FROM THE EDITOR'S CHAIR.
The Ypres Times.
185
half a dozen things at once. With wider representation each active member of the
League can devote himself to the particular object which interests him.
Someone writing the other day used the words The Secretary is the League."
Of all fatal errors that I believe is about the worst. The function of the Secretary is to
co-ordinate the efforts of others and to see that the machinery works without waste and
keeps good time. The energy which drives the machine must come from members of
the League. An Institution to which the members contribute merely a few shillings
and no energy can never really flourish nor secure the accomplishment of its objects.
(Signed) CHAIRMAN OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
Whatever else you read in this number, don't
forget to read," ponder, and take to heart, the
article, that begins on the very first page. The
writer says what wanted saying, and now it's
up to you. And when you're pondering, don't for
get the Ypres Times. If we are to make it a
really good magazine we pped readers. A maga
zine isn't a philanthropic institution any more
than a daily newspaper is, and it can't live on kind
thoughts. Silence is golden, but, as one of our
contemporaries remarks,^ you don't get much satis
faction out of jingling two golden silences to
gether. We want to make it a tip-top magazine
that's our job. To do that we need readers, and
more readers, and as many readers as we can
get that's your job.
Now, if every member of the League would
persuade two other people to send a subscription
for one year to the magazinetwo other people
who aren't or can't be membersand if they've
no use for hearing about Ypres, all the better
then we'll guarantee, by the time their subscrip
tions run out, to give them a magazine to which
they will send next year's subscription of their
own accord. But it can't be done unless we get
more readers. So see what can be done before
it's time for July number.
Another thing. Are you pleased with the maga
zine? If you aren't, then write and curse the
Editor, and the more violent you are the more he'll
be pleased. It will remind him of a certain
B.S.M. on a certain seashore somewhere in Scot
land. But don't just curse. Tell us what is
wrong with it, and we'll see it's put right.
Would you like stories, poetry, articles, history,
philosophy, theology, cartoons, photographs, land
scapes? Write and tell us. You can even have
an article on Tutenkhamen if you like.
We'll expect a heavy post then in the next six
weeks, and when you're at it, isn't there any
thing you have of your own to be printed? We
would like io print any real war diary we can get,
but it's got to be the real thing. Or send a real
good story of the war. But make it a real good
one, not that one about how you missed a rum
ration twenty miles behind Vlamertinghe, but a
real yarn of the line.
There's some other things, too, in this number
you mustn't miss. The map of the cemeteries in
the Salient is something you want to preserve for
always. Your children will want it, and their
children after that, and two hundred years after
that people will still be going over to the Salient,
when it will all be new villages and smiling fields,
to see where somebody who isn't more than a
name to them is sleeping the last sleep. So keep
it carefully. It is a good map, and you can't get
one like it anywhere. In fact, it is the first of
the kind ever produced.
Will Branch Secretaries note a special page in
this number reserved for Branch activities? But
will they also note that we would like a short note
from them all for each successive number? Every
Branch wants to know what the rest are doing,
and it's part of a Secretary's job to let them.
The appointment of Sir Philip Chetwode to the
Aldershot Command is one that .should interest
every member, for the new chief is one of the
hardest working members of our Committee. All
our good wishes, and the wishes of every man
who served under him, will follow him to his new
command.
Should any of our members or their friends go
across to the Salient 44 on their own," they may
be glad to know that they can get every aid,
advice, and accommodation from the 44 St. Barna
bas" Hostels, whose headquarters are at 3, Rue des
Marebaux, Calais, France, at a very moderate cost
for the attention they will receive. We can assure
them now that kindness, sympathy and help will
be given them in generous measure.
Many of our members have been asking when
the question of the issue of battle clasps is going
to be settled. We are able to say that the matter
has lately been before the Army Council, who are
receiving active assistance from an examining
body.
When you're done with this numberno, don't
pass it to a friendyou want to keep it you--
self. Show him it, holding it tight with both
hands, and your teeth, if necessary, and tell him
to send a subscription, and he'll get one like
it, only better, in July. 2s. 8d., please, made
payable to the League.
