LIFE IN THE CAMPS.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 December 1915, Page 12 (Supplement)

LIFE IN THE CAMPS.

AWAITING "THE ELEVENTHS." CHRISTMAS PREPARATIONS. MERRY HOURS ASSURED. (By L. S. Fanning, in the New Zealand Herald). The current of some men's lives is like a placid river on a plain—a smooth flowing, soft and quiet, around obstacles—and if the stream be not dammed the languid glide into the sea is of a piece with tke meek and mild meandering. Such tranquil rivers are good for bearing burdens, but they are indifferent turners of wheels unless men puts "devil" into their easy-going habit. Well, in the view of soldiers at Trentham, some of their old-time comrades outside are like those sluggish streams. The question at camp it: "Will 'the others' take a big bend around Christmas, a large curve en route to the camp, or will they leap swiftly and straightly as the cataract of Ladore or the young Waimakariri in the mountains of its birth?" Of course, the official anxiety about "The Elevenths" is a topic at the camp, and no doubt a few sweepstakes or bets have been arranged about them. The other evening the writer met a school-mate, now a burly, sun-tanned lieutenant, at Trentham, and drew him about "The Elevenths." "Naturally," the "non-lieutenant" began, "the average man is eager to have Christmas at home. It is an overpowering temptation. Can you blame him it4re~hangs comfortably on the family free for a few days?" The lieutenant had no direct word of chiding for any man. His answer was very simple, and one easily remembered—"The men in the trenches will have a busy Christmas.'

That is the feeling of the camp, fhe men here have come in time for their work. They, too, had Christmas ahead of them, but their fancy for summer clothing turned to khaki. It was a duel ot honour with holidays—and honour won. BETWEEN TWO YULETIDES. It seems strange that before last Christmas there was no recruiting problem. The same influences—the customary merry-making, and the Yuletide reunion at Home —were just as strong on men a year ago, but no urgent appeal was needed then. In the interval, New Zealand has learned, with other members of the Imperial family, that Britain's place in the commercial, industrial, and political world is in peril, and it is known, too, that New Zealand's sons at the front will have their hours of watching and fighting and suffering increased unless adequate reinforcements, properly trained, are sent in time. And yet the call for aid brings no great forward rush of volunteers in some districts. What is the cause? Are the remaining men less impressionable? Are the senses dull to the reality of war? This question may be asked by some who remember that the carnivals, the frolics, and gambols for the wounded and the dependants of the dead did not begin till me casualty lists provided the excuse. Here is the explanation. New Zealand, with only 1,100,000 of white population, has sent away 31,000 men and has 9000 training. Many of the remaining civilians are of a more deliberative temperament than thousands of the men who have joined the forces. Some of the hesitating ones cannot be blown into camp by a blast from a platform. They are dubious about some of the arguments, but when they are convinced they make solid soldiers, as this recorder hp.s previously noted.

HELD BY HOME. A number of the waiters may be held back for a while against their will by relatives. Many a mother has been stimulated by a casualty list to hasten her son's journey to the training ground, but the same news may move others to delay a departure for Trentham, especially if Christmas happens to be near. The stronger mother loves not her son the less—but how is the other to gain the stronger ones power to put the Motherland before the mother's love, the personal love, Here is work for a man; this is where the son makes his splendid entry on the stage—and his speedy exit for the camp (if he heeds the call of his kin overseas)

PREPARATIONS FOR JOLLITY. If mother or other dear one 3 cannot be blamed for a man's delay—if his lingering in towns and cities is due to his yearning for the Christmas flesh-pots and soft ease —then'he is making a mistake, for which he deserves pity rather than scorn or anger. He knows not what he will miss at Trentham if he tarries by the way. In the matter of "creature comforts," the camp cookers (26 of them in the broad highways of soldier town) will have a strong savour of things roasting, broiling, sizzling, and simmering. It is a point of honour with men required for the Elevenths to go to Trentham by December 14; it is a point of honour for the civilian population to make the Trentham Christmas worthy of the men who forsake the old meetingplaces for the one great national convention. Certain citizens of Wellington wish to co-operate with others of Auckland, Christchnreh, and Dunedin—not for a solitary Christmas dinner, but for a festival, a jollity, as far as the military heads will allow. These have been sounded, and they have yielded a very pleasant note. They will be glad to have at Trentham the Christmas cheer which thoughtful friends of the men can give

PLENTY OF TALENT AVAILABLE. Christmas Day will be workless, of course, and probably January /I will be also a holiday. The working day is on the daylight saving principle, without manipulation of the clock. The toil is brisk, but it is not excessive. There is enough to put a good appetite into any body (that is not hopelessly dyspeptic), and to give just the right zest for the leisure and play between the drills. Trentham and the other camps are joined up with the timetable for the worldchanging work far away, and the shaping and fitting of men must continue, but there will be hours enough for jollity. In Trentham there is enough talent to run any kind of entertainment, from vaudeville, burlesque, and farce to classical music, and tlie city has numbers of artists who are glad to help. With abundance of luxuries fr the inner man, song and story, moving pictures, Milliards, cricket and other games, and the best of company, Trentham will not have a dull Christmas week. Bright faces and good spirits will be about—and altogether the interests will be enough to keep [a man from pining for other pleasures.