A SOLDIER’S LETTER.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 160, 18 July 1916, Page 2

A SOLDIER’S LETTER.

FROM A TAIHAPE BOY,

The following interesting letter has keen t ,*«uved irom *1 rooper Bert Wil - Hums, w ho up to the time of his enlistment, was employed on the staff of the Taihapc Post Office; —

Somewhere in France

We left Alexandria on the 10th of April, on the Llandovery Castle, a boat of 11,400 tons, for Marseilles, escorted by destroyers. We had lovely weather, ■ind reached Malta after four days’ steam. During tli e passage of this part of the journey we passed a lot of destroyers on the hunt for submarines, as • his is a very dangerous spot, the Germans having submarine bases about the

■p'uds which our boats are unable to locate. We called in at Malta for oron iou\ing we dropped our escort, but were still prepared for submarines. We had a submarine guard on board, and the transport mounted a big gun at the stern as well as a oattery of machine guns. We all had

o wear lifebelts, even on going to bed, and a queer lot of individuals we looked, too. After a verp rough trip we arrived at Marseilles a day late. Being Sunday we did not disembark until early on Monday morning. The first train, with the Ist Infantry on board, loft at 10 a.m.; the 2nd Infontry at 1 p.m., but where they have gone I do not know, as I have not seen them since. As we were not entraining until 11.30 p.m., I got leave, and had a good look round the town. It is not until you are in France that the terrible effects of th e war are brought home to you. I don T think I am mistaken when I say that nearly every woman in France is !vos:.ed in black, and to witness some ~f the wives saying good-bye to thev •

:i-sDands when they are leaving for the ''ranches is really pathetic. Women are . mployed in nearly every branch of industry, and during our four days’ train journey we could so 0 them working on che various forms, and doing work that is ordinarily performed by the men. We travelled 2nd vlass, and this class is far ahead of the Ist class in New Zealand. At one station wo had o change trains, and had a weary wait seven hours on the platform. We ;ad only been in another train two

ears, and wene getting nicely to sleep, hen wo had to change again. This

ime we had to spend the whole night oh m the platform; but not a word of complaint was made by the men when the unpleasant news was announced. I was rather disappointed at not seeing Paris, but luck was against us, as no troop

rain is allowed to pass through the

capital owing to the numerous spies congregated there. were only a few miles off, however, and could sec the Eiffel Tower quite distinctly. I and several good long chats with some F.niich soldiers, and they were very sanguine that the war would soon be over. On our arrival at our present camp the Royal Engineers gave us a splendid welcome concert. The pro-' crammes were drawn and lettered by hand, and wer e quite nobby. Since our location ho:o we have been having a very strenuous time, working until 10 p.m. every day, as we have to handle 000 bags of New Zealand mails,

and 300 bags of parcels. We are kept going all the time, and do not know what it is to get a day off; well,

are in the army and must do “air little bit.” We had a visH from a tierman aeroplane to-day, which created a bit of curiosity and excitement, and w e all went out to see the fun. It was

Vliv high uv>. tu.ovigh, and the aiivcratc guns did not have much chance. Shells were bursting all around it, and on one or two occasions it had a narrow escape, as the gunners were getting the range, and going very near. I thought it was hit by one shot; anyhow, the fine got too warm, and it turned back and sought safety in flight. I heard later, that it had been brought down at Dunkirk.

To-day, about dinner-time, I went to the seaside and on looking across the Channel saw several British cruisers racing along at a terrific rate, and expect to hear some news in a few dajs time.

I must not forget to mention a funny incident that occurred the other evening. Some British Tommies, who were on leave from the trenches, came up and spoke to me, saying they had just left our trenches —thinking I was a Canadian, I denied the soft impeachment, and said I was a New Zealander, and one of them wanted to know if 1 could speak English. I replied that I could speak it a little. When he found I could speak and understand it as well as he could, he was awfully surprised. He seemed a well-educated fellow, too. There is no doubt the war will broaden the minds of a, lot of Britons. I had quite an interesting chat with them, and told them a lot about our little country, and gave them their first lesson in the geography of the outposts of tli e British Empire.