A Traveller in War-Time

A Traveller in War-Time

The Project Gutenberg Ebook A Traveller in War-Time, by Winston
Churchill WC#61 in our series by Winston Churchill (USA author, not
Sir Winston)
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Title: A Traveller in War-Time
Author: Winston Churchill (USA author, not Sir Winston Churchill)
Release Date: March, 2004 [EBook #5398] [Yes, we are more than one
year ahead of schedule] [This file was first posted on June 30, 2002]
Edition: 10
Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK
TRAVELLER IN WAR-TIME, BY CHURCHILL ***

This eBook was produced by David Widger

[NOTE: There is a short list of bookmarks, or pointers, at the end of the
file for those who may wish to sample the author's ideas before making
an entire meal of them. D.W.]

A TRAVELLER IN WARTIME.
By Winston Churchill

PREFACE
I am reprinting here, in response to requests, certain recent experiences
in Great Britain and France. These were selected in the hope of
conveying to American readers some idea of the atmosphere, of "what
it is like" in these countries under the immediate shadow of the battle
clouds. It was what I myself most wished to know. My idea was first to
send home my impressions while they were fresh, and to refrain as far
as possible from comment and judgment until I should have had time to
make a fuller survey. Hence I chose as a title for these
articles,--intended to be preliminary," A Traveller in War-Time." I tried
to banish from my mind all previous impressions gained from reading.
I wished to be free for the moment to accept and record the chance
invitation or adventure, wherever met with, at the Front, in the streets
of Paris, in Ireland, or on the London omnibus. Later on, I hoped to
write a book summarizing the changing social conditions as I had
found them.
Unfortunately for me, my stay was unexpectedly cut short. I was able
to avail myself of but few of the many opportunities offered. With this
apology, the articles are presented as they were written.
I have given the impression that at the time of my visit there was no
lack of food in England, but I fear that I have not done justice to the

frugality of the people, much of which was self-imposed for the
purpose of helping to win the war. On very, good authority I have been
given to understand that food was less abundant during the winter just
past; partly because of the effect of the severe weather on our American
railroads, which had trouble in getting supplies to the coast, and partly
because more and more ships were required for transporting American
troops and supplies for these troops, to France. This additional
curtailment was most felt by families of small income, whose earners
were at the front or away on other government service. Mothers had
great difficulty in getting adequate nourishment for growing children.
But the British people cheerfully submitted to this further deprivation.
Summer is at hand. It is to be hoped that before another winter sets in,
American and British shipping will have sufficiently increased to
remedy the situation.
In regard to what I have said of the British army, I was profoundly
struck, as were other visitors to that front, by the health and morale of
the men, by the marvel of organization accomplished in so
comparatively brief a time. It was one of the many proofs of the extent
to which the British nation had been socialized. When one thought of
that little band of regulars sent to France in 1914, who became
immortal at Mons, who shared the glory of the Marne, and in that first
dreadful winter held back the German hosts from the Channel ports, the
presence on the battle line of millions of disciplined and determined
men seemed astonishing indeed. And this had been accomplished by a
nation facing