Economising on Fuel

From the Sheffield Independent, 28th October 1918.

WEIGH YOUR COAL RATIONS.

How Lady Leitrim Practises Economy.

One of the simplest and best ways that householders can adopt to ensure that their coal rations will not be exceeded is to weigh them out every day.  This is the coal-saving plan adopted by the Countess of Leitrim.

"Each day's fuel ration," she explained to a Press representative, "is carefully weighed, and may in no circumstances be exceeded.  It works out at 49lb. a day in summer and 56lb. in winter."

The Countess manages to limit herself to that small ration by the greatest household economy at her home in Cadogan square.  "The hot water system is for the most part suspended," she states, "and cans of water are carried to the bedrooms from the kitchen.  One gas-fire lit for three hours daily and one coal-fire started in time for tea in one small room, where all meals and recreation are taken, constitutes the entire heating of the living rooms.  The hot water pipes for central heating are cut off, and a small stove in the hall substituted.  All unnecessary electric bulbs have been removed from passages and staircases—an economy which is being adopted by many of my friends.  Instead of 26 tons of fuel, 70,000 feet of gas or 450 units of electricity hitherto considered the minimum possible for running the house, 17 tons of fuel and 420 units of electricity and very little gas are being managed with this year."

[I can't help thinking of the servants at the Cadogan Square house.  They would undoubtedly be the ones to do the carrying of cans of water to the bedrooms, and if there were only two fires allowed in the entire house, it sounds as though the servants' areas were entirely unheated.] 

A Red Cross Hospital in Wales

From the Brecon & Radnor Express, 17th October, 1918.

PENOYRE RED CROSS HOSPITAL.

Sir,—Our first convoy of 30 patients since the re-opening of the Hospital, arrived on Saturday evening, 12th.  We offer most grateful thanks to Col. Kennard, Miss Williams (Penpont), Rev. H. Church Jones, Messrs. Nott and Co., and Miss Nancie Jones, who lent cars to fetch the patients from the station.  Owing to an accident on the line the train was an hour late, and the patients arrived very cold and hungry, so it was all important they should be brought swiftly to warmth and food.  We also offer thanks for following gifts:— Sack of potatoes from children of Llandilorfan Council School, grown in the playground by the children; 2 rabbits, Miss Davies. Penwern; 4 gallons milk. 5 lbs. butter, Mrs McClintock; 2 lbs. honey, Mrs Stubbs, per Miss Best; tomatoes for men, Mrs Raikes.  We hope our kind friends who have sent us vegetables, eggs, etc., will remember our wants.

ALICE M. de WINTON,
Commandant.

[Earlier in the war, Miss de Winton ran the War Clothing Depot in Brecon, and issued regular requests for local knitters to produce socks, mittens, etc.  In fact, she was still doing that, while also, as this letter shows, running the Penoyre Red Cross Hospital.] 

Help For British Prisoners of War

From Woman’s Weekly, 12th October 1918.

HELP FOR BRITISH PRISONERS.

A Very Useful Article, Telling How to Inquire After the Soldier who is in Enemy Hands.

MUCH time might be saved, and trouble avoided, by going about a thing in the right way.
At the request of your Editress, therefore, I am going to tell readers who are anxious to ascertain information of the missing, or to send parcels to prisoners of war, the best way to go about it.

THE FIRST STEP. 
IN the first instance, write to The British Red Cross Society, 18, Carlton House Terrace, and do not fall into the common error of stating that "your son or husband is missing" without giving his Christian name and regimental number, or even the name of his regiment.  Remember that in the majority of cases dozens bear the same surname, and the omission causes unnecessary trouble and delay.
Should you hear from Carlton House, or from some other source, that he is a prisoner of war, your next step would be to call at or write to

Central Prisoners of War Committee, 
Records Dept., 
4, Thurloe Place, 
London, S.W. 1, 

giving information received, with a view to sending him food.  The entire record, as far possible, of every prisoner, and details, can be had from the above address.  However, many regiments have their own care committee, and the Central Prisoners of War Committee—which is a branch of the Red Cross—only pack for a certain number.
If you want to send a parcel to a British prisoner, you can send it through the committee.

STANDARD PARCELS. 
HEREWITH two standard parcels, costing about 10s.

(A)

One pound of beef, one pound of vegetables, one pound of rations, half a pound of cheese, quarter of a pound of tea, half a pound of milk, half a pound of sugar, half a pound of dripping or margarine, one pound of jam, one pound of biscuits, one packet of Quaker oats or milk pudding, fifty cigarettes or one ounce of tobacco, one tin of sardines, and one tablet of soap. 

