THE CHEERFUL LIFT

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 306, 14 September 1918, Page 9

THE CHEERFUL LIFT

ON THE HIGHWAY BEHIND THE LINES (By Major C. J. O. Street, 'R.G.A!, author of "With tho Guns.") If necessity bo the mother of invention, war is certainly the mother of improvisation. France is full of pcoplo who are making things do, verv successfully for the most part. Economy is of vital importance, economy of time, men, and materials. In the front line economy is not easy to practise, but in the back areas it is capable of being roduced. to an exact scionce. For instance, there are many oeoplo in theso back areas whose duties involve their getting about from placo to placo as rapidly as possible To givo each of thoso his own means of transport would be prohibitive. The railways are not convenient for c&sual passengers, there are no convenient bus services along the busy w.ads. Means of locomotion must bo improvised, and very successfully this system of improvisation works. It is typical of the spirit of fellowship that inspires the Allied armies that the occupants of any vehicle who have a seat vacant are always on the look-out to give a lift to anyone else on foot, are on errands ef extreme urgency.- From the general in his car to the driver of a heavy lorry all are ready to pick up anybody gang in their direction. . I had occasion to go the other day to a place some twenty miles away. .Wβ will call it Ville-en-Fraiice, not because that is its name, but becauso it looks more, picturesquo than an initial with a dash after it. Setting out was a remarkably simple matter. J simplv walked out of my billet, and started slowlv along the road that led towards Villc-en-France. 1. had not gone a hundred yards before I heard a car coming up behind me. I turned round, it was a French car, carrying, already a full complement of pasaen- . Hers. Tho driver slowed up, saluted courteously, and waved his hand over the back of the car.. His meaning was obvious, there was hardly room to put a pin among his load, let alone an additional passenger. With a regretful smile he passed on in a cloud of dust. But I had not long to wait. Closely following him was a miniature van, with an officer seated by the dnvoi e Hide. It stopped a.s it csme abreast oi me "Want a lift?" said the officer. "Yes, if you're going my way,','!-re-plied. "I'm hound for \ille-en-Franc'e." "I'm passing through'it, and 11 drop you Sire," lid the officer. "Jump in. you'll find some boxes you can sit ° This was luck. One does not expect to get a- lift, to take one. al the way I climbed into the back of th, van, made myself comfortable among the boxes of stores that, it held, and was soon at my destination. My business accomplished, it became - necessary to find means of gettin" back to my billet. Again I set out on foot, waiting for tho "dues tie machina" who should slow down ami pick me up- 'This time it happened to be the driver of an A.S.C lorry, laden above tho tail-board with mystenouslooking packages, but with the front seat vacant. The driver brought the lorry to a halt beside me. "Can I give you & lift, sir?" he shouted. Ha was not going the whole way, but would follow the road to a point about ten kilometres away before brandling off to his destination. On the principle that half a loaf is better than no bread, I accepted hig offer, and climbed up beside him. ■ • The front sea of,a lorry is a capital place to see the country from. A car travels too fast, its seats are often below the level of the hedfios; But a' lorry forges steadily ahead at not more than ten miles an hour, giving one plenty of time to notice the chkif features. Besides, one is high up, and nets a , better view. I thoroughly enjoyed my half-hour's ride. '■ ■ I parted from .th 6 lorry nt the crossroads, with many thanJcs for an enjoyable journey. • Almost as 1 did so, a hip car- swept past me, then drew up with much rattling of steel-studded tyres on the paved road. "Come right along in, there's plenty of room," called a voice through tho dust. ■ I ran up to the car, to find it laden ■with a party of American officers, who made room for me with eager hospitality: ' ' So I arrived at'my billet, having covered some thirty milos without walking more than, one of them.