ropy of Letter from K76453 Tpr. R. Gibson, - Tth Eosi ment CAO. ee j “Overthere”’ Jy. oe as 2, 10, 744 went twritten very Beech: I tiow-=buk you know the reason hiS—So tonight I am going to try to give you an idea of the or 1 should say the existence of a soldier, over here— that is, phe leading | elements, aswe'! have always: -been. his new pocket. just inside Holland - is holding us up for now, € are prepared, and the mopping up is beginning. There are upposed to be a thousand J errys in there—so it shouldn’t take aiter ave secure a canal crossing. Tonight ‘until “eleven I anv free and as this house still has a it, and everything in one room practically intact, as the fs were killed—two are still‘in the next room, a girl and an man. I think it was one of our own Shells, as it is so often, but his, as the civwys realize, cannot be helped. These Hollanders—-people—they are’ a race Which will never passed! iEvery town since entering Holland has been hit hard, at least }hird wiped out, and the rest almost beyond repair. The people divine in cellars, basements and in the streets. The roads are id with Civilians, with wagons of clothes and blankets, going to ter zone. People who once had everything so traditionally clean, fing or riding through the sloshy mud, dirty, bedraggled, every- }- but a few essentials lost. And still they cheer, when we strike vn. They cheer with tears in theix eyes and wave u. on. { have had so many old people homeless tell me this is the hap- § day of their lives—to see us. And Dad, it was mostly our 5s thet wrecked their homes, their farms, their eities! Qur shells, ders, typhoons and finally street fighting when we do go in. ‘still they smile and wave to us. They wish us good luck, while ait of a 100 of all horses, cows and domestic animals are lying nd dead. iYou see the films, the newsreels, read the papers—you talk ft it. [I guess us boys are luckier than you in a way, for we see Slot iike manoeuvers or training films—it’s real—the stink—the —the waiting—the shelling and mortar fire) Theyre real— ian’t put the stink of rotting dead on the films—and the screams “mortally wounded man, men with entrails hanging, clutching f=to Qh sure, a lot of this killing over here cannot be helped—has e@ expected in war—but lve. seen so much the Germans. have )—that was absolutely brutal, filthy and needless. I used to think England was going to extremes with their war ists. But now. No. After seeing these countries making their feme sacrifices—of péople starving—of picking around their ® dead on the streets. No, no sacrifices are too great. That's why y—the people of Canada have to See it. We will finish Nazism here—yes—but the war for Canadian soldiers will have to be ® in Canada. It’s up to you. We want only to come back to a ai living—to haye children and know they wont have fo go ugh again what we are now. That isn’t too much to ask, is it? f this is’) enough ot my thoughts if the people of Canada will only > up. "The weather has been hell over here—rain every day—as if ie isn’t enough juice already with the canals broken and prac- lly all the country under water. CRUSTY. ” NEWSPAPERS MAGAZINES BOOKLETS and Tee _JOB PRINTING of all DESCRIPTIONS QUALITY and SERVICE ‘EAST END PRINTERS 2303 E. Hestings HA. 0095 a FEEVIEseM Ny: NN s3} Set St SU Continued from Page 9 faces” common "international labor and economic problems on which Tt. might cooperate despite its domestic differences. BASIS FOR PEACE AND SECURITY ._ Discussions of international labor unity have’ ‘been held in Paris by the CIO and French trade unionists, as well as mem- bers of the Soviet delegation to London who _ accompanied the ClO group to Paris. Replying to a fear expressed by spokes- men for the Christian Confeder- ation of French Trade Unions that the purpose of the world labor conference was to estab- lish “organic” trade union unity, Hillman stated that the desire for unity is not a matter of ideologies, but is an attempt to secure 2 broad basis in the labor movement for lasting peace and security. Prior to his departure for Paris, Hillman participated in the formulation of a summary of the deliberations of the world trade union conference, inéorpor- ated into a call to “the peoples of all lands who are of one mind in their hope and desire that a new world shall arise from the devastation and ruin wrought by the war.” The call was drawn up by @ sub-committee appointed by ‘committee; to Hillman, Saillant, Sir Walter. P. A. Features, March 10 — Page 15 Aid To French Unions administrative including, in addition the- ee Citrine of Britain, Mikhail Tara- soy of the USSR, Vicente Lom- bardo Toledano of Mexico, H. T. Liu of China and Walter Sche- venals of the IFTU.= = The results of the conference, the call asserts, prove “with em- phasis and without réservations, that the trade union movement of the world is resolved to work with all like-minded peoples te achieve a complete and uncom- promising victory over the fas- cist powers that sought to en- compass the destruction of free- qom and democracy; to estab- lish a stable and enduring peace; and to promote in the economic sphere the international colla- boration which will permit the rich resources of the earth to be utilized for the benefit of all its peoples, providing full employ- ment, rising standards of living and: social security toe the men and women of all nations.” LABOR REPRESENTATION “Reviewing the specific actions of the conference designed to achieve these goals, the call then urges labor representation at all postwar planning conferences concerned with these problems, stating: eQeanes labor, with So great a part in winning the War, cannot leaye to others — heweyer well intentioned they may be—the sole PESOONSTOUISY of EARAE the peace. 2 : The peace. “will, be) ena “only if it reflects the deep re- solve of the! free ‘peoples, their interests, their ‘desires and their needs,’ “it adds. ‘“We therefore send forth from ‘our world con- ference this appeal to all the workers of the world and to all men and women of good will to consecrate to the _building - of a better world the service and sac- rifice they have given to the win- ning of the war.” The call also declares that the new world labor organization which the confertence,resolved to |ereate will include “all the trade runions of free countries on a basis of equality, regardless of race, creed or political faith, ex- cluding none-and relegating nene to secondary place. We are call- ing into existence, as speedily as practical steps can be taken, a powerful international organ which unites all) and which can speak with authority in support of our declared objectives.” £ARL Bac HISTORY CON OV UT = Special Anniversary Offer. FREE With every new or renewal subseription to National Affairs — - Monthly SS ou receive FREE a copy of one RM SONOS AE OPE F of the following books: - TEHERAN by Earl Browder. ARCTIC ELDORADO by R. A. Davies. ee d BRITAIN IN THE WORLD FRONT by Palme Dutt. NEW WORLDS FOR WOMEN by Dorise Nielsen. ORE CPs. UU: CANADA AND RUSSIA by R. A. Davies. SOVIET ECONOMY by Maurice Dobb GOD’‘S ANGRY MAN, a nove! by L. Ehrlich. MAIL YOUR SUBSCRIPTION TODAY f Address SUBSCRIPTION BLANK NATIONAL AFFAIRS MONTHLY 73/ Adelaide Street West TORONTO Enclosed please find (money order) (cheque) fer $1.50. Piease enter subscription for National Affairs Monthly for (Please Print) Please send me Free of Charge BOOK NO.