(B)

One pound of beef, one pound of bacon, one pound of baked beans, half a pound of tea, half a pound of ham or veal, or beef dripping, one pound of biscuits, one pound of rations, one pound of dripping or margarine, one pound of Quaker oats or Grape Nuts or milk pudding, one tin of sardines, one pea-soup roll, fifty cigarettes, and one tablet of soap. 

NO assistance is afforded by the Government in any way, the institution being entirely supported by voluntary contributions.  This being the case, surely no one with a conscience will seek assistance without doing their utmost to help.
Of course, there are genuine cases of poverty.  The mother with a large family of growing children, struggling bravely with her inadequate separation allowance, can do little, if anything. If, however, she frankly states her case to the secretary of the committee, the prisoner will be as well looked after as those whose relatives are able to provide for him.

WHAT THE PRISONERS WRITE. 
HERE is a typically grateful letter, culled from a large number of similar ones, which the committee has kindly given me permission to publish:
(Extract from Pte. E. May's letter.) 

Rifle Brigade, 

Lager Lechfeld, 

May 13th, 1918. 

You will be glad to know that we are regularly receiving our parcels from the British Red Cross, and we are truly thankful for the same.  What we should do without them I dread to think.  Life would not be worth living.  They contain an excellent assortment of foods, and the best quality at that.  In addition to our grocery packets we receive bread parcels, each containing two loaves of pure white bread.  So you can rest assured that we will not starve while we have a British Red Cross Society.  May their good work continue to the end!  
The Red Cross sends all we need. 

With regard to the bread mentioned in the letter, as soon as the committee know the camp at which the prisoner is, a wire is instantly despatched to Copenhagen, and the society's agents begin to send him weekly supplies of bread.

HOW THE COMMITTEE WORKS. 
DIFFERENT sections deal with different regiments.  Directly information is received from the secretary relating to any particular captured man it is taken to the right quarter, and two cards are written for him.
One is for the camp-room (containing all particulars and source of information), the other for the records.
The latter are filed in boxes alphabetically arranged.  Fresh information is added from time to time, so that the committee is in a position to supply in-quires with all particulars.
The splendid work done by the Red Cross—of which the Central Prisoners of War Committee is a branch—needs no comment. Even those who have grown somewhat weary and sceptical of war charities must surely be in sympathy with it.
Every penny sent for the help of the prisoners of war is spent on them, and on them alone.  I am in a position to unhesitatingly assert this.  There is no reduction for working expenses, or anything of that sort.  Our brave lads get the full benefit of your generosity and self-denial.
I must not omit to mention that officers are cared for in the same way as the men and the relatives of both receive the same courteous consideration from all who have the great work at heart,
FREDA ELLIOT.

Good Knitting Recipes

From the Sheffield Weekly Telegraph, October 12th 1918.

Good Knitting Recipes.

IT behoves us to make such provision against the cold weather as the present state of national affairs permits. We know that we shall get less coal than we did last winter, and that the use of gas will be restricted.  These privations forced on us by the war we must patriotically bear without complaint.  Then, too, amongst other much needed materials, wool is very scarce, consequently expensive.  If we could never entirely defy cold weather by wearing woollen under-clothing, at least it was possible to mitigate the rigour of winter in an appreciable degree by doing so.  Wool sold by the ounce is now double the price it was less than three years ago, and this will hinder many from knitting the cold weather comforts they were accustomed to make either for their dear ones or for themselves: or, confine their efforts to the making of "hug-me-tights," vests, bed socks, and similar articles, rather than knit such articles as absorb a much larger quantity of wool. During the present week I was asked to repeat directions for the "puzzle-jacket " given more than once before: also for directions for making the tubular scarf, which, when desired, serves as a cap and scarf combined. Postage being paid, I sent the information by letter, but think it possible other correspondents may be glad of directions for making these very popular articles of wear.

Tubular Scarf.

