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GERMAN SPIES

19 October 1914

SIR,—I WAS GLAD TO read your article to-day in The Times on German espionage and preparation for this war. Here is an instance. About three years ago I was staying in Norfolk, and I asked a friend of mine if the Germans had ever found out a place called Weybourne, on the coast, where Nelson said was the place to land an invading force for England. My friend answered: “Found it out; the Germans have bought land there and built a hotel.” About 10 days ago I was motoring along the coast there and was stopped several times by the cycle corps guarding the coast. I happened to ask one of the men how much coast they looked after, and he told me from Hunstanton to Weybourne. I said, “There is a hotel at Weybourne which belongs to the Germans.” And he replied,“I don’t know about that; but a short time ago we made a raid on the hotel and found several Germans in it.” I send you this in case it may be of interest to know preparations have been made in this country just as in France and Belgium.

Yours faithfully,

J. B. STRACEY-CLITHEROW

WAITERS AND MILLIONAIRES

22 October 1914

SIR,—AS I TALKED this morning with a distinguished German, long resident in this country, he observed:—“From our point of view it is inconceivable that your Government should permit Germans and Austrians to reside freely in your midst, knowing that in the event of a successful raid upon England they will at once rush to the help of the invaders.”

On the important question of German and Austrian waiters and managers at English hotels he said:—“It is equally inconceivable that the German people would for one moment tolerate English waiters in German hotels at any time. Hotel managers and waiters have particular opportunities for spying on visitors to hotels. They have master keys in their possession opening all the bed-rooms, and can therefore search correspondence in the absence of the visitor; they have opportunities of listening, and it should be noted,” he remarked, “that there is hardly a naval or military town, hardly any resort of British military and naval officers, hardly any strategic point of Great Britain, that is not provided with its German hotel waiters.

“As to the hardship caused by the expulsion of such as are married,” he added, “surely some of the wealthy naturalized German financiers who have so long thriven in this country might look after the wives and children of such of their compatriots as may suffer from a necessary measure of protection. I observe,” he added, “that their names, as a rule, are noticeably absent from the charitable and other funds now appearing in the newspapers, despite their recent lavish expenditure on town and country houses, racing stables, yachts, and Scottish and other shootings.”

I enclose my card and the name of my German informant.

Yours faithfully,

VIGILANT

THE NAME OF “THOMAS ATKINS”

27 October 1914

SIR,—WITH REGARD TO a letter in your issue of 24th inst., signed “Arthur Mercer,” I am afraid your correspondent’s account of why the British soldiers are called “Tommies” is incorrect; the true reason is that in all the old War Office forms of soldiers’ accounts the method company officers were to pursue in keeping them was illustrated by one finished example, and the name taken was “Thomas Atkins,” hence the name.

I am,

THE EDITOR OF “HISTORY OF 32ND LIGHT INFANTRY”

THE INDIAN WOUNDED

5 November 1914

SIR,—AS WOUNDED INDIAN soldiers are being received at Netley, the need for Indian volunteer orderlies is greater than ever. Nearly 70 members of the local Indian corps are already serving as nurses there. Leaving aside the medical members of the corps there are now very few left to answer the further call when it comes. May I therefore trespass upon the hospitality of your columns to appeal to the Indian young men residing in the United Kingdom to enlist without delay? In my humble opinion it ought to be our proud privilege to nurse the Indian soldiers back to health. Colonel Baker’s cry is for more orderlies. And in order to make up the requisite number, and also to encourage our young men, several elderly Indians occupying a high position have gone or are going to Netley as orderlies. One of them is a barrister, having a Privy Council practice, another is an educationist ex-Vice-Principal of a celebrated college for Indian Princes, and a third is a retired member of the Indian Medical Service, having served in five campaigns.

I hope that the example set by these gentlemen will infect other, with a like zeal, and that many Indians who can at all afford to do so will be equal to the emergency that has arisen. Those who desire to enlist can do so at the Indian Volunteers’ Committee’s rooms at 10, Trebovir-road near Earl’s-court, at any time during working hours.

I am, &c.,

M. K. GANDHI

In 1906, while living in South Africa, Gandhi had been a volunteer stretcher-bearer in a war against the Zulus and had become politicised by witnessing the attitudes of British troops to non-whites.

MORE HELP FOR THE WOUNDED

5 November 1914

SIR,—WE READ IN your columns and we also learn from private friends how urgently additional, and especially speedy, surgical aid is needed for the wounded in France and Belgium. A few hospital units officered entirely by women are already there and are doing splendid work. Will your readers help us to send more? The Scottish Federation of the National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies, under the leadership of Dr. Elsie Inglis, have specialized in this form of national service. They have money enough to dispatch one complete unit, which is on the point of starting. They are keen to send at least three if the necessary funds can be obtained. They ought not to start with less that £1,000 per unit. Please help us to raise the money quickly.

Yours obediently,

MILLICENT GARRETT FAWCETT, President, N.U.W.S.S.

Fawcett was the leader of the main organisation campaigning for the right of women to vote. Her sister, Elizabeth Garrett Anderson, was the first British woman to qualify as a doctor.