A MORNING AT TRENTHAM.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 March 1917, Page 8

A MORNING AT TRENTHAM.

By E. M. Story. (All Rights Reserved.) I set out from Wellington liv the f1.4 train for Trentliam Camp, to see for myself what kind of a life "tlie Boys" liad there while training for the front. I was met at the railway station by a representative of the now famous red triangle of the Y.M.O.A. We walked together down the line until we came .to the white gate that admits to the camp. I had visited Aldersliot and other Home camps, both in London and in tlie country, and had therefore some idea of the meaning of the word "camp" as used in this war. I'may as well say at once that I was surprised and cheered by all that I saw at Trentliam. Let evenparent in Xew Zealand rest assured that all is done that can he done to make life clean', wholesome, and happy to the loved ones away from home. I have heard a great deal of the former condition of Trentliam Camp; I saw enough of its present 'condition to know that it is in every way excellent since its reorganisation. ]n place of mud and slush indescribable, the surface is well drained, with gullcys and metal, and sanitation is in every way good. Tlie numerous buildings, from the hospital to the smallest shop, are clean both outside and in, and provision has been made for copious supplies- of hot and cold water for all practical purposes. There are in camp to-day over 4000 men, all of whom must he fed, and provided with bedding and facilities for en. suring personal cleanliness. I noticed the long row's of tamp stretchers, truckle bedsteads made of wood, with mattresses, spread, and pillows in position and rugs folded, the picture of neatness and precision. I observed, also, with interest,

tlie provision made in case of wet weather, whereby all the bedding is immediately placed under cover. 1 passed the hot water pipes, so carefully protected from the atmosphere, and fitted with taps from which the men draw the water for their ablutions and to wash their clothes. The round galvanisediron handleless bowls, used as toilet basins, suggested tjie "simple life" such as the old identities of New Zealand knew in the davs soon the fiist four ships ha:l landed their pilgrims. There were squads of men drilling, drilling, ever drilling, much as I had seen them at Home in Hyde Park, Richmond Park, Aldershot, Llandudno, and elsewhere, It was khajvi, khaki, everywhere, and in the midst of the moving khaki "the Boys,'" those peer? of the man who fought and died at Gallipoli. There is no lightness about Trentham Camp. There is a quiet, grave earnestness present, and permeating the masse" One feels it as they pass the empty buildings, which will remain empty until the day's work i» over. Reveille at 0.30 a.m. One quarter ot an hour's respite in the forenoon, one and a half hours at mid-day, and a quarter of hour in the afternoon; drill a Jain and military exercises and training until 4.30 p.m. Lights out at 10.1'5. •'What are the men doing between 4.30 and 10.15—5% hours—every day?' X inquired of our guide. f'Jt is to help in the rendering oi a satisfactory answer that the Y.M.C-.A. is here,'' I was informed; ! 'but you shall see for yourself something of the work we try to do." . •« As we continued our wo.lk through the camp, I noticed the small military prison, which the men know as the "birdcage" and "Bill Massey's ostrich farm"! There are usually one or two prisoners for minor offences behind the bars, but the Boys, on the whole, avoid close acquaintance with the interior l of the building. * A more cheerful sight was offered by the bakery. All the bread is baked in the open." Header, have you ever seen a field oven? In case you have not, permit me to record that it consists of a series oi archways, lined with iron sheets, the spaces between the arches being filled in with earth, wood fuel is burnt in the archways, and the dougli is placed on the glowing embers insidr the arch, each archway being closed with an iron door. I had an opportunity of sampling the new bread, stacked on racks. .It h beautifully light, white and fragrant "I've baked 3000 21b loaves to-day," asic the jollv-iooking baker. "The bread ibaked one day and eaten the next. Eaol man's share is hy-lb." .Personally, I fell quite sure that I could easily have demolished a 21b loaf of such well.madc food, * oeeped into the well-arranged kitchens ah scrupulously clean, and saw tlu cooics busy preparing the mid-day meal I passed the s.'Q(l=> of a c saw the sacks pf onions am manv ba" of BWBiJtfS. I looked in at tin canteen, which supply additional fom to the soldier. The charges made bj the canteen for individual ai ticlos, sue as 3d for a single cup of tea, are no really as unreasonable as they at fli.ii sight appear to be, as the canteen pro prietor has to pay a stiff rent for th< buildin"'. in addition to -which he has t( brine his goods a fairly long distance. I saw, with some surprise, the row o "shops," comprising, as it does, watch makers and jewellers' shops, photo graphers, harness-makers, tailors, hair dressers, etc., all in existence to suppl; the wants of the men. The . shops are o corrugated iron, and present a flourish ing appearance., \ The Church of England, the. Presby terian Church, the Methodist Church, tl) Catholic Cluirch, and the Salvation Arm; are all represented in the camp, \Th finest building undoubtedly is thativ. o the Church of England, bpt the decpfls impression was made on me perioniiU, bv the buildings of the Y.Xr.t.A., particu larly that devoted to "Writing," -The letter you did not write, dear,' often remains unwritten for lack of op portunitv to write it. It was little shor of a sublime idea to provide such ft linl with home as that offered by a q«ie building, a seat, a table, a pen and ink and free writing paper and* envelope? The writing paper, with its neat lines its red triangle, and its simple but sug

