Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1918-12-23
Largest Yank Rest Camp at
Winchester, England

Destroyed by Cromwell.
Many years after Cromwell blew
up the greater part of the castle
that it might not again be the re
treat for royalists, the spacious
Hampshire barracks were built OF
this site and land adjacent - tn,
home of the famous Hampshir,
regiments. This city has been T.;
military post, in one way and an
other for more than 1000 years
Within the walled enclosure of the
barracks is the palace, built by
Charles II, in which he built Sc.
cret entrance for his favorite. Mel
Gwynne (who was originally, it is
said, an orange girl of provincial
birth, and afterwards a sprightly
London dancer and actress), who
became mistress to Charles II. Hel
eldest son was made Duke of St
| Adams.
"On a recent Sunday, by the
kings proclamation, thanksgiving to
the almighty God was observed ir
the churches throughout the land
In the great nave of the Winchester
cathedral were packed 5000 people
mostly soldiers. 1t was a beautiful
and impressive service, and one that
will be handed down in history.
This old and magnificent cathe.
dral, towering in the midst of its
walled-in close. has been the scene
OF many wonderful ceremonies. in
GLIDING the GROWING of kings, and
the marriages and funerals of roy.
atty. Beneath its walls. cold, pure
waters from the River Iitchen
passed through the subterranean
passages and out again to the river
currents, for nearly 1000 years. Long
ago a sluice inlet of one of the
streams was closed permanently, d.
vertlng the water for commercial
purpose, by order of the corpora
ton. This act cost the cathedral
100000 within the last decade to
save the great supporting wall on
one side from falling out and pre-
venting the collapse of the entire
edihce. The heads of the hard
wood piles that had been submerged
began to decay, settling the founda-
ton. A diver, in diving suit and
helmet, spent five years in remov-
ing the decaved piling and reinforc-
ing with solid concrete.
The Firery Ordeal.
Early in the 18th century, the
mother of Edward the Confessor,
to prove her innocence, walked
bare footed over nine red-hot
plougshares placed in the nave of
the cathedral, without suffering in
jury. An immense concourse wit
messed her triumph.
The women of England are to
be greatly admired, from the unin-
formed children of the girls guides
to the dowagers, all doing their bit
and doing it well. The best known
women's war organization are
known by an abbreviated name:
Waacs, Women's Army Auxiliary
corp; Wrens, Women's Royal Navy
service; Wrafs, Women's Royal Air
force; Vads, Voluntary Aid detach-
ment; Land Girls, Women's Land
army, and the Women's league rep
resenting total membership of
about 100000.
Distinctive Uniforms.
Each organization provides its
distinctive uniform, smartly de-
signed in khaki, blue and grey
coats, skirts, hats and caps. The
Land Girls wear white washable
smocks reaching to the knee, brown
corduroy breeches, CATERS, hob
nailed boots and a brown soft felt
hat cooked on one side. They are
a saucy looking lot, healthy and
strong, and splendid workers in for
age and forestry. In hours of d.
version they go about in pairs arm
in arm, when not arm linked with
a Tommy or Sammie.
The Women's league was formed
by women of quality, who gave up
field sports and the hunt, leaving
the hoslers to exercise their finely
bred hunters that had carried them
fearlessly cross country, over walls
hedges and dykes to the cry of the
hounds, to take up war service
motor driving. These young smart
aristocrats are usually in charge OF
staff officers car, at home and
abroad.
Here in the Winchester area, can
be seen members of these organiza
tions-all but one, the Wrens. who
are on shore duty at the seaports.
Every member is proud of her uni
form, she not only looks smart and
well set up, but she is in living evil
dence-doing mans work, who is
fighting for his country. Our Sam
mics behold them in great admira-
ton, and have found the Waacs and
Land Army girls very companion
able. Samnie with his dollar a
day pay soon out rlvalled l ommy
on his Sc cents, entertaining the
girls.
Zone of the largest aerodromes
is in this area. it was there where
the late 1t. Jarvis Offutt received
some valuable training under Brit
ish instructors.
General Griffith Home.
Near the eminence of divers
Battery, where Cromwell mounted
his guns to distroy the city of Win,
chester, stands Maesgwyn, with its
gardens, tennis lawns, croquet court
conservatory, green houses, pottine
sheds, shepards hut, etc, fields
wood and terraces, surrounded by
hedge, the spacious home of the late
Mai Cen Charles Matthew Crit