A TAIHAPE SOLDIER’S LETTER.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 280, 20 August 1915, Page 4

A TAIHAPE SOLDIER’S LETTER.

FROM THE DARDANELLES. The following is a letter just received by Mr. W. Kincade from a late Tailuvpe man who was employed at Em’s Hotel when he enlisted, Mr. Joe Duggan:— Hospital, June 21, 1915. Dear Bill,: — Writing paper is very scarce here, so you will have to forgive me for only sending you one sheet. I saw Paddy McLaughlan the first day wo went into the trenches. He had a severe headache and was having a rest from the firing line. I have not seen him since then., I am laid up with a severe sprain to the ankle and dysentery, but I hope to be back again in the firing line shortly—nothing serious at all..

The war here is very funny. Our trenches are only 15 yards from the enemy’s trenches. If you put your head up it would be shot off. We have : to use periscopes to observe, and peri- f scope rifles to Are with. When you come to consider that the enemy are only that short distance away it appears a unique position. We throw hand grenades and bombs. The enemy’s snipers are very good shots; they get into very ingeniously made holes, with whips of tucker and ammunition, and spot our fellows off.. We got one fellow in a small crevice in. a cliff,* he had about 30 homing pigeons with him. When we pulled him down he had 10 bullet wounds in him. Sometimes during the night they ereep up to our trenches and keep groaning, and if a man goes out to get the wounded men he hears groaning, well, that’s the end of him. Bnfc when the time is ripe we will smash our enemy from end to 'end. We cannot forget, I can asure you, the very treacherous tricks they have played on our chums. If they don’t surrender, we’ll anihilate every one of them. Well, Bill, X have very little news to give you. All out letters are censored and we are forbidden to give jgkbvy movements tour troops. Since landing I have been attached to the ITth Ruahine Regiment. me kindly to all at fh» hotel, -