SOLDIER'S FIRST RAID.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 17 February 1917, Page 2

SOLDIER'S FIRST RAID.

ENEMY AEROPLANES SCARCE. SYDNEY, Feb. 7. Writing to his parents at Rockdale. Private M. Pyemont gives an account ,of Ms experience when under fire for the first time: "We left here for the trenches, a ■walk taking some hours, and then in the darkness did our job, afterwards returning. We were under a heavy bombardment most of the time, and Fritz sent up hundreds of star shells, which, if anything, aided us in carrying out our job. On the return journey a good number were exhausted, myself included, and could hardly drag one leg behind the other. I used to have a rest about every 20 yards, as the going was so heavy, but after getting back to camp, and having breakfast and a sleep I felt O.K. again. "We see plenty of aeroplanes down this way, and it is a great sight to see, perhaps 20 or 30 in the air at once. Of course, when Fritz sends his machines over this way they get a lively time, as our anti-aircraft guns open up, and in no time the sky is dotted with white, brown, and black spots, where the shells burst. I saw one brought down to-day in flames. A shell struck it, a direct Uit, and it came crashing to the ground. .

"You would be surprised at the number or artillery observation""balloons that are in use. I have seen as many as 30 of ours up, and perhaps only one or two of Fritz's. Our planes have a habit of tackling his balloons by dropping inflammable "bombs, but as soon as Fritz sights our 'plane coming down goes the balloon. Fritz often sends his shells over this way, but rarely does much damage, except that he occasionally catches a few men, or an old mule or two."