European | federation. he declared it would be forced
 into it by economic pressure. If 1t re- | fused. all the markets would be closed
 against it by preferential tariffs. Il
 sourds interesting. but America with hel tariff has trick worth two of that
 With Kitchener at War Office
 | With the fate of Irwin Cobb's famous interview in mind, I ought, l suppose, te send the following as yet unpublished stories of Kitchener's rule at the war of flee down to be 70. K.'d' by 'K.," but Il fear lest they might never come back lik. the man in the song. However, they were told me by one who sees England's
 war lord almost daily. and are, as yor will see, eminently characteristic.
 | When Kitchener was installed at tht war office at the beginning of the inter national tussle he was shown into tht room in Whitehall which was to be his The earl glanced around the room, witt it's big tables and desks. and said:
 "Yes, now I want you to put a parti tion right down. I will have my bathroom at that end. and here will be my bed room, The rest will do for my office. But" said they, my lord, any altera
 tions in the building must be carried ou
 by the office of works" Indeed" sait
 he, 'are there any officers there?" Yes my lord.'' Then telephone for one O them"
 Tho officer arrived post haste. Sait
 Lord Kitchener, "You, observe this room I want my bathroom up there, my bed room here and the rest for an office Good morning. I shall be back at o'clock" But, sir," said the subaltern i've have no details about this. and tn office of works do not allow walls t
 be cut" T quite understand" said LOT
 Kitchener. but as I have already toll you, want nay bathroom up at that end and my bedroom here. and shall be bac
 at 6 o'clock. Good morning" And at
 o'clock he was back. and all was ready.
 The activity of TX. of K" is wonder
 full. and he Is especially keen on makin
 the British contractor know his placa
 The contracts branch Is being overcharge a great deal in its accounts-it mostly is- | but shall be surprised if the bans ar | passed. The war office itself from bein Ihidebound has become unconventional. an ] the man who means business can ron,