Materials required :—Six ounces of fiveply. super-fingering; four knitting needles, size 9.  Cast on 100 stitches, 33 on each of the first two needles, and 34 on the third.  Knit plain as stocking until the work measures the desired length.  About one and a quarter yards [114 cm.] is a suitable length. Thus you will have a long piece of circular knitting, open at both ends; to close the end you are working at place the stitches on two needles, knit one from each needle, and so cast off.  To close the other end overseam the two edges.  A fringe three inches long may be added if desired, but for army purposes this addition is not necessary.  This article, as already mentioned, can be used as a cap as well as a muffler, serving as both, or either.  For use as a cap, push one end inwards as far as required; then fold back about three or four inches of the double fabric to form a brim. Anyone who has worn a muffler and cap of the kind will know how protective and comfortable it is, shielding as it does head, throat, and chest when they are exposed to bitter winds or keen, frosty weather. Properly arranged when first put on this scarf will remain securely in position to the end.

Puzzle Jacket ("Hug-Me-Tight.")

This close-fitting, zouave-shaped coattee can be worn under a thin blouse without in any wise affecting the fit of it; or, if required, may be put over the blouse as occasion demands. Nicely finished, and made in wool of a pretty colour, the zouave is presentable enough to wear indoors on chilly afternoons and evenings, when a little extra warmth is needed. Materials required: Four ounces of 4 or 5-ply fingering, and two bone pins, size 9. Knit backwards and forwards. Begin with the front; for this cast on 50 stitches, and knit 100 rows. Cast on 60 more stitches on a line with the 50 already on the needle, and on these 110 stitches, knit 96 rows.  Cast off the 60 stitches opposite the 60 cast on; then on the remaining 50 knit 100 rows like the other front piece, and cast off. The work now resembles the letter "T."  The standard part of this "T" forms the back, and the ends of the two front pieces are joined to 50 stitches up each side. Until worn, the shape is quite unlike a jacket, but fits nicely when the arms are inserted backward, and the knitting drawn across the chest. Crochet an edging all round, and fasten the front with buttons, and loops of crochet, in place of button-holes. These directions are for a zouave of rather small size; more stitches are required for medium, and still more for full figures. The centre of the straight piece of knitting is for the back of the neck; turn it down a little m circular fashion, and tack it to simulate a narrow collar.

Comforts for the Fifth Winter of War

From the Mid-Sussex Times, 8th October 1918.

MID-SUSSEX VOLUNTARY WORK ORGANIZATION,

Approved by the War Office & Registered under the War Charities Act, 1911.

During the month of September 2,277 articles have been received into the Depot of the above and 5,490 articles have been despatched.

Fifteen requisitions have been accomplished during the month, and these comprise— (1) "Comforts" to the A.N.F.O., Le Havre, and to the N.F.0., Kantara, E. E. F. [Egyptian Expeditionary Force] ; (2) Hospital requisites to the 19th, 33rd and 55th Casualty Clearing Stations, B.E.F. [British Expeditionary Force on the Western Front], to the 2nd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station, B.E.F., to the 5th and 74th General Hospitals, B.E.F., to the 2nd Eastern Hospital, Brighton, to the Horton War Hospital, Epsom, and to the War Hospital, Keighley; and (3) Hospital bags to the  Military Hospital, Grantham.

The numbers of articles received and despatched for this month are almost an exact reversal of the numbers for the month of August, but for the two months together the number despatched exceeds the number received by about 70.  It is, therefore, necessary to urge all the workers who can to increase their output of supplies. In a recent letter Sir Edward Ward says that "the approach of a fifth winter of war, with our armies still occupying the field, casts an even greater duty and responsibility than ever before upon those of us who are left at home to carry on our respective spheres of activity in connection with the different branches of war work. . . . .  If any incentive were needed to encourage the women of Great Britain to continue their work, it is provided by the magnificent victories—results of hard fighting—achieved by our splendid Army during these last weeks. . . . . It needs but a small sacrifice for every knitter to send to her Depot regular contributions of knitted 'comforts' each week during the next three months. Such support will provide all the articles required, and I am convinced that our great army of voluntary workers will see to it that nothing is wanting."

This appeal applies not only to "comforts," such as mufflers, mittens, helmets, sweaters, socks, footballs, games (indoor and outdoor) and handkerchiefs (dark shades), but also to hospital requisites, and among these latter there is a large demand, at present, for bed jackets, dressing gowns, limb pillows, pyjamas, pneumonia jackets, slippers (carpet and surgical), bed tables, bed cradles and bed rests.  Any of these will be gratefully received, and further information may be obtained at the Depot, Rural District Council Rooms, Boltro Road, Haywards Heath, from the Hon. Secretary, Miss M. Parez, or the Hon. Superintendent, Mrs F. Paine, during office hours, i.e., 10 am. to 1 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.