WOMEN PATRIOTS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2505, 19 May 1909, Page 7

WOMEN PATRIOTS.

At Norwood, England, an idea lias conic to birth which may have a powerful effect, says the “Daily Mail,” upon the cause of national service. It is to form a league of women pledged to take every opportunity of inculcating patriotism and of spreading among all classes a sense of the folly of being unprepared to resist invasion. The idea originated with Lady West, wife of an' Raymond West, who had a distinguished career as a judge in India and a member of the Government of Bombay. She comes of “service people,” and js imbued with the best service traditions. She means to arouse" the womanhood of England, not only on the question raised so strikingly in “An Englishman s Home,” but with regard to the navy and all other matters that touch patriotism and the defence of the Empire. ; . T i “Women can do so much, said Laxly West, explaining the organisation Cl/: which she lias brought into being. “ “What the British Women’s Patriotic League means to do is to awaken the mothers of to-day and the mothers of to-morrow to the duty of taking their share in creating a sound and healthy public opinion. We shall hold meetings all over -the country, in every town, in every village, if we can, and .especially we shall aim at influencing the women of the lower class, who have no idea vet of what invasion would mean, it least that is true of the country generally. hut exception must be made in the case of Norfolk and Suffolk, where the people really alamid. Thpv are nearest the ocean whence an •SJVWIv to come, and they, would be the first to suffer probably. • “Every g rl who is engaged ” she said briskW “should ask her future island ‘What are you. going to do about the danger of .I f Je no iuU'.vs;. ;u ua