Evening journal., 1915-06-25
HIGH EXPLOSIVES
Wreck BARBED WIRE
III. Thomas Gives impress
SionS of His Journey
to the Front
WOMEN OF FRANCE
SHOW COURAGE

DERBY, England, June 25.--J +.
Thomas, NJ. p. assistant secretary
of the National Union of Railva ay-
men, recently addressed a large gath
ering in the drill hall, Derby, on his
impressions during a visit to the
front. The mayor or Derby presided.
in the absence of the Duke cf Dev-
onshire.
Mr. Thomas. who had very en-
thusiastic reception, said that his OBJ
ject in going 10 France was a very
simple one. He had heard rumors
about the breakdown OF their trans
port system. and ho.s, 2s the result
of its failure. some of the men were
suffering. Whatever else might be
said on any phase of the war, no had
no hesitation in saying. speaking with
knowledge of railway work, that the
method employed today or supplying
food and other things to men at the
front was not only GOOD but abso-
lutely perfect. In saying that he
was giving also the opinion of the
men and officers themselves.
He testified to the great courage Of
the women of France and Flanders
who were tilling the land just behind
the firing line. win hostile guns
scarcely more than $50 yards away.
Referring to the provision OF ammu-
milton. Mr.. Thomas said ne made IN
quiries and asked what was the real
meaning of requiring so much am
munition. The reply was that il was
impossible for any move to ne made
until the barbed WIRE was cleared
absolutely by high explosives in or
der TO give these men a chance Re-
Gently the French fired 100000 rounds
of ammunition in one day. Certain
English officers were sent 10 see the
result and they came back and said
that not a trench or barbed wire or
a human being was to be seen. The
result was that the French made a
tremendous advance. The next day
the British made an attack for 40 min
utes with the same kind of explo-
sive. An attack was made immedi-
ately afterwards by the British but
they were moved down by machine
guns because The barbed wire and
other distractions had not been de-
stroyed
A national government Mr.. Thom-
as continued. if necessary. was nee
essary at the outset II was not then
considered necessary, but they had
got a national government today.
That government would be tested
and judged because of its success,
and not by any personal triumph. If
I,r hr
secretary for war down, were to be
made a mere target FOR Lord North
cliffe or any one else, then public life
would not be worth living It Nas not
true that the workingmen had shirk-
ed Every appeal Lord Kitchener had
made had been met to the full II peo-
pie had not sufficiently realized the
war. the blame was with those who
prevented them from knowing the
news. The time had arrived when
they should know the facts.
Capt F. Guest, member of the
parliamentary recruiting committee
had promised to attend the meeting
addressed by Mr. Thomas, but his
duties as aide-de-camp TO Sir John
French recalled him to the front. Cap
tain Guest wrote:
THE armies in the field appreciate
the tremendous efforts which the
workers at home have put in during
the last nine months on their be-
half. but they sometimes doubt wheth.
er they yet realize sufficiently the
character of the war We entered
into the war in defense of small ma
/ tionalities and individual rights. and
there can only be one end. It is the
test of democracy"