BATTERED BY STORM

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2622, 18 November 1915, Page 6

BATTERED BY STORM

... . » —- MAYMORNCAMP MEN CHEERFUL,UNDEB DIFFICULTIES "Trentham Oarnp is proper camp, end the other two are only, make-shifts, that's how I look at it," a. soldier remarked to a civilian in a Wellington tram on Monday night, when the wind and rain were lashing the sodden streets. "In Trentham, this doesn't make any; impression, but in the other camps, it'll be a case of leaking tents ?nd flooded grounds, and tents bio mi down."

The soldier was rifjit, at any rate as regards May Morn. The camp got the full force of the wind and rain that Bight, and it was quickly a scene of mud and water, and flapping tents. In a good, many instances, the touts were either flooded or blown down, and t'he men were ordered to spend the rest of tho night in the timber mill near the camp. The nature of the surface soil at May Morn makes muddinoss unavoidable in wet weather. And it may 'bo mentioned that since the 3rd and '4th Battalions of the Rifle Brigade went into camp there, there has not been More than one day of continuous fine Weather. . At the same time,- the camp ■dries up given sunshine and wind.- ■ After the Rain. Yesterday morning, wlmn tho rain 4iad practically ceased and a southerly wind was blowing, tho camp had begun .to dry up. But it still presented a woofully muddy appearance and the men were slipping and slithering on tile greasy ground. Tent floors had been itilted by placing blocks under one edgo and many of the tents had been opened on both sides to let tho wind and sunshine in. The sunshine was hot while it Isstod and the smell of tho mud was in the air. But the men were cheerful enough, even when' they told the story of the day before, and of the previous night. The worst of the mud was in the part of the camp nearest the railway, where tho ground . is' fairly flat. Towards tho river and at the end where tho cookhouses and latrines are situated, and where the ground slopes more, there was not so much mud. At these places, too, a good deal of gravel has ■been laid, with excellent results. It is there that tho soak-pits are. Men Kept 1 Moving. While Monday night,was bad, Tuesday, was no better. No drill could be dono, and .tho men were happy enough in their tents, where they were resting and indulging in songs and ■ other musical amusements. Hut it appears that they were not allowed to remain' so. . At frequent intervals thoy were ordered to parade outside their tents, and then told to go into their tents again. / "It seemed like a desire to keep us on the jump all the time,'' said several of tho men, "and by degrees we got wet. Some of us havo only one pair of trousers and one pair of boots, -our civilian clothes having been sent home. So there we were. Towards evening a lot of us were splashing about the camp in overcoats and without trousers." , Tho matter of the dearth of boots was being remedied to a certain extent yesterday, extra boots being served out to gome of the men. ' . / Men Faini on Parade. The result of the cold wind- and rain was. that a large number of men were sent into hospital with colds and sore throats. On Tuesday night between 70 and 80 went in, their complaints being for the greater part of a mild nature. All the men were tired out and nervy from want of sleep, and the tiring' experiences they had passed through. Yesterday many were suffering from headaches, and at morning parade it is stated that about 15 fainted.' The morning sunshine was hot, and the strain of standing at ease for a time was too much for them, standing at ease •being quite a different thing from standing easy. • .

"They just fell down as though they Lad been shot," a soldier said, "and went as white as that tent. They got over it all right afterwards, and I reckon they were just played out and jiervy." Will Vacalo Camp. . The rifle battalions a"re to vacate May 'Morn Camp about December 3. Thei'o is a, rumour current, however, that a move may ,be made ! earlier. Against ..this, it must be said that the men aro to begiti their rifle shooting' at Trentham nest week,' proceeding to tho rifle range from Hay Morn every morning, and returning at night. While the health of the men has been good up till now, the fact that the cainp, needs a rest is apparent, and some uneasiness has bean occasioned by the appearance of an oye trouble of a mild nature among the men. A few days ago every man in camp was paraded, including the cooks, and their eyes were inspected, with the result that conns were found to bo suffering from an , sye complaint. 1 Supply of Uniforms. There has been some discontent among the men over their uniforms. .They were a mouth in camp before any uniforms arrived. 1 When they did arrive,; some were ouch bad. fits that they had to be returned, and-' until these were redelivered at the camp , Jiono of the men were allowed to wear their uniforms. When they had their first leave in tho City, .they .came to town in their denims, , and wore overcoats to liide thpm.' The uniforms themselves are not thought much of ■ by many of the men. One tunie, which, it was stated, was one of many, had brown sliiny buttons down the front and black buttons on 'the pockets, while the same man's overcoat nad grey buttons. The shoulder-straps of the tunic , wero most uneven, giving a slovenly olfect, and the sewing was rough. The buttons for a rifleman's uniform should bo a dull black colour, and the men claim that their uniform should fit them and feok smart. In spite of these troubles, tho troops at May Morn are willing and cheerful, and are making excellent progress with their training, end they hold iheir officers in high esteom. Yet thore is no gainsaying tlio fact tliat they are resentful ,of certain filings.