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Purchase and Distribution.

11th February 1915
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Page 7, 11th February 1915 — Purchase and Distribution.
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

The outstanding feature of the past week's activities, in respect ef the.. Purchase and Despatch Department of the Fund, has been the placing of further very considerable orders for Comforts of all kinds. For. instance we have acquired at a very low rate, 1000 ,excellent towels, and through the same channel we have placed an order or the early delivery of 10,000 cotton handkerchiefs. Other interesting purchases include 2000 pairs of 36-in. Kip leather bootlaces, seven dozen mouth organs, an elastic stocking, an Edison Amberol phonograph and a supply of records, complete with trumpet and stand, a further 8500 tins of bull's-eyes, a supply of tobacco and hand-made Virginia cigarettes for the remainder of the troops who did not share in the first orders which were placed in the early days of the Fund's operations, and 720 lb. of a special, short, thick form of candle.

For the first time for many weeks, the volunteer team of packers has been given a rest, Owing to the number of eases which have recently been leaving various factories to our instructions; the need for despatches from the central stores is not so insistent in order to keep up the supply of Comforts for the men. The probable result of' this will be that the week's packing that will follow will prove to be a bumper one, and indeed this will be necessary if for no other reason than to relieve the stores from over pressure, already becoming evident.

The elastic stocking mentioned in the above list has been supplie'd to a driver in one of the Columns, whose wife made application to us for assistance in this matter, as she was not in a position to afford to purchase one for hr husband. Our renewed appeals for fresh supplies of woollen comforts, used playing cards, boxes of dominoes, and warm underclothes, have yielded gratifying results during the past week. Outstanding amongst such gifts, as an example of particular generosity, we may quote that of 220 blue jerseys, valued approximately at £100, of which we make acknowledgment in our formal list which is published in the present pages. No less pleasing to us was the receipt of a football, already acknowledged, from a youngster whose treasured possession it had hitherto been. His spontaneous note which accompanied this gift is worth reproduction.

"Dear Soldier,—I am sending you my football, and I hope you will have time to play with it, but do not keep on playing with it and forget to kill all the Germans. I hope you are very well.

"Love from Reggie.

" Acton." Extracts from Letters.

One of the most gratifying communications which we have so far received is one from an 0.C., who previous • to his present military dutiea was a very prominentionember of the motor industry in this country, and who we trust, at the conclusion of the war, will return safe and sound to -resume his activities in that direction.

'Last week I suggested that candles and matches would be acceptable. May I add to that a eae of jam if it can possibly be sent. Plum and apple are strictly barred. Apricot and Strawberry, however, would be much appreciated.

"'Motor drivers' gloves over and.above the Government issue can always be made use of. The officers of the convoy are very much struck with the practical Way in which you are conducting the Campaign Comforts Fund,' and desire me to express their appreciation of the trouble you are taking. " Yours faithfully,

"GEORGE nu CROS (Capt.), "0.0. No. 5 Motor Ambulance Convoy."

"The presents are so well chosen that they add greatly to the comfort of the men."-0.0., 111111 Div. Sup. Col.

" All the men are most grateful for the interest taken_ in them by your Fund, and by the people in general at home, for it keeps`them cheerful to know that their friends at home are working to supply them with every possible comfort?'—O0, M.T. Dept., 1111 Batt., R.G.A.

"I must not forget to say that we have received cigarettes, matches sweets and other things from your Fund, all of them most acceptable, and for which we are most grateful. I am munching some of the bull'seyes as I write, and many in the convey think them the most acceptable gifts we have yet had, as sweets are frightfully dear here."—Driver UI,II•1 Div. ADAM. Pk.

"The soap being English is highly appreciated and the bull's-eyes are already consumed and enjoyed." —0.0., II Div. Sup. Col.

The 0.0. of • Ammunition Park writes: "Many thanks for the receipt of tobacco and cigarettes. The contents. have been equally distributed, and are very much appreciated. The quality of your gifts is much better than any that have been received from other sources."

"I believe our 0.0. has thanked you on behalf of the whole column for the splendid supply of comforts and gifts which We have received through your instrumentality. As regards my own company I feel I should also like to add my personal thanks to the subscribers to your fund.

" These gifts were the first that our Column received and were very much appreciated by the men. The assortment of articles made it difficult to distribute 'per man,' so that with the exception of the tobacco and cigarettes, of which each man received a definite ration,' the things in this new consignment were distributed by means of a raffle. Each ticket was marked for the article which it represented. This system introduced an element of sport and was universally enjoyed.

"The men were paraded for this and were informed • that the gifts to be distributed were from THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR Campaign Comforts Fund."—From an Officer in Command of an Indian Division Supply Column.

"I am driving a L.G.O.C. B-type with its old bonnet number 220e, and it has given great satisfaction so far. We are on postal work, and during the Christmas season we had very heavy loads to take over very rough and shell-battered roads in Belgium. We have been ditched, but have always got out with our own power. On one occasion we towed a five-ton Leyland out of a ditch. Owing to the very heavy rain, the roads are in a very shocking state, but our old B-type is still O.K. I took it over rather more than twelve weeks ago, and have not had an involuntar stop since.

"I have pleasure in learning of your fund for com

forts for drivers at the Front. They are greatly needed, as the weather is very bad, and we make our homes in our lorries by the wayside. If it is possible for a waterproof rug and gloves to reach us we should be very grateful. My mate and I are both London bus drivers, and have been out here since August 12th. We have been in a few tight corners, but I am pleased to say we have always come out safe, and trust we shall continue to do so. Thanks to our B-type, we can always give the boys in the trenches their letters in good time ; in fact, we run on Drivers G. MATHEws and W. PORTER, — Div. Sup. Col.


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