WAR NOTES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 306, 4 June 1915, Page 5

WAR NOTES.

THE'CLASS OF RECRUITS. Walking down the picturesque high street of a Cinque port whsve I spend week-ends away from the whirl of life in London, I was saluted with empicssment by one of the recruits ; n training hero on their way to the front (says Sir Henry Lucy). I did not recognise him, but on closer regard discovered he was the master's valet at a country house where I am a. frequent visitor. He had given up a well-paid place of something approaching luxury to face the privation and danger of Wie trenches. He told me his master had recruited from his own estate a score of men, indoor servants and others on the outdoor stall'. I asked him to come up to one of onr Saturday .afternoon teas "for the men and bring a few comrades. It was an interesting and instructive gathering. Xone was over 25 years of age, one or two in their 20th year. Every man had been in a comfortable position with prospect of advancing. I noted particularly one of the elder of the group exceptionally intelligent in looks and wellinformed in speech. I asked him to what business lie had been brought up. Jle said be was a grocer in a small but improving way of business. Somehow, quite unreasonably, wo are not accustomed to associate a grocer with the heroic. But here was a simple-man-nered, well-educated grocer who had given up everything at the call of his country. The men made light of certain discomforts connected with fraudulent construction of the huts in which thev were lodged. They were, they said, exceedingly comfortable, anxious only to bear the word of command that would start them for the front. They talked with keen interest of their daily life, the drill, manoeuvres, and, above all, their instruction in the use of the rifle. There was in their conversation no tone of bragging. Quiet, well-mannered, resolute chops they were, a fair sample taken at haphazard of the men in whom the Germans trained to arms from' boy- i hood, have met more than their match. |