WITH FRENCH'S FIGHTERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 August 1915, Page 10

WITH FRENCH'S FIGHTERS.

DR. DILLON CARBERY. Dr. Dillon Carbery, in an interesting letter dated June 18, to his people in Stratford, gives an engrossing account of the work of our troops in the West. June 18, 1915. Dearest People,—Since last I wrote, we have had a bit of a job of work. Our Division attacked and took some lines of German trenches, so we went to work—a-nd I believe did our job to the satisfaction of all concerned. 1 had some German wounded through my hands; they all seemed very depressed, and thought no end of our gunners and grenades. What I saw were Wurtemburgers, who were of various ages from 18 to 40. There were over a hundred unwonnded prisoners near our dressing station. I had a chat with one or two. They all said the same thing, that our guns gave - them a terrible doing, but that the fight-1 ing over on the other side, i.e., against j the Russians, was much more severe. Some were out three to six months, and one of the wounded an Ersatz Reservist, only three days in the field, I was much amused to find that he had a new pair of field grey braces of the same color *« hia excellent clothing. It was quite pathetic to see our wounded with the German wounded trying to converse and exchanging souvenirs. One poor German lost all his buttons and shoulder straps; in fact, they very nearly stripped him, and all he had to show for it was a few Woodbine cigarettes. One German had lost his cap, and explained that it had taken itself off for a souvenir. They all seemed grateful for the little we did for them. We could only give them some tea—we had nothing else available —but as the.y had been provided with bully beef and biscuits, they fared well enough. I am quite sure that they all thought that they were going to have their throata cut. What is so dreadful about the Regimental life is the loss of the officers who sit by you at table, and for whom one feels quite a brotherly feeling after a short time. They are ■e heroic. The Infantry officers are so gallant and true that it knocks you out a bit when they go out. At the very time when our late O.C. was dying in a trench, the second in command and 1 were busy trying to make a savory for hia dinner when he returned. Poor fellow, he never lived to eat bis share. It was only "mock crab," but it fastcd like Wormwood Scrubs as we made a feeble attempt to gulp some of it down that night. It was our last day in that spell of trenches, and he had no right to be where he wa«, but he would see everything for himself. He was in our worst trench seventy yards from the enemy cad using hi* periscope. He waa tall, and one of those infernal steel bullets aiaud at the sand bags and designed to aiaree them, tore half of his skull away .—ho only lived a few moments. He was a taS slim «»<*«» *»* be*"*"*" l hrown eyes, foo soft hair, M>d an aquiline nose, a street sMile »* «» *»***»* look «f » dSßMner; his face would have been«Setnfeft*6> &»* & «** beeß for tlw nose, M be gmr no b*ir; his manners gmtla'w* *£& ni £ m an Wto **4fc efwift m

second in command is a small fair palefaced man with a monocle, but a veritable Saint. He reminds mc of Bertram du Quexlin or the sans peur et sans reproche type. I was sorry to leave him. He was in New Zealand at tlu time of the visit of the Imperial troops. Wounded at the Aisnc, he was treated in Paris, and returned ' to his regiment many months ago, and is the very last of the officers who came out with the battalion. The rest are all dead or home wounded or Bick. It is a privilege to live with men like these —cheerful always, faithful unto death, they face the petty duties of the day with the same devoted purposefulness as they carry out their more exacting obligations in the face of the enemy. Our wounded were greatly bucked, and the whole Division quite pleased with itself. There was a great slaughtering of Bodies according to ail accounts, and the net result an improvement of the Yprcs line. We shall probably go into reserve again for a while, as our Division will hardly be required to make another attack for a while at least. 1 speak without the book, as we know nothing about movements. As a matter of fact, a German officer who was amongst the prisoners told me that they knew about the attack three days before it came off, and that they had a regiment in reserve which could not come up on account of the fire curtain produced by our artillery. This may have been all bluff; anyhow, their spy system is pretty good—wo have many evidences of that. A regiment went into the trenches on our right one night—they hail been away from that part of the line for some time—and no sooner had they got comfortably settled in than the. JSoches sang out, "Hello! Blankshires, back again. How did you like your trip to Wipers? How's the Colonel?" The weather is fine but a trifli colder. In fact a great coat is an advantage. Two days ago I was standing at an improvised dressing table in the open diessing wounded. To-day is distinctly chilly. We have tents, however, to sleep in. v"hi:h is an advantage wliil* the cold flap lasts. Wi are in the usual far'n uii.br tall trues, with a waving con field en one side, a paddock with cows on the other; a huge barn is available for Iho s-Sck | and lame, the rest arc in tents. . where I lost much weight, but I still have a superb figure, and indeed feel very fit. Some of the officers of No. 9 arc out of sorts, so that I have hopes of getting back to them soon.

I was with the Regiment during the attack. We had no idea until the day before that there was anything on. One of the charmß of this life, if any, is the fact that you never know where you will be nor what you will be doing twenty-four hours later. As a rule, there is a change of scene, but not much change, in the things one docs. We had an excellent dinner to-night, soup, fish, joint, sweet, to wit, oxo—tinned salmon—cold ham and tinned peaches —tea—bread and butter ad lib. June 29, 1915. Dearest Pcophv-Aftcr a spell of coll misty weather, we arc now enjoying beautiful summer days. I was a bit seedy when last I wrote, but, thank goodness, am quite myself again. There waa another gas attack recently out on

ever, and some of the men got on their respirators, but of course it was nothing to worry about. If the respirators are properly adjusted and certain precautions are observed, there is little to fear. It is a great worry, however, seeing to the masks. Solutions and sprayers Quelle canaille que ces Allemands! During the recent attack they used stink bombs containing formalin, smarts the eyes and is nasty, but harmless. The gas is very dangerous if breathed at close quarters, but we have now excellent means to combat the danger. The whole affair is becoming more disgusting as time goes on, and all to no purpose as far as one can see.

The streams on our front now show large quantities of arsenic. A few are suffering from the effects. Our people have brought water up to the trenches night, but water may be a difficulty if we advance. All are glad Italy has come in, it may help to settle the Dardanelles dilema; once that job is over, things will move in the Balkans. The war will last some time yet, how long no one can say, but I thtink well into next year. I am stil! in the same place, and expect to be. When I say place I mean places, because we move every now and then, but never far in and out of reserve. The main line has not shifted in our sector for over six months.

A thousand sand bags going up to X 43 trench, and more gas solution wanted in Y24. Water flowing into 227 shows a grain of arsenic to the pint. Five stretchers wanted in 22!). More choride of lime for dead men (Turks let us hope) in front of X 43, etc., etc. Will the 11.0. collect a sample of water in XYZ 103. Divisional Order!

This is the detail that does' not appear in the daily digest of great advances and piercing of lines!