Thank you for correcting the text in this article. Your corrections improve Papers Past searches for everyone. See the latest corrections.

This article contains searchable text which was automatically generated and may contain errors. Join the community and correct any errors you spot to help us improve Papers Past.

Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image

WAR TRAINS

A JOURNEY IN FRANCE.

(By "J.Gr.T.," in tho "Daily Mail.") "Homines 40, Chevaux (en long) 8," These aro familiar words to tho British soldier in Franco. When ho travels by train it is almost invariably in box trucks, bearing this legend. Only on one occasion do I recollect having the doubtful fortune to ride in a third-class carriage. They packed us in—rifles, equipment, and all—fivo a 6ide. Tho seats were of bare wood and divided by two partitions. Tho contro space was ample for two but insufficient- for three. Tho outside spaces were roomy tor ono but impossible for two. Consequently one unfortunate from each sido ot the carriage had to sit on the floor, with his back against the door and tho feet of the remainder on his legs. I had this honour, and on the whole I prefer tho box trucks. If your truck has its full complement of forty bulky warriors it is a pretty tight squeeze. In comparison a 6ardlno tin offers room to turn round and kick. But if you are' fortunate nnd are only thirty strong, a journey on a French railway can be quite enjoyable Such a journey usually runs into davs. for French trains never hurry. On one , occasion wo took three days and niglits •to travel 90 miles. The train' will Tattle along merrily at quite ten miles an hour. -Then, miles away from anywhero nnd for no apparent reason, it stops and stands on tho metals, sometimes for hours on end. All of a sudden it is of! again for. another half-hour spurt, followed by another prolonged halt. And 'so on until, seemingly more by luck than intent, the train at longth meanders up to its destination. Sleeping in ono of these trains is an exciting experience. For it to 'io possible at all, carcful arrangement is necessary. Packs aro placed at oqual distances along each side of tho truck. The end man on ono sido lies down first, followed by tho man opposite, whoso' feet overlap those of the former. Number Two on tho original side than, lies down, with his feet overlapping those of Number Ono opposite. This is continued all the way down the truck until tho feet of each sido aro dovetailed one with tho other. In this way only is anything liko a full-length stretch possible. By any other method you constantly find a pair of boots on your head and someone lying right across your chest. During tho day tilings are not quite so crowded. If tho weather is f)ne the si;d-ing-doors on either side aro pushed well back aud you can sit on the floor with your, legs dangling over the line and enjoy the scenery. Some daring spirits will climb on io the roof and there reolino at east. I did this once, and the train rounded a curve and revealed a tunnel barely fifty yards ahead. There was no time to descend, nnd tho only ' thing to do was to lio flat on my lace . and pray that the roof was high enough to clear me. It was a very sooty and half-smothered infantryman" who'came out of tho other end of that tunnel. -After that. I never climbed higher than the brakeman's seat, to to found n.t tho end of many trucks. On a train journey you usually feed on "bully" and biscuits. A sinVffly of tea and sugar for the truck is also'carried. Tlie engine-driver will always fill your mess-tin with hot water, but as this is ikt bfijliiiir. V.he rosnitnr.; inn is. to put. it mildly, rather weak. Tho best plan is to wait until one of the frequent ■stoppages and build a lire at tho side of the line. The water for tho whole truck •is then boiled in an empty biscuit tin. •The train usually stnrts when thp v water is just sotting warm, and you liave n strenuous five minutes running alongsido 'your truck with tlie hot tin. When, with tho loss of half its contents, ''the fin is on board and you have scrambled after it, tho train stops once inorc, and you have to make another'fire. But in spite of all these little inconveniences a journov by I rain is regarded by the men as a very pleasant relief after months of trench duty. - And if you are rather tightly oacked you can always get out and run by tho sido of the train .when you want to stretch your legs.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DOM19180613.2.29

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 227, 13 June 1918, Page 5

Word count
Tapeke kupu
749

WAR TRAINS Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 227, 13 June 1918, Page 5

WAR TRAINS Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 227, 13 June 1918, Page 5

Help

Log in or create a Papers Past website account

Use your Papers Past website account to correct newspaper text.

By creating and using this account you agree to our terms of use.

Log in with RealMe®

If you’ve used a RealMe login somewhere else, you can use it here too. If you don’t already have a username and password, just click Log in and you can choose to create one.


Log in again to continue your work

Your session has expired.

Log in again with RealMe®


Alert