One shilling will give a man 150 cigarettes

 

It is obvious from the letters from our soldiers at the front, which have appeared in the public press, that the most prized of all gifts from home are cigarettes. Unobtainable out there, these comforts, in which the soldier seeks to find relaxation after the strain of the fight, and even during it, have become almost priceless treasures. It seems a great pity that our men, who are fighting so bravely should be denied what can be sent to them in abundance at little cost. The only, we are sure, which is required to ensure such a supply is to bring home to the public how easily they can assist in keeping Tommy Atkins supplied. It has been suggested that each county might very well keep the men of its own regiment supplied with tobacco and cigarettes, and the assistance of the press has been asked in making known how this can be done. We may point out that special arrangements have been made whereby cigarettes and tobacco sent to the Army in the fighting line can be supplied free of duty and free of postage, and hence the public can get them for this purpose at a greatly reduced cost, and consequently be able to send more for their money. They must, however, be sent through a recognised tobacco dealer, and must be for the fighting force, and not for any regiment at home.

 

We therefore appeal to Banbury to help keep the men of the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry supplied with cigarettes. They can do so as follows:

 

Miss. A. M. Phillips of 19, High Street, Banbury, has made an arrangement with Messrs. Wills for cigarettes and tobacco ordered through her to be dispatched direct to the troops named by the subscribers.

 

She asks for subscriptions of any amount to enable her to order consignments to be sent to the Oxfordshire regiment.

 

A subscription of 1s. will send a packet of 150 cigarettes to the regiment; of 3s. 6d. a packet of 500, and so on, a subscription of £1 sending 3,000 cigarettes to the regiment.

 

In the case of tobacco, packets of two pounds will go duty free, and subscriptions can be accepted for tobacco instead of cigarettes.

 

Although primarily intended for the Oxfordshire regiment, subscribers interested in other regiments at the front can request that their money be spent on cigarettes or tobacco for the regiment they may name.

 

Friends wishing to send presents of cigarettes or tobacco to relatives or acquaintances in the fighting line can request that their subscriptions be spent on a packet to be addressed individually to the soldier named, but must supply the regimental number, rank, and name of the soldier, and the regiment to which he belongs.

 

Although Miss. Phillips only commenced this arrangement this week, she was able yesterday to send 6,000 cigarettes to the front for the Oxfordshire and Bucks Light Infantry.