But the nation has not spent in vain!

“Compare the first twenty-four days of the fighting on the Somme last year,”—­said Mr. Bonar Law in a recent speech—­“with the first twenty-four days of the operations of this spring.  Four times as much territory had been taken from the enemy in this offensive as was taken in the Somme, against the resistance of double the number of German divisions.  And of those divisions just one-half have had to be withdrawn—­shattered—­from the fighting line while the British casualties in the offensive have been from 50 to 75 per cent, less than the casualties in the Somme fighting.”

Consider, too, the news which is still fresh as I finish this letter—­(June 11th)—­of the victory of Messines; perhaps the most complete, the most rounded success—­so far—­that has fallen to the British armies in the war!  Last year, in three months’ fighting on the Somme, we took the strongly fortified Albert ridge, and forced the German retreat of last February.  On April 8th of this year began the battle of Arras which gave us the Vimy Ridge, and a free outlook over the Douai plain.  And finally, on June 7th, four days ago, the Messines ridge, which I saw last year on March 2nd—­apparently impregnable and inaccessible!—­from a neighbouring hill, with the German trenches scored along its slopes, was captured by General Plumer and his splendid army in a few hours, after more than twelve months’ preparation, with lighter casualties than have ever fallen to a British attack before, with heavy losses to the enemy, large captures of guns, and 7,000 prisoners.  Our troops have since moved steadily forward; and the strategic future is rich in possibilities.  The Germans have regained nothing; and the German press has not yet dared to tell the German people of the defeat.  Let us remember also the victorious campaign of this year in Mesopotamia; and the welcome stroke of the past week in Greece, by which King “Tino” has been at last dismissed, and the Liberal forces of the Greek nation set free.

* * * * *

Aye, we do consider—­we do remember—­these things!  We feel that the goal is drawing slowly but steadily nearer, that ultimate victory is certain, and with victory, the dawn of a better day for Europe.  But who, least of all a woman, can part from the tragic spectacle of this war without bitterness of spirit?

"Who will give us back our children?"

Wickedness and wrong will find their punishment, and the dark Hours now passing, in the torch-race of time, will hand the light on to Hours of healing and of peace.  But the dead return not.  It is they whose appealing voices seem to be in the air to-day, as we think of America.