WHERE NO HATE IS

Hokitika Guardian, 12 May 1917, Page 3

WHERE NO HATE IS

(By Captain A. W. Bird, in tho Melbourne “ Aigue.”) Cramp! A high explosive shell alights, not exactly o.s the top of the dag-out. bat suffiuienHy near it. to briog dowsi a shower of sand, half burying the men on the stretchers. For this dug-out is a British advanced dressing Btatioo. For the third time that afternoon the medical offieer and his three orderlies clear away'the debris.

The Boche seems to think that we are of great military value, by the way he keeps shelling us,” says the M.O, “ It’s lucky we’re safely buried down here.” He does not think that they are at all safely buried, but he thinks it well to say so. A couple of stretcher-bearers, their steel helmets on their heads, stumble down into the low dug-out with their stretcher. “An officer, sir.- Shrapnel wound, right log, severe.” “ Pat him down here,” says the M.O. He examines the wound, and replaces the dressing, hastily applied by the stretcher-bearers, with a larger one. It is evident that the foot must he amputated, and he feels a pang of sorrow for this lad, who does not look more than one and twenty. “ Have a cigarette ? ” he says. “ Thank you.” “ Get something over that leg to protect it in case the roof falls in again,” says the M.O to an orderly. The latter improvises a “ cage ” with a couple of short boards. He is just in time, for there is a terrific explosion, and for a moment they all think that their dug-out has been demolished. But the main roof has held, though mere sand ha 3 covered the patients and the entrance is aimost completely blocked. The patients are excavated again. The officer's leg has been saved from further damage by the improvised cage, Then the entrance has befreed.

The M.O. prays for darkness, when be can evacuate his wounded, At length darkness comes, without further adventure,for the German gunners have altered their target. A motor ambulance has crept np a sunken road to within a hundred yards of the advanced dressing station, and the wounded, . including the cfficer with the damaged leg, are carried to it. “ Right away.” The caiy bumps off into tbe night. No lights must be shown, and the road has suffered severely from shells. Bat

the driver has reconnoitred it by daylight, and steers a skilful course. A German shell rnmblea over their heads aud pitches 50 yards ahead of them. “I sha’nt mind getting this lot safely .home,” says tbe driver to tbe reserve driver who sits beside hiir. The shell has fallen at the side of the road, and they skirt the rev shellhole, the outside wheel not six ia.c l es from she ditch. Auother quarter o f a mile, and they pub up befot’B what has once hesu a cba l er>u A large chateau, tro, with excellent-rooms, cellars,' aud these are new a field ambulance, “ What have you got ?'* asks a voice. “ Six liers ” The six ;< liers ” —thus styled to distinguish them from “eitte’s” are carried in. An M.O. comes and examines the officer ’s leg.

“ I’m afraid wo shall have to amputate,” be says. “All right” 1 We will do it here. It should be done at ones, and your friends are putting over such a heavy barrage that it will be better fo'r you to stay here tkaG to go bsok tc-night.” You will wonder at the words, “Your Friends,” for l find that I omitted to mention that, chough the officer speaks excellent E nglish, be is a Prussian officer, That is why I have called tbia “ Where No Hate I.”