Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-01-28
l1FDESTINC LETTER FROM
chaplain WARNER WITH CANA
DIAN TROOPS, SALISBURY PLAINS

includes over $4,000 of all units, it has
never yet been possible to assemble over
1900 III one position at one time. That
was approximately the number reviewed
by the King, and Lord Roberts and
Kitchener. on November 4th, also
bright sunny day. 1t was the last pub
lie appearance of the veteran field mar
shall, who has since obeyed the last or
der and has been laid to rest in St
Pauls among Britain's mighty dead
A characteristic feature of this war
which impresses itself more or less on
all of Us here, is the comparative indif-
erence with which great events, melan-
choiy or otherwise, are treated: due,
suggest, chiefly, to two causes; first, and
more important the fact that few, if
amy, are able to realize the bearing and
significance of events at the time they
occur, while in the perspective of years
they can be estimated by almost any
body. The other reason is the relative
apathy Of Englishmen, towards occur
rences which would cause thrill and ex-
citement in Canada or the United States
The examples | have in mind just now
are the loss of the battleship Bulwark,
which occurred in three minutes at
Sheerness yesterday morning, the re-
suit of an explosion on board, with the
loss Of over 50 lives. No. explanation is
yet forthcoming, and probably apart
from connecting the loss will never be
accounted for One is reminded Of the
loss of the Royal George, Camperdown,
and Maine in each case with hun
dreds of precious lives, in eacn case dur
ing peace time, and in each case COM
mented on by that page in the papers,
While the loss of the bulwark received
only a scant column at the time, what
ever Il later period may say.
The other is the success OF Britain s
great War Loan, which it was plain from
the state of public feeling would be sub
sCribed quickly, but which was received
by England with a response which re-
suited in G25o, GOO 600 more than was
asked for. 1t was by far the greatest
financial event OF its kind that ever hap
pened. coming as 1t did, after long
period of business depression, and when
the nation was faced with the greatest
problem that has confronted her in a
century to say the least. Mr.. Lloyd
Georges statement that it was worth
summing up Il situation whose satisfac-
tory nature will probably become more
apparent when viewed from the distance
OF two or three decades.
1t will probably be of interest to
church people to know that over 60 per
cent of all ranks in the Continent are
Anglicans.
! do not know Of any unit where the
proportion is smaller than IL per cent,
and in some notably the fourth battalion,
is over 20. Canadian Churchmen may
point to this with a little pardonable
pride, for after all allowances are madt
the fact remains that our communion.
numbering about ~ per cent. of the
population OF Canada, is represented in
the First Canadian overseas Force to the
eXtt!lts u three tifths of its total
strength. While We need not boast of
this, We are surely entitled to feel graft
fed that when it becomes necessary for
Canada TO take a part in the suppression
of "A German Culture and militarism
SO that both would cease TO be a menace
TO the real civilization OF the Goth cen
fury. the old Church We love took several
times her proportionate share.
With your permission, Mr.. Editor. I
shall be glad of the privilege OF sending
you something more at later date.
when there may be matters Of more in
terest to discuss.
Very truly yours,
d. Y. WARNER,
Chaplain First Battalion,
c. l.. Force
BASTARD Camp,
Salisbury Plain, England,
November 2Sth, 1914