TWO "AUSSIES."

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 23 October 1919, Page 4

TWO "AUSSIES."

At one time most of the A.I.F. were quartered in front of Amiens. Nearly all the French civilians hsd left their homes as they stood, poultry and cattle included, and our boys were doing well for food. One battalion was holding a reserve line consisting of morn or less isolated posts, each containing 15 diggers. They were all well dug in. About 10 yards away fiom each post, tied to a stake, and also well dug in, was a cow. Later on Authority decreed that all cattle were to be mustered in a cential spot for repatriation. Our dugout was quite close to the rallying point, and about lunch time I sauntered down with a billy. Hopping the fence I applied the usual methods to several cows without result. The casual Digger in charge walked across. "Leave tho poor blankers alono," he said ; '* they've been milked seven times to-day already." Fuel was often \ery scarce iv France. During the worst winter on the Somrae several of us were shoring a one-roomed mansion near Bernafait. Everything that would burn had been sacrificed, and wo were sorrowfully regarding an empty brn/ior when my batiran came in shiTering. "jL tot of rum," he chattered, " might buy a few lumps of coal from a Tommy driver on the railway." A cupful was measured out, and away he went. Half an hour later lie staggered in with two large sacks of coal. We rose at him. "Do you mean to Sfiy you got all that for one cup of rum ?" His answer was definite. " Strowth, if ye'd only given me another spoonful I'd have brought you the engine !"—Sydney Bulletin.