“A shocking case of men suffering from being exposed in open boats in mid-winter was made known by the authorities in January, 1917. The British S.S. ‘Artist,’ when 48 miles from land, in a heavy easterly gale, was torpedoed. In response to her appeal sent by wireless, ‘S.O.S. sinking quickly!’ auxiliary Patrol craft proceeded to the spot, and searched the vicinity, but found no trace of the vessel or her survivors.
Three days later the steamship ‘Luchana’ picked up a boat containing sixteen of the survivors. The boat had originally contained twenty-three, but seven had died of wounds and exposure, and were buried at sea. The surviving sixteen were landed, abed of these, five were suffering from severe frost-bite and one from a broken arm.” ― ‘TIMES HISTORY OF THE WAR.”
What a terrible tale of disaster and suffering is this! — truly one of the horrors of war!
These sixteen men were for three days in this open book, in the grip of the gale in mid-winter, leaving their seven dead comrades behind them as they went. They were lost upon the mighty deep, the cold water washing them, the icy blast benumbing them. Eagerly they looked for land or for a ship to rescue them, and, by and by, when the Luchana came it must have seemed to them as if their rescuers were from Angels from heaven. And at home in England these men had mothers or wives and children waiting-for them. Many a prayer went up from trembling lips. “God send him safely home.”
The “S.O.S.” (“Save our souls”) went out through the air and brought them deliverance. This wireless message sped upon its unseen way, and did its blessed work for them. And so how beautiful to know that from stormy deep, and fire-swept trench, and lonely battlefield, the cry of distressed souls reaches the throne of God in heaven. “Save our souls!” — the eager cry rings out from men face to face with death, and God hears and answers. Wherever there is a seeking soul there is a seeking Saviour. Wherever a man breathes his penitence upon the winds of God it is borne to His throne, and the answer of deliverance comes. I am sure that thousands have been saved upon the battlefields, and that God has answered every cry of penitence and call of faith that came from lips of men who felt their need.
But what of us in Christian England safe in our comfortable homes? Do we hear the agonizing cry? Do we recognize the awful need of millions now? We cannot save them, but we can send them a Testament to tell them of the Saviour. We have our work to do at home for them, and God will surely hold us guilty if we do not help to send them His precious Word.
I am printing the following letters, which will speak more eloquently than I can of the need, the daily pressing need, of these immortal souls. Read them carefully, weigh them well, and ask God what you shall do to help them in their need.