New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-09
Impressions ofLondon in War lime
By REV. ELMER T. CLARK, LIT. d.
Copyright. 1917, by The Tribune Association

outbreak Of hOstilities she had com
paratively few suppose not more
than half p milliOn.n comparison
with the many millions Of the Central
Powers. But to-day she has the might
lest army on earth The ranks OF 6er
civilians have been depleted, 20 De
sure, 70 a large degree, yet one sees
remarkably large number OF men IN
civilian clothing who are neither de-
crepit with age and infrmlty nor cal
low I'm their yOuthfulness. These are
engaged in carrying on the regular
routine Of affairs, but If the worst
comes to the worst IL seems as II
Great Britain will be able 20 rtrult
her ranks still further with able-OodIed
men.
A foreigner is not regarded with
suspicion, unless indeed he should hail
from an enemy country, but England
takes no chances with any person who
seeks her shores in these times. Be
fore / could obtain room at
hotel | had to fill out a detailed
aliens blank, giving my nationality,
business, age, date and port Of landing,
place where ] spent the previous night,
and other like information. lmmedi-
atcly | must register at the nearest
police station, giving the address at
which / will spend my nights. When
] move to another address | must first
inform this police station and then
register again at the one nearest the
place to which ! move. If | visit an
other city my Identification book must
be stamped by the police of my dis
trict, stamped again upon arrival by
the police Of the city 70 which | go,
stamped again by them upon my de-
parture, and still again by my own
station when / return.
Since | am constantly moving about,
have become most familiar with the
police. This nuisance is very incon-
vienient for the foreigner, bat il gives
him a wholesome respect and admira-
tioH for the thoroughness with which
these authorities are guarding their
heritage against the spying eyes Of
the enemies who would take il from
them. This thoroughness is carried Out
also in regard TO photographs, TO cor
respondents of the foreign press, to
the mail, and TO all other details. Per-
haps England has the strictest censor
ship of the world, far stricter than the
American people would tolerate, ] be-
licvc, yet the authorities are most
obliging and ready to furnish oppor-
tunities FOR gathering such informa-
ton as the world may need and which
does not conflict with the plan of the
military campaigns. This censorship
sat most irksomely upon the popula-
ton, am told, when it was first in
augurated and the protests were very
numerous, but the people have become
accustomed and adjusted to it so that
one finds little opposition at the pres
ent time.
There are no signs that England is
starving or is likely to starve; there
is abundant evidence that she will not
starve if care and conservation will
prevent it. The potato patch in the
yard at Buckingham Palace, residence
of their majesties the King and Queen,
is a constant incentive TO the people
70 produce whatever their land will
produce. and there IS no uHcultivated
land anywhere 70 be seen. They are
not only producing, but they are con-
serving.
Eat Less Bread was the first great
poster that attracted the eye when
landed in England, and all over the
land such advertising calls attention
of the people to their duty. One such
sign reads; Make the menu defeat
the U-men.' A royal proclamation has
been issued urging the necessity of
drinking less and using care in the
matter of breadstutfs. The hotels re-
quest their guests to cut their slices
of bread and rolls instead of breaking
them, 50 that the residue may be kept
All pieces Of bread and cake must be
returned to the bakery, and scraps Of
meat and bone must be kept for use in
the explosive factories Sugar IS doled
Oft In exceedingly small portions and
guests are allowed but one roll to a
meal--and urgently requested to do
without even this pittance.