http://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/register/a-national-war-museum-xw8mmxpt8
february 20, 1917
A national war museum
In Paris a splendid start has been made in the direction of a War Museum. I do not mean the imposing assembly of naval and military trophies exhibited in the Invalides; I refer to a far rarer collection, unique so far as I know, which has been brought together by the untiring efforts of two private citizens — M and Mme Henri Leblanc — at No 6, Avenue de Malakoff. There, in two spacious first-floor appartements, some 15 rooms in all, is housed the War Museum which, when complete, will be presented to the French nation.On August 2, 1914, the Leblancs procured a copy of the French Mobilization Order, a few newspaper broadsheets, and some of the tiny patriotic emblems that were being sold to the war-fevered populace on the boulevards. From that day to this they have never relaxed their efforts, with an expenditure of time and mind and money that is beyond price. At present they have amassed no fewer than 150,000 separate souvenirs of the war, classified and scientifically arranged with a care for which future generations will hold them in highest esteem. Scarcely a day passes but 20 new items are added to it.
It is difficult to express in cold print the impression left on the mind by a visit to this museum; even now it is intensely interesting, and one cannot speculate upon its value in days to come. It is something to know that it is already highly appreciated, not only by the French Government, into whose keeping it will eventually pass, but by the public who visit it. I hope I have said enough to arouse in some hearts at home the patriotic desire to go and do likewise. Our Government, like the French, is too much occupied with graver matters to divert its attention to the formation of a museum; but, as in France, there are others who could do it, with “Government facilities”. It is late to start, but not too late. I should not be surprised to learn that private persons all over Great Britain have been quietly collecting war “souvenirs” of one kind or another. It only wants energy and organization to assemble all these collections, to add to them, and so to found a National War Museum in London or Oxford or Edinburgh, which will be of invaluable interest and assistance to future generations.
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/past-six-days/2017-02-18/register/sensible-new-paris-styles-cw0m0rslz
february 18
Sensible new Paris styles
There was much confusion in the dressmaking world when the news came that America had broken off diplomatic relations with Germany, for all the big Paris houses were on the point of showing their spring and summer models to American buyers, who had come over in force for the occasion. The models are still being shown, but the buyers are choosing and purchasing on conditional terms only until they know if they may be allowed to ship them home or not. To add to the general uneasiness, the coal crisis was at its worst, and both men and women buyers wore fur coats and wrapped up their knees in steamer rugs during the chilly process of buying flimsy summer dresses. Dressmakers, like everyone else, had to accept reduction in their central heating, and their magnificent rooms in the Place Vendome, the Champs Elysees, and the Rue de la Pais were not as warm as in America. Unfortunately, the girls who showed the clothes could not wrap up, and they had to show the lightest of garments in a winter atmosphere. But they made light of their discomfort.Everywhere the new frocks are graceful and pretty. Narrow skirts are the only ones to be seen, and the silhouette of the spring of 1917 will be very like that of the spring of 1914, without the exaggeration of that season. For women who want to buy new clothes the new skirts will prove economical as they will take much less material, and for women who do not want to buy new, it will be easy to have old skirts re-modelled.
Never has the slim woman looked more graceful than in this season’s models, and never has the plump one had a better chance of looking slim. There are a few exaggerations, but none to be alarmed at, as they are frankly made for exportation. The long dress has appeared, and with the exception of tea-gowns and evening dresses, it is not much admired. Not to see the feet any more seems wrong, and practical people do dislike having to think about picking up skirts to avoid dust or tumbling over draperies. No, the day is still to the short skirt, but not so short as to make high boots a necessity or to make serious women look like ballet dancers. The less-wide skirts are decidedly an improvement, and the slim, straight figure is quite the ideal one when the slimness is not over-emphasized.
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/past-six-days/2017-02-17/register/we-must-eat-less-vf5l6ftw9
february 17, 1917
We must eat less
A fortnight has passed since Lord Devonport, whose temporary indisposition is generally regretted, issued his appeal to the nation to limit its consumption of the three staple foods of bread (or flour), meat, and sugar. A great many people have reduced the size of their meals, but large numbers of households are still ignoring his prescription, and the greedy continue as in the old days of plenty. The impression prevails that the appeal has received least attention in rural districts and in the smaller provincial towns. It may be that before long we shall have to resort to compulsory rations.Captain Bathurst, the Secretary to the new Department, cleared up a number of misapprehensions in a meeting of women at the Adelphi Theatre on Thursday. He dwelt on the deficiency of potatoes, which is becoming somewhat alarming, and suggested that there should be a voluntary potatoless day every week. He laid stress upon watching the consumption of bread. The public have not yet realized that we are in more danger of a lack of bread than of meat. Some classes, notably the agricultural population, eat more bread than others. Rations might be varied to include more bread, or more meat, according to individual requirements, provided that the total weight of the staple foods consumed did not exceed the prescribed quantities.
When Captain Bathurst rightly condemned hoarding he limited his condemnation to “the supplies of staple food”. If a rich man is extravagant enough to purchase a supply of pate de fois gras, he is not depriving the poor of their bread or their meat. As to game and the other costlier meats, people who feel they can afford them should not be discouraged. These foods ought to be eaten when in season, as substitutes rather than extras.
Too much is being made of the difficulty about domestic servants, which should be solved when the whole problem is more generally understood. At the same time, the extraordinary multiplicity of meals and “snacks” in many kitchens ought to be drastically curtailed. If the rule of three modest meals a day, and nothing between, were resolutely observed in every household, both above and below stairs, we should all be doing a great deal to help Lord Devonport in his most difficult task.
