Without- Troops in Samoa.

Huntly Press and District Gazette, Volume 4, 22 January 1915, Page 3

Without- Troops in Samoa.

. The following are extracts from a letter of Mr Dick Robinson, son of Mr Thus. Robinson of Extended St., who is in Samoa with the First Contingent. Describing the life of cur soldiers he says “ Thirty of our platoon have been down to the water front on ! picket duty. I was amongst ; them, and for three weeks we had a great time. Our quarters are only about a chain from the water’s edge. Eacli platoon takes a turn. It is a holiday for the men and is quite a change from ordinary camp life. While,.on picket.duty we have practically nothing to do, being on gu ird only every fourth night, and Having only one hour’s drill a day-, that is, physical drill from six to seven in the morning. We are then finished for the day, and spend the rest of our time in swimming, rowing and play cricket. We often swim out to the vessels lying in the harbour, there being always a few Yankee vessels in port. We had a good Christmas. We had a three course dinner, starting with ham, poultry, puis, new potatoes and pumpkin, then plum duff, and winding up with a lovely fruit salad, and all hands had cake for tea. Every man on the Island received a parcel at Christmas from The Countess of Liverpool Fund, containing tinned fruit, paste, peas, cake, chocolate and pudding. On Christmas Eve a party of us went out, singing, to the houses of the British residents of the Town, and they treated us very well, especially the British Consul. The American Consul gave us a cake and a few bottles of port wine. A few weeks ago a party of us made a trip to the Wireless Station. It is about seven miles from our camp, but is well worth going too see. It is a grand sight. On our way we passed through miles of cocoa, rubber, and pineapple plantations.. On arriving at the Station, we went straight to the top of the pole, which is four hundred and eighty feet high. There is a splendid view from the top. You can see tho Island of Lavau and very nearly the whale of this Island. As we were nearing the top, a

terrible thunderstorm came up, and at times the lightning was pretty bad. We were a bit shaky at times, but /tuck to it, and went right to the top. It took us twenty-five minutes to ascend, but we came down much quicker. The pole appears a terrible height from Hie ground. A lot go out with the intention of climbing it, but never tackle it. In fact, I was not too keen on it at first. Two of the hoys who went with us only got to the hundred foot landing, and there turned it up. It is a great sight to see the mass of wires, which covers an area of forty acres. After leaving the Station we went to Popascla, which is a

sliding rock with about twenty feet of a fall. The water has worn the rock as smooth as glass. We we,nt. over, clothes and all, as we were wet to the skin, and did not like the idea of stripping. On our way back we lost our way and went about five miles out of our course, ending up in a pineapple plantation. We had as many os 'wo could eat and the natives then put ns on our right track. We walked thirty miles that d iy. The sun had dried our clothes and with the dust from the roads caked on us, we felt awful, but we were so tired, we tumbled straight into bed and next day had to g> ort a route march, and came to the conclusion that soldiering was rto good, but wo soon got over it. Everybody here is getting very restless and tired of Samoa. Most of the men want to go further afield. When volunteers to r t.i v till the war was over wore called for only about fifty responded. Tho general opinion is tb Two will bo leaving soon for Now Zealand and afterwards for Egypt. There was great excitement here when we hoard of the British victory off the Falkland Islands. Wo worn just turning in when the nows came, and the men went practically mad fora while. Eventually tho hand turned out and we marched round the town to celebrate tho event.