Putnam patriot., 1918-06-28
MAJOR GIDDINGS
 STARTLES AUDIENCE
Warns Against Under Estimat- ing Germany and Says It Is Not Improbable Paris Will Be Reached.
State Library Association Holds All Day Meeting In High School Hall


 time. and we are going to get into 1t
 farther than we comprehend. This
 war won't be over this fall. and the
 general situation will probably be a
 lot worse before it gets any better.
 We must hold, even if northern
 France is overrun, and 1t very likely will be- It is not only possible, but
 highly probable, that Paris will be de-
 stroyed by the Germans. But even if
 this occurs, don't worry, for we can
 pick up, and without question, will.
 It was with sentence to this effect
 that Major Howard A. Giddings of the Connecticut State Council of De- fense, addressing the meeting of the Connecticut Library Association in High school hall Wednesday after noon, commanded the undivided at tention of that body, and jolted them
 into stearn realization that in wag-
 ing war on Germany, the United States of America has undertaken no
 simple task, but has upon it's hands
 "a man-sized job.
 It was not with the intention of
 merely startling his audience that
 Major Giddings spoke so frankly; it
 was rather to warn them against the fatal mistake of understanding the
 enemy England made the mistake of underestimating the strength of
 the Entente, and we don't want to do
 this," said the speaker; defeating
 Germany is the greatest job in the
 world, and we must not make any
 mistake about that The people don't
 like to hear what l say, or what any
 one says who has come back from the
 front, and speaks the truth. The peo-
 pie like to have the eagle scream, and like to hear speakers tell of mailing
 Old Glory on the flag poles of Berlin. But this war is going to last long
 time It won't be over this year" Major Giddings' talk from begin ming to end was one of unusual in
 terest. He has just recently return
 ed from a visit to England, France, ] and the battle front, and he told eff fectively, yet in simlple, informal manner, of the things that he has seen on the other side of the Atlantic. The
 speaker put particular emphasis on the part that women of the Allied na-
 tions are playing in the conflict. He stated that in England five million women are in uniform doing various
 kinds of war work And they are a remarkable sight" commented the speaker. "They are remarkably eff cient," he continued No one tries to fiirt with them, no one bothers them, no one molests them"
 The society girls, he explained, are in the Royal Motor Corps, and they drive motor cars, motorcycles, and cycles with side car attachments He told of the middle class girls, the sten- ographers, clerks, etc, who since the war have gone into the Woman's Ar my Auxiliary Corps. The girls in this corps do anything from driving a five-ton truck to making beds. "They do everthing," said Major Giddings, "and they do it we'll They have military organization, and wear uni forms. They are splendid set"
 And in addition to these, Major Giddings told of the canteen workers who minister to the wants of the sol diers who come to London on fur tough. The work of the women in the factories, machine shops. and ammu- milton factories also was highly prais- ed by the speaker.
 During his talk, Major Giddings ad- voeated the passage of the bill before Congress that will, if carried through, give rank to nurses. Canadian nurs- es have the rank of officers," he said, | "and they are second lieutenants, or higher. The soldiers have to salute l them, and they get on officers pay It ! is a splendid thing, as it puts the ! nurses on higher plane.'
 In telling of the economic condi- tions in England and France, Major ! Giddings said, There is not single | private pleasure automobile in either | of these countries. It is an offense to | run them There are no fags-for | flags cost money. did not see or hear a band. There are some-but they ! are seldom seen. At some of the higher priced hotels in England the orchestras still play at meal time. But there is no music in France. Tn England the women wear no mourn ing, though all of France revels in black"
 In telling of the food situation, the speaker said that he tasted no butter while across, and but very small amount of sugar He said that in England there is war bread with lots of war in it," and that the milk is like chalk and water. At an important banquet which he attended and where the mayor of London and notables from all.over the country were diners,