The War Savings Committee has borne down hard on the drinking evil and
England's enormous yearly outlay for liquor--nearly a billion
dollars--is used as a telling argument for thrift. A poster and a
pamphlet that you see on all sides is headed, "THE NATION'S DRINK BILL,"
and reads:

"The National War Savings Committee calls attention to the fact that the
sum now being spent by the Nation on alcoholic liquors is estimated at

L182,000,000 a year.

"And appeals earnestly for an immediate and substantial reduction of
this expenditure in view of the urgent and increasing need for economy
in all departments of the Nation's life.

"Obviously, in the present national emergency a daily expenditure of
practically L500,000 on spirits, wine and beer cannot be justified on
the ground of necessity. This expenditure, therefore, like every other
form and degree of expenditure beyond what is required to maintain
health and efficiency is directly injurious to national interests.

"Much of the money spent on alcohol could be saved. Even more important
would be (1) the saving for more useful purposes of large quantities of
barley, rice, maize and sugar; and (2) the setting free of much labour
urgently needed to meet the requirements of the Navy and the Army.

"To do without everything not essential to health and efficiency while
the war lasts is the truest patriotism."

Under the silent but none the less convincing plea of these posters,
backed up by millions of leaflets and booklets explaining every phase of
the Savings Campaign, the sale of Certificates rose steadily. From
906,000 in May they jumped to nearly 3,000,000 in June. But this was not
enough. "Let us make one big smash and see what happens," said the
Committee. Thereupon came the idea for a War Savings Week, which was to
be a notable rallying of all the Forces of Thrift and Saving.

No grand assault on any of the actual battle fronts was worked out with
greater care or more elaborate attention to detail than this Savings
Drive. No loophole to register was overlooked. It was planned to begin
the work on Sunday, July 16th.

First of all, the resources of the Church were mobilised. A Thrift
sermon was preached that Sunday morning in nearly every religious
edifice in the Kingdom. Following its rule to leave nothing to chance,
the War Savings Committee prepared a special book of notes and texts for
sermons which was sent to Minister, Leaders o