The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-07-08
LONDON TAKES ON
REAL WAR ASPECT
ThrOng Of Wounded Brings
People to Realization of
the Trpth.
INJURED GAY
Special Correspond encc TO TuE Sun.

LONDON, June 25.-It does not seem
very long ago that the peculiarly nor
nal aspect of London in time OF war
was empha sized. Every fresh arrival
here exclaimed in surprise that there
was no external sign Of the terrific
struggle in which this country was en-
gagged. excepting always the great num-
bers of men in khaki to be seen every
where.
This is no Toner the case. II Is i'm
possible now to walk through the
streets OF London without seeing plain
evidence OF war. on the sidewalks you
will see men with bandared heads. with
arms in slings. or with empty sleeves,
or lame and hobblirg. taking a little
exercise In the charge OF nurses. Con-
stantly IN the roldways pass motor
cars, taxicaDs and large wagonrettes.
all filled with wounded men dressed In
their bright blue hospital clothes. taxi
Ing the air.
In Hyde Park taxicabs in which pri-
vate citizens are taking wounded men
FOR a drive are now admitted in the
afternoon. Until now no taxicab has
been allowed TO enter Hyde Park in
the afternoon. but 80 many people who
have not private cars are anxious to
call az the hospitals and take out
wounded Tommies to give them a drive
and then take them home and give them
tea that the authorities issue special
permits.
1t is not only in the streets and dur
ing the day that the wounded soldier
is conspicuous. When ne Is sufficiently
recovered nothing delights the bandaged
Tommy more than to go to a music
hail or theatre. one afternoon the
whole Of the front row OF orchestra
-. 81 - -. afY. ..ua .aa.ttnfaI
by Tommies blinded at the front. They
were led along fumbiIng and feeling
their way In single file. When. guided
by kindly hands. they were settled In
their seats one OF them called out.
"Where are yer. Bill?" Ere / am,
wha, liz IT, TO which came the CHEEKY
answer. "'\ve you get yer opera glasses
with yer?'
Nothing perhaps could better show
the spirit OF the English private soldier
than this little incident. Indeed II IL
noticeable that whether hobbling along
the pavements. IN the parks or driving
In the streets the wounded men are al
ways cheerful, smiling and laughing.
Days Theatre n afternoon was prac-
,ica!ly filed with wounded men. Before
the piece began the orchestra played a
selection OF popular airs. and II was
almost impossible 20 believe that the
choruses which were so Justify sunC
came from the throats o: men suffering
from wound oe all descriptions.
Some were armless. some iecless.
many with bandaged heads. but all so
cheerful that one realized the truth OF
the saying that the British soldier is
n difficult, person 20 depress. As they
left the theatre n burly sailor was
seen carrying IN his arms what looked
like a bundle 1t was a soldier who
had lost both legs. but he was smiling
cheerfully and chatting his friend. who,
like himself. was sucking away at the
inevitable cigarette.
At night too o can see driving
through the streets TO the various hos
pitals and nursing homes numerous Red
Cross ambulance vans taking from the
railway station the nightly arrivals OF
wounded men from the front. Every
night nj about II o'clock a long line
OF ambulance cars and private motor
cars marked with a Red Cross sign
may be seen lining NIlliers street and
one or two OF the narrow streets adj
Joining, waiting for what IL now called
the wounded train at Charing Cross.
With such sights as these hourly
before their eyes II Is small, wonder
that the people OF London realize more
keenly the awful fact OF war.