WOODSTOCK BOY’S LETTER.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 May 1917, Page 3

WOODSTOCK BOY’S LETTER.

Private “Dick ” Wells, of Woodstock, writing on March 28,, in the course of a letter to hia brother, says: We all got parcels—beauties — irom the kids of the Woodstock School. Mine would have come in handy in Prance. I get too well fed here, so gave mine to Wib Willoughby. He’s leaving for Prance in about three weeks. His ankle is not too good either. Curiy Nancekivill is at Codford. I believe he has been crook. He has not yet had his draft leave,' so that we will be meeting later on. Prank Keenan is knocking about here somewhere too. He was also crook. We sent Watty Howat to hospital from here with bronchial trouble, etc. Most of the new men got crook after coming out of the tropics into the snow. Rotten weather here —sunny in the morning and snowing in the afternoon. Things are looking fairly bright as regards the war. The Russian revolution ought to make a big difference, also America.' Fritz is lobbing a few boats lately. Pancy catching the Rotorua. They had landed their passengers at Southampton, but of course were not satisfied and had to take the cargo to some other port (certainly Tata McGuinness). The old advance appears to be going ahead pretty well. The French are putting it in a treat. They are | massing men and guns all the way from Arras to Ypres. Can see some- ( thing doing there later on ; but can t ] see them taking Lille, only by attack- | ing on both sides. She’s too well t fortified. Such a death trap at Annentieres, being on low ground, ] with Pritz in possession of all' the ] hills, which are Btrongly fortified. , The Australians found this out last , July, when they took three lines of t trenches and then got mowed down j when they had to retire back to their original line, it being too hot in the l new positions. Our chaps are now ] in this seetor. They tell me that | there are still plenty of Australians hanging on the wire out in front. 1 Impossible to get them in. This is 1 where Sonny Compfort got killed. One of the boys told me he saw his t grave along there. *