SLING CAMP.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1816, 20 April 1918, Page 3

SLING CAMP.

A local soldier boy sends ns (lie following on n printed slip. lie remarks: “It’s just like being' at home!’’ There’s an isolated, desolated spot I’d like to mention, Where all you hear is “Stand at ease,” Quick march,” “Slope arms,” “Attention.” It’s miles away from anywhere, by gad, it is a rnni-im, A chap lived (here for fifty years and never saw a woman. Lois of liny lillle bills are doited here and (here, For lliose who have (o live inside, I’ve offered many a prayer; Inside the huts there’s rats as big as any nanny goat, Last night a soldier saw one trying on bis overcoat. It’s “sludge,” up (o the eye-brows, yon get it in your ears, But into it you've got to go, without; a sign of fear, And when you’ve bad a hath of sludge, you jus! set to and groom, And gel cleaned up for next parade, or else its “Orderly Boom.” Week in, week out. from morn till night, with full Pack and a Bide, Like .lack and dill, you climb the hills, of course (hat’s just a trifle. “Slope arms,” Fix bayonets,” then “Present,” they fairly put you through it, And as you stagger to your hut, the Sergeant shouts, “Jump to it.” With tunics, boots and putties off, you quickly get the habit, You gallop up and down the hills just like a blooming rabbit. “Heads backward bend,” “Anns upward stretch,” “Heels raise,” then “Ranks, change places,” And later on they make you put your kneecaps where your face is. When this war is over, and we’ve , captured Kaiser Billy, To shoot him would lie merciful, and absolutely silly; Just send him down to SLING, amongst the mud and clay, I’ll bet it won’t be long before ho droops and fades away. BUT WE’BE NOT DOWNHEART- ' ED YET!