[Illustration] DOING THEIR BIT DOING THEIR BIT WAR WORK AT HOME BY BOYD CABLE _Author of “Between the Lines,” “By Blow and Kiss,” etc._ WITH A PREFACE BY THE RIGHT HON. DAVID LLOYD GEORGE, M.P. _SECOND IMPRESSION_ HODDER AND STOUGHTON LONDON NEW YORK TORONTO MCMXVI _First printed May 1916._ _Reprinted May 1916._ PREFACE BY THE RT. HON. DAVID LLOYD GEORGE, M.P. I hope that Mr. Boyd Cable’s book will have a wide circulation, both amongst our troops who will learn from it how their comrades at home are doing “their bit,” and amongst the public who will learn from it how great is the industry and devotion of those who are supplying our armies with materials of war. D. LLOYD GEORGE. CONTENTS I PAGE WORD TO THE FRONT 9 II THE MUNITION MACHINE 22 III SUBLIME TO THE--SUBLIME! 38 IV SHELLS AND MORE SHELLS 52 V THE WOMEN 67 VI THE MASTER JOB 86 VII “THEIR BIT” 103 VIII THE GREAT “IF” 119 _It may be well to mention for the better understanding of references to dates, etc., that these chapters were written in December-January, 1915-16, although publication has been delayed for various reasons until now._ MAY, 1916. DOING THEIR BIT I WORD TO THE FRONT When I came here from the Front a couple of months ago I remember looking out from the train and thinking how quiet and normal and peaceful the country looked. Driving from the train through London, the street crowds, although flecked and tinged with khaki, appeared to be going busily or lazily about their ordinary business or laziness, the people were shopping, or walking, or driving in buses or taxis as if they personally had still no more than a newspaper interest in the war, as if fighting or munition-making were matters concerning a certain section of mankind altogether apart from the ordinary life of the country.