IN THE TRENCHES IN FRANCE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2793, 10 June 1916, Page 11

IN THE TRENCHES IN FRANCE

BY MAJOR SLEEMAN. At the request of the Victoria League, Major Sleoman gave' a most interesting talk to members and their, friends in the Jlasonic ll'all last evening, dealing with the conditions that faced the British Forces in Franco in the earlier stages of the war, and certain developments of tho methods of lighting that havo evolved sinco that time. Their Excellencies the Governor and tho Countess of Liverpool, with a party from Government House, were present, and the Mayor, Ml'. J. P. Luke, presided. ■In beginning his talk, Major Sleeman paid a tribute to the great soldier whom •the nation had so suddenly lost, and said that he had passed away as a soldier always wished to pass—doing his duty. It had been suggested that perhaps it would havo been advisable to postpone the lecture on account of that loss, but to his mind this was not a time for putting oft" anything. It was for us to go through with everything that we had. to do, and more than once in the course of his lecture tho speaker enipliasised the fact that it was for us to be optimistic, and that we had good reason to be optimistic.

At' the outbreak of war the First and Second. Divisions, stationed at Aldershot, were the first to bo hurried over ■ to France, and it was with tho First Division that' Major Sleeman went. If members, of the audience were expecting to hear thrilling accounts of ono of .the greatest and most memorable stands ever made iu British warfare, they would have been doomed to disappointment, as it was with its practical side, and that put . into its most practical and businesslike terms, that the lecturer dealt, and dealt with in a way that completely absorbed attention. •

The British Forces, tile lecturer explained, had been trained to. the offensive, but, as all the world knows, they were enormously outnumbered, and had to light on the defensive, often retiring. Entrenchment, as it is now understood, was not then familiar to the British, but gradually, ■ owing to the force of circumstances, it developed, and now although the Germans had forscen this war and had worked and planned for it for many years, the British trenches were superior to theirs. As au instance of the'thoroughness of Gorman organisation and foresight; Major Sleeman pointed to the fact that although the Germans had been certain of marching to Paris, tlicy had made trenches ready for their retirement on the other side ot tho Aisjie, should; such. an. event occur. As it Happened, it did occur, and trench warfare, liko other things, underwent a course of evolution. The description of the German and British trehclies, although illustrated by maps showing these differences, was somewhat bewilderingly technical upon first acquaintance. The British trenches were in the earlier stages of tho war separated from each other by much wider distances than were the German trenches, •tho reason for . that being that tho Germans were in such . superior numbers. The system of relieving tho men in tho trenches bow in use was described. A battalion' would be four days there, and. then retired .into the rear, perhaps about two miles or so, where for another four days they would be very nearly safe; then back again to tho trenches for four moro days, then back again a further distance, whoro they would remain for about eight days. Then after another, spell of four days in the front trenches, /they would be sent away back for about fifteen miles, where they would bo quite safe and away from many of,the sights and soukds of war, to sports, games, concerts for perhaps two or three months, and all kinds of pleasant things were provided for their , amusement, . and everything was done to try and take their minds off tho war and its strain. _ It was altogether a different thing, in this way, from the trench warfaro that ihad been experienced in'Gallipoli, where tho men wero never away from tho "incessant sound of tho guns, and were continually under fire. Major Sleeman emphasised the faot that the men were full of spirit, were excellently fed, their food being tho same as that of tho officers, and wero in every way thoroughly well looked after. Ho paid a warm tribute to the courago of the soldiers, every battalion and every man fighting as well as any other. There was nothing to distinguish between them, arid he had 1 never seen a caso of funk. ANTiat'the men w;ould objoct to was'bqing underfed. Tho system ■of getting the wounded away from the trenches to the motor ambulance and away to the hospitals was described, and" tho splenditj work of the Medical Service in Franco was most warmly eulogised. "They played the gaino" in every way, and wore nover deterred from their work, no matter how heavy tho firing. ■ Major Sleeman said that thero was very little danger to be apprehended from gas attacks. They very seldom accounted for casualties now, so well wero tho troops protected. Ho instanced a case where, out of one thousand men who wore in a gas attack lasting, for six hours, only two were gassed," and they recovered. Beforo concluding his lecture, Major Sleeman assured his hearers that the men who had gone away from Now. Zealand would, in common with thoso who had gone from other countries, bo well looked after, aud that everything possible would be dono for them. Tho great thing which people had to do was to keep up their spirits. While .he could not Bay ihow long tho war v;oifld last, ho was most confident that wo had turned the corner, and that great developments would soon be occurring. ; In answering a question as to what it was advisable to send to tho men in France, ho advised socks, sweets, chocolates, tobacco. What was sent had to bo thought of in relation to what a man_ could carry, as he had to take everything about with him. The man in tho trenches became a child after a while, w;here sweets were concerned, and could not have enough of . them. Vests and things like that .ho discouraged all thought of, and instanced a case whero a soldier 6tuffed : a'bag full of mittens and slept upon them; That was'all tho use lie had for them.

. A hearty vote of thanks for a most inter;'a.iid /-instructive lecture, proposed by Mr. Luke, and seconded .'by/Mr." C. B. Borisori, yvus passed, .witli- acclamation.

Wrinldea'aro caused by the ever-chang-ing 'movements 'of the muscles in the face. •It is foolish to assume • that' face massage is, unecessary, 'it' is absolutely essential; and for this purpose Miss';Milfom 'has 'issued her revised set of instructions for the proper massage "of the face and neck. All inquiries invited relating to the proper treatment of the hair nnd skin. Immediate replies strictly confidential. . Write for complete outfits for dry, greasy, grey and faded hair. Culteno prices as usual: The Skin 35.; The Balm, 3s. 6d.; Parisian Lip l'ood ("Levrelene" Eeg.), 2s. Gd. Miss Milsom,- 94 Willis Street (1 doors past "Evening Post"). Telephone 814—Advt.

Mr. John v Kedmond ' has' presented a full set of Irish pipes to tho Irish Guards The death is announced of. Grace, wife of the Rev., S. Baring-Gould, the author.