«For the Sake of the Soldier» by Rita Macleod

AYONE called on to write a preface for a book describing the efforts of women for the sake of the soldier should not complain of want of material for his purpose. All over the British and Allied countries the splendid work of women shines out brilliantly in contrast to the dark background of the brutal horrors of war. Courage, patience, self-denial, self-sacrifice—with untiring energy and devotion—make up a galaxy of virtues that, to some extent at least, compensate for the dreadful losses and shocks which women have had to sustain, and when added to all these is the abiding faith of women in the great principles of Christianity, we have the foundation broader and deeper, than ever before, of a regeneration of the world of the future for the highest purposes. No effort of political or commercial organization can ever be comparable in its results with those to come from the noble ideals which have actuated the souls of the women and which they have now made portion of themselves.

In this country the women have risen to the occasion as readily and as effectively as their sisters in any part of the world. The war has touched them deeply—more deeply than it has touched a large number of our men. They have offered their services in many directions, and have appropriated to themselves spheres of work that are invaluable. No record that has been or, perhaps, can be now compiled can do full justice to the work that they have done and are still doing. Every day new avenues of useful help are being exploited by them. One of the latest productions is this little book compiled by a woman, presented by her free of cost, embodying one of her activities “for the sake of the soldier,” and as a preface to it this is an expression of hope and trust that the book shall prove a source of inspiration to others, both women and men, to rise to the spiritual and ideal heights prompted by the crisis of the war.

A. J. THYNNE, Colonel,
Vice Chairman State Recruiting Committee of Queensland.