FROM THE TRENCHES.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 25 May 1916, Page 3

FROM THE TRENCHES.

A LETTER from some part of the western front to friends in Helensville, says:—

"We are now having some beautiful weather, though it snowed again yesterdey (March 24), which makes conditions somewhat bad for us. Hope for a change, and the sooner the roads get good the better chance ws shall have of beating our enemies. Everything at present is very quiet on our front, and none of us are feeling too good to-day, as we were inoculated yesterday against fever, and it makes one feel very ill for a short time afterwards."

Priyate W. Downer (who has since died of pneumonia). in writing to his parents at Helensville, stated :—" We are having a very slow time of it here, but had a good deal of fighting on Jannary 23rd, and gave the enemy a good doing, their losses being about 300 killed, and ours were very small. . . .

We buried, spme Indians who were killed in the last fight; but the enemy found the graves about a week afterwards, and dug up the bokies to take the uniforms off; we had the job of burying them again. Andy Mcßrige has had bad luck, having had the back of his hand split open with an axe. His mate was chopping wood ,for the cook when the head of the axe flew off and struck him. He is just about alright again now, I am getting; sick qf this sort of life, and will be very pleased to get back again for a gQod feed, and a decent bed, I have had no seriqus illness ; but I don't think I will be able to stand the heat in the summer, as it is, hot enough now during the day, but it is very cold at night, , , , , I did

not get my three weeks' instruction at the machine-gun school, but I managed to get one week in, and then had to pack up and go with the battalion. , . .

That is all the news I have for the

present."