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/past-six-days/2017-02-16/register/a-canadian-raid-jjpx0zw5d
february 16, 1917
A Canadian raid
The Canadians yesterday, east of Souchez, made a raid in force, for the German line at the point chosen is very strong. The raid was on a front of 600 yards. There was a heavy preliminary bombardment, but as heavy shelling is normal to the Germans there, they may not have expected anything worse. Behind their front line system is a mound known on our side as “The Pimple”, giving the enemy good observation, and well protected by barbed wire. Behind that is a quarry formerly used for building material, though its seclusion serves for dug-outs and an ammunition dump. In this neighbourhood, too, the Boche, we knew, had been very busy mining.It was 4 in the morning when the Canadians went away, and found our guns had done their work well. Only on the left flank, where the enemy had good cover, was there any persistent resistance, and that, of course, from machine-guns. Almost everywhere else he had gone to earth. His occupied dug-outs were blown up. Along a trench south of “The Pimple” he had a series of habitations, to which our engineers gave systematic attention. The quarry, with its dugouts and ammunition store, was wrecked; a large store of trench mortar bombs was found there, for it proved to be the terminus of a light railway. The railway received the same treatment, for the Canadian raiders had brought enough mobile charges to go all round. Four mine shafts were found and destroyed.
The prisoners were of the 11th Bavarian Regiment, good men, for the regiment is a famous one, but they were shaken and dispirited. They were caught wandering about in the obscurity caused by our smoke bombs. They explained that they had only come into it last Sunday night, though the regiment had been there before. Since their last stay there, however, they had been to La Bassee, and thence to Verdun, and from there to Russia and from Russia to the Somme.
A Canadian officer walked seven miles to the scene of the raid, but found his friends had gone when he arrived. He begged to be allowed to go over and find them, “for,” he said, “I haven’t been in a fight for months.” He took part in the affair, doing some valuable work, but was mortally wounded by machine-gun fire when about to return.
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/past-six-days/2017-02-15/register/american-ship-sunk-crew-landed-9tggdcp2v
FEBRUARY 15, 1917
American ship sunk. Crew landed
Messages from Rome state that the United States schooner Lyman M Law, with a cargo of lumber, encountered a submarine on Monday night off the coast of Sardinia, was set on fire by means of bombs, and sunk. The crew of 10, eight of them Americans, were landed at Cagliari.The British Consul at Cagliari has informed the United States Consul, Mr Treadwell, at Rome, of the attack, and the Ministry of Marine has confirmed the news. Mr Treadwell is proceeding to Cagliari to investigate the matter.
The submarine stood off on guard while the crew took to the boats. The schooner was from Stockton, Maine, bound apparently for Palermo. Two British steamers, representing a total of 5,200 tons gross, a British barque, and two British trawlers are also reported to have been lost. The captain of one of the trawlers was taken prisoner on board a submarine.
Late war news: According to a report sent by the United States Consul in Rome, the schooner Lyman M Law was set on fire by a bomb from an Austrian submarine, which showed no flag. No lives were lost. Commenting on the sinking, the Giornale d’Italia writes: “The ship was registered as an American merchant vessel, she carried all the regulation signs indicating her nationality, and was flying the flag of the United States. It seems that the submarine intended to open fire on the American flag and sink a United States ship.” The journal wonders whether this is the casus belli which has been forecast in the declarations of the United States Government. The Tribune says: “While the Rochester and Orleans are making the voyage with the object of testing the firmness of Germany’s decision to carry on ruthless submarine war Germany is sinking any other American vessels which she meets. We shall see if this is a casus belli.” The Corriere d’Italia writes: “Since there was nobody killed, the sinking may prove not to be a casus belli.”
Paris, Feb 13. Yesterday an enemy submarine emerged near the mouth of the Adour and fired six shots at the coast. The coast guns immediately opened fire upon the enemy vessel, which plunged quickly. Five persons were wounded, some seriously.
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/past-six-days/2017-02-14/register/the-times-2d-next-monday-rx5z8628t
FEBRUARY 14, 1917
The Times 2d next Monday
For the benefit of those who have not studied The Times scheme for the revival of its old system of circulation, we reprint in part our announcement of Monday last: The older generation of our readers will remember the system by which the paper was taken by two or three households jointly, each having the perusal of it for certain hours, or lent to read by newsagents for a penny. Up till 1913 announcements might still be found in the windows of stationers to the effect that “The Times is lent to read here”. The last notice of the kind was exhibited in the Temple as late as March, 1914, when the price of The Times was reduced to a Penny.It is the patriotic duty of those who desire to assist the Government in its demand for a reduction in the use of paper, and we trust that our readers will begin this week to prepare for the increase of price to Twopence, which will take place on Monday next, February 19.
Many letters are reaching Printing House Square from those who desire to assist. A Midland Vicar writes: “I have arranged with our local doctor, who did not hitherto read The Times, that he and I shall share the paper, passing it on to the free library.” J E writes: “My first recollection of it is reading Russell’s famous Crimean letters to my mother and sisters from the copy of The Times daily left by the local newsvendor. My father, a professional man, saw it elsewhere, at the local Central Exchange Newsroom, to which the clergy, lawyers, and doctors mostly resorted, with a sprinkling of the commercial classes. But the families were supplied daily on hire, each copy of the paper averaging six customers, supplied up to 5 o’clock, after which a seventh customer was generally found, to whom it went by post. Though only a young boy at the time, I remember its form well: title page, leaders, and Russell’s letters almost identically as they are today in type and in character.”
Many readers announce that they will send their copies when read to either the Fleet or the Armies. Many correspondents point out that the newspaper lies idle about the house the greater part of each day, and can easily be circulated among friends.
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