VICTORY.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 18 May 1917, Page 2

VICTORY.

WHAT THEY ARE FIGHTING FOR

IMPRESSIONS OF THE WEST

FRONT,

A recently returned Palmerstonian writes the 'following impressions of his observations: —

That which 'perhaps deserves the greatest praise at the front is the wonderful organisation behind the lines. In transport for taking forward provisions for the men, material for constructive purposes, and munitions for the guns, also in means of evacuating the wounded, the last word has been said. Although the French system of railways was a good one, it did not prove equal to the demands the war made on it, so some thousands of miles of new lines have been laid and existing - 07ies duplicated; this apart from the light narrow gauge system behind the firing lino. All the material for these new linos was supplied by the Imperial Government, and the work carried out by the Royal Engineers. At the present time old railway lines in England, which wore not in use, are

being taken up and shipped to France, and I have seen huge stacks of new rolling stock waiting at the ports to be taken over.

The offensive last summer was delayed for want of guns and munitions, but this time our gunners will not have to keep such a watchful eye on their reserve supply as there arc "shells to burn.” Judging by the intensity of fire on the enemy lines in the Somme area during the last offensive, under the conditions then and the shell supply as it exists to-day, our bombardment preceding the next advance should resemble volcanic action in full force. Considering the size of our army, too much cannot be said for the commissariat department. If a party is short of food for a few hours it is invariably caused by their being in a position where a supply, through the enemy’s fire, cannot reach them. Our equipment is most complete, in fact never was an army equipped better. Compared to the South African campaign, there is little or no real sickness, close attention being paid to sanitation and a wholesale water supply. While in England I had the privilege of visiting some munition works and saw shells from the rough cast to the finished stage being turned out. In the factories I visited this is all done by female labour under male supervision. Women in England have almost become the mainspring of the industrial clock; they are to bo found in every avenue of life, and indeed, are proving their worth. Many claim they intend to stick to their jobs after the war, and no doubt they have earned them —and the vote, too.

It is perhaps early yet to say when the war will end, but it will surprise most men at the front if the Hun can survive rvhat he will get during the spring and summer. Everyone there longs for the end, providing it finds uS top dog, and there is no doubt now about that being our position when the count is made.