SOLDIERS' CHRISTMAS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2637, 7 December 1915, Page 6

SOLDIERS' CHRISTMAS

ENGINEERS. AT MAY MORN . SETTLING DOWN AT RANGIOTU The question of how Christmas Day is to be spent by the soldiers in camp is one which is engaging the attention of the soldiers in camp and of their friends. An idea that many of them will be' given extra, leave has gained ground. . But there is no possibility of that occurring, except in the case of the 3rd and 4th Battalions of the Uiflo Brigade, the men of which will bo oil their extended leavo from December 23' till January 2. The Ninth will be at Trentham, so busily engaged in their musketry training that some doubt has been felt by the Camp Commandant, Colonel H. R. Potter, as to whether they will bo able to have even Christmas Day olf duty. The Eleventh Reinforcements will be at May Morn, and the Tenth at Tauherenikau. It is expected that leave for the day will be granted to' the men of these ' forces, though the Ninth can ill spare the time from their musketry course. An Auckland Suggestion. The Auckland Patriotic Society wrote to Colonel Potter a few days ago,'asking him if it could do anything in the way of providing Christmas cheer for' the men in camp. The Commandant has replied ,thanking the society's members for their thoughtfulness,' and accepting their offer. At the same time it may be pointed out that it is a large order to provide a Christmas dinner for a camp of the size of Trentham. It was done last year by the people of Wellington, and many of tho generous donors received a shock at the speedy I way m which the good things vanished. Colonel Potter has expressed his • approval of a suggestion made recently, that as many householders as possible 'should invite one or two men to their homes on Christmas Day;.or entertain them at that meal at an hotel. ' In this way the whole of the men at Trentham and May Morn, except those with homes in Wellington, would become tho guests of citizens. The soldiers .at Tauherenikau are to be the recipients of Christmas cheer ■ from the people of Featherston and. Greytown. Bridge-builders at May Morn. The camp at May Morn, recently vacated by- the rifle battalions, is undergoing a general' clean-up, fatigue parties being' engaged in that work, and also in effecting minor repairs and improvement. .Good work is being put in by a party of Engineers, who are rebuilding'a bridge on the main road, near the camp. The Camp Commandant at Trentham • informed the Hutt County Council that if it would supply the timber the Engineers would build a new bridge across the stream just outside the camp. The offer was'accepted, and the work, which is .nearly completed, is 'being done in first-class style, while the. men are having some good practice, this being the idea which. prompted Colonel Potter in making his offer. Extra Leave for Tenth.

■ The Tenth Reinforcements continue to maintain their high reputation for good behaviour when on leave,-and ; as a consequence, they- -are being given extra leave to visit the City.' After last pay day the Tenths had general leave fbr the evening, and out of over 2000 men there was not one case of "crime," to ■use the word in its military 6ense. This was a remarkable performance, but the Tenths aro living up to it. Proof of' this was conveyed to tho Camp Commandant yesterday by the ! General Manager for Railways, Colonel Hiley, who said he wished to compliment the .Tenth on their excellent behaviour while travelling oh the -trains to and from camp. The railway officials had reported that no troublo whatever had been caused, by any of the men of the Tenth. It is as a reward for-this good behaviour, that the men are to be granted extra leave.

Settling Down at Ranglotu. After!; their all-night run from May Mora to Rangiotn last Wednesday, the 3rd 'arid -Ith Battalions of the Rifle Brigade, under Colonel S. V. Smythe, are settling down in their new quarters. General satisfaction is expressed by officers and'men with the clean, dry condition of .the camp, and also with the excellent facilities the ground offers for training purposes. The' citizens of Palriierston North have extended'to the nien a warm welcome, and like that offered to the men' at Tauherenikau by the residents of Featherston and Greytown, their hospitality is greatly appreciated by the soldiers when visiting the town'. On Sundays the compliment is returned, many civilians visiting the camp.