SPECTRE OF DEATH.

Taihape Daily Times, 21 January 1918, Page 7

SPECTRE OF DEATH.

SPECTBE OF DEATH.

GEIM SIGHTS ON THE BATTLE FIELD.

The life of the soldier in war, his grim cxrericnces and the sights he sees are vividly outlined in the following letter from a Highlander belonging to Wick. "A short time ago we were in action in the neighbour- i hood of a city now immortal, around whoso battlements the flower of empires have withered in the merciiess blast of war. There I saw humanity reeling in the uttermost depth's of despair; there I saw the awful spectre which men call death. There were poor mangled heroes with tortured smiles of thankfulness to the unseen Power which had granted them their lives. "Men who have lived through shellswept nights come down with the light of victory in their eyes, and laugh at their superficial wounds. Some "poor chaps, in the last extremity, of mortal agony, find quiet oblivion only in the grave. If I was asked what is the greatest blessing nature has bestowed upon man I should immediately answer, Morphia. I have seen men in a raving delirium of pain lapse into a profound sleep under the influence of this great drug. "Wo are at present a long-distance from the line, running a rest camp in a very quiet, secluded village where one would forget the horrors of war but for an ominous rumble in the distance and the lethal fires which flicker along the eastern horizon when violet-mantled night comes with her 'train of stars and the great gift of sleep.' The weather has h '..m very changeable of late —days of rain and wind, and then a few hours' sunshine. But not the honest sunshine of the northern latitudes but a watery glare which comes out occasionally to mock us in our diluvian misery.''