SPORT AT THE FRONT.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 249, 9 February 1917, Page 4 (Supplement)

SPORT AT THE FRONT.

It is not by any moans " all work and no play" at the front. Even within s : glit and sound, oc the firing-lino itself there are occasional intervals of leisure. These, as may be imagined, are put to good' use by a.l ranks, both officers and men. If our troops light well, they also play well. This is what keeps them so admirably fit after long months of exhausting wor'", Practically every form of out-door sport 'is assiduously followed by our men in Franco and Flanders. There seems to bp only one solitary exception viz., golf. But this is because all the courses in tho strategical area are either cut up bv trenches or else serve as sites for field hospitals and base camps. Still, golf cannot be missed much, since there arc abundant facilities for cricket and football, not to mention boating and swimming, together w : th raco meetings, gymkhanas, horse shows, and the like. Perhaps thoi simplest sporting nxturo to arrange is an athletic meeting, with a. general programme wliicji includes a large variety of events. So far as possible the management is left to the men themselves, but two or tine officers aro always on the committee. A prize fund is also put up by the commissiored ranks, and a liberal grant .9 probably forthcoming from the surplus profits of the field force canteen. A tug-of-war is always a feature of garrison or regimental sports at the front. The contests arc inter-regimental and inter-company, and sometimes Officers v. N.0.0.s or Married v. Single. Sack races, obstacle races, sprinting, and jumping also figure in the programme, and in addition there are probably two or three events tor the villagers who assemble in force to watch " LeiT Anglais." Party feeling among them runs high, and the respective champions of the different 'communes almost come to blows when the decision happens to bo against them. However, a. bottl'o of red wine and a cigarette in the nearest cafe soon restores harmony. Jean and Pierre then shake hands they also prooably kiss one another- and swear eternal friciidslrp.

It is only when the locale happens to hb a base camp that the onlookers at a raco meeting, gymnkltann, or football match, and tho .ike, arc likely to include any civilians. Even then the proportion is very small. Everywhere else tho spectators* are entirely military, and •f any ladies grace tiie assemblage they are certain to belong to the Army Nursing Service. But, for AI th at, the "gate" is not necessarily British throughout, since it is sure to include a number of French and Belgian officers and men.

Our gallant Allies take the greatest possible interest m any sporting fixture arranged by their British confreres, and turn up by the hundred to watcn it. This lends additional picturescpteness to the scene, since it brings out every variety of uniform. Mingling with tho universal khaki on such occasions arc light blue frogged tunics, Zouave jackets, crimson overalls, laced kepis, plumed helmets, and turbans and fezzes belonging to white faces, brown faces, yellowfaces, and black faces. The peasants and villagers from the district are immensely interested in the proceedings, and shout " Lop-peep coray" with all the strength of their lungs. Judging from their private comments, it is a never-ceasing wonder tc them that our troops sho mid! have the energy to run races and otherwise exeiciso themselves when not actually compelled to do so. But there are a great many things about tho British soldier in France that —despite his long sojourn among them —the French villagers do not understaned. "Qu'ils son droles. ces Anglais!" they declare admiringly. A race meeting actually under fire has a distinctly novel sound. Still, it is a common enough experience of the present campaign; and many such have ■ben successfully held during tho last few months. There is nothing elaborate about the preparations. A fine afternoon and a couple of hours' comparative freecjom from the. attentions M the " Bodies" suffice for tho purpose. Tho grand stand is a stack of biscuit boxes or tho top of a motor-lorry, and rings and enclosures do not oxist. Nor are there facilities for making a "book" or backing one's fancy.

Liko a race meeting, a gymkhana amid the roar of an enemy's guns and with hostile aircraft circling overhead, .strikes a curious note- But plenty ol them are lie front. The Hun is not a sportsman, and lie would just as soon drop a bomb on the competitors at such tinier as he would on a church. Anyway, it has happened often enough. ' Tcujours ils ont l'audaeo, cos vilains Uoches!" doclare the French; and they are not far wrong.

The cavalry and remount camps, of which a great many have been established in different parts of France, are usually pitched in the grounds of a farm or a country house. Most of them are eharnrngly situated amid apple orchards and meadows, with comfortable quarters for men and horses. After a spell in tno droitry trenches, or the leaky barns and stables of the average billt, life in such surroundings offers welcome amenities. Before the troops have settled down in their quarters totally length of time they are certain to get, up a horse show These are thoroughly enjoyable functions, and the different events on the programme always evoke keen competition. As a general rule devotees of cricket and football have to depend upon themselves for an opposing team. When, however, they happen to he quartered at a ha so it is often possible to arrange a match with the French members of the garrison. These often put up a good game, for t'ne poiltis have quite taken to "! 0 footbal." Many such matches are played at Havre, where there is a field i eserved for the purpose dose to on© of the camps. Fishermen at toe front sometimes, but not often, have a chance of exer~ cising their skill. Well-stocked trout streams are fairly common in certain parts of the country, and numerous ponds and canals yieid plenty of coarse fish. Occasionally, however, the catch resolves itself into a. pair of o'-d boots or an abandoned tin of "bully" that lias been consigned to the muddy depth-*. But, all said and done, far and away the best sport of all at the front is to get to grips with the. enemy. No soldier wants more than this. n. w.

Widows in Kori'fi ne\<T rc-moriy. no mutter licw vming they ni.'iy lie. Flven tlioiiL'li tliev Imve Ik en inru rinl only i ninntli, tliov inny not t :!<<* ;i J.nslinu'!. * * * Wn^o-cyiriiintc women. < x<lu<!inii rio-nip-'tic servant* :>n'l ontworl<"r«, buv- ■ 111 re i*e<l liv •< t:i! nf MJfi.AflO since .T11!v i!) 14, of v.lioni r>f;.ooo nv«> in :>'■ ri<llllilr.'il employment*. n• in«T to .1 memorandum issued Tiv !''P X'ticn.'i! I'nion of Women's SJnfT't-;r % Societies.