gestive inscription in red letters, "Write Home First," is a delightful feature, and its inception is worth a special order of merit. • "It was when the first packet of writing paper was opened that a man, who t had not written home for 13 years, saw the inscription, and it so struck him (j tint lie wrote oil' then and there," said Air. Ryan. "The letter-sheets used by the Trcntham men since the war began, a and given out by tin; Y.M.C.A., have readied the number of 151,230." Here is a bald statement, which a warm and sympathetic imagination may well fill in, of 111e work accomplished here, in camp: Official 'church services, 20 held since -i the war started. For quite a long time the camp was closed, and during the earlier portion of the year services wert \ held in the open. Voluntary religious meetings, 74; at. ] tendances, 11,097. Concerts of various kinds 153, with an attendance of 85,335.., Testaments given out 1054. Books read (library) 2205. Personal conversations with men in trouble and needing friendly counsel 1570. Me'n advised as to making tlieir wills 94. , Definite decisions for Christian life St. Figures are invariably poor things by wliicli to estimate value; yet, even so. , these figures of the work done (and attempted) at a single centre of the WM.C.A., and for which a single field r secretary is immediately responsible, are i indeed at once significant and eloquent, i It is at all times di'licult to chronicle 1 ,a typical day\s work, when, to speak exactly, there are no "typical'' days, j each day bringing its own work and be- ( ing thoroughly different from its fellow. \ It may be that tin following items re- j corded at this centre will give some ink- c ling of the everyday proceedings. i The lirst* duty of the field secretary

is to follow the operations of the 1 fatigue party, whose duty it is pro tem ' to sweep and tidy and clean—wherever t such operations are performed. It may \ well be that after the rooms are brushed 1 and cleaned it is requisite that the [ forms, etc., should be moved about to I adapt it for meetings, inasmuch as the ' YIM.C.A. frequently lend their buildings for the use of various denominations. ' This necessary supervision finished, the ' succeeding duty is to go for the day's ■ mail, which will probably bring in requests for service, such as "I have a ■ friend in camp; please find him." The i other mohjing brought seven postcards, i all for different men, who, it was ; 'thought by the writers, were in the Canterbury Company, Six of the addressees were found; search is yet being made for the seventh. The discovery of the recipients took an entire day. The ' same mail brought a letter from a widow in Tasmania,.and another from a widow in Sydney, both asking that their boys might be looked up and kept in touch.' A tap at the door, followed by the welcome "Come in!" and, enter a man anxious to ask a few questions about making his will. It is, he avers, his intention to leave his moneys and small possessions to a certain Miss . A conversation follows, somewhat on these lines:— "You have invited rne to help you, so I will begin by asking you if you are engaged to Miss "Oh, no; I just met 'er, you know, :ind we are friendly. , , May come to that later.' 1 "Is vour father alive?" "Ob, yes.'' "What does he do for a living?" "General laborer. . , His job's all right." "Is he an old man?" "Getting on." "Jf anything happened to him, is your mother provided for?" "Xot that I know of." "What would she do?" "Well, upon my word I never pare it a thought, never looked at things so. 1 suppose sliu'd have a ihard time, poor old girl." "Well, then, don't you think your first duty is to her?" "Then it's your idea that I should leave her all my little bits?" "It is." A silence follows, which is sustained lor .a few moments Then the wouldbe will-niakeP says, "I believe you areright; I'il do as you say. Let's see, how do I begin?" Before he leaves the office the will is drawn and witnessed, and many a poor old dame, whose son has fallen, has the V.M.C.A. to thank that she is not altogether penniless. During the occupancy of the office by the Field Secretary the door is ever on the swing. Requests are brought in for brown paper and string; bank-books are brought in for safety; money is deposited and transmitted to near relatives, and numberless little kindly offices are undertaken, all occupying time, it is true, but helping the "boy" away from home to feel that somebody cares for liim and his welfare, and so dissipating the loneliness that, is pain. Sometimes an afternoon is spent in endeavoring to "look up" an unknown, say in ''the Artillery." .The search is a genuine attempt to find the missing one, and it Is- continued until the searcher is satisfied that furthor (ifforts would be futile of results, or until success crowns the efforts. The evening is a busy time with games, letter-writing, concert?, etc. It may happen that in ii few quiet minutes, between the games the Field Secretary, looking in at the office (which also seryßs as his bedroom, and contains his truckle bed placed against the wall and an old box turned on end for a washstand), finds a non-com. waiting for him. "Come ! and bjive a woffl fit' prayer «Ith me," says the office)'. ''l'm tjred out find , feel discouraged beyond measure," "We. ■ have it," says the suei'gtapy, "#nd rise from our knees feeling as happy as life." On his way from bis office to one of ' the writing huts some short time since the secretajT met a man, a stranger, looking very' down. ' "'Halloa, liow are you?" he asked the unknown. :'J>pt too good,'' was answer... ''What's the Biatter?" "I've just iiad npws thflt onp of my brothers Ims fallen at the front, and my father has been shot, I'm the last boy going out. I'm a Christian all right, but, upon my word, I feel to-day like chucking my Christian faith." A convtrsiifjifxi followed, and prayer, and the poor lad left hwlpjivd jjnd helped, and resolved to endure to tiie end, by Qocj's grace, j' It if possible to find ways and means, if tha will lie good, of helping in hundreds' of eases. Here is a case in point by w/.Y of illustration, file Field Secretary at Tventhaw has spoused a director for the use of the office, He was unpacking the new arrival when a msji looked in and asked, "Can you land m< a directory ?"

/Yes, here it is; a new one." Ale searched away for a few minutes, Jut, unable to find what he wanted, /closed the book, when the watchful secretary asked, "Did vou find what you wanted 1"

"No. I wanted to find a sister of mine; I have not heard of her for 15 years, and I thought, now, as I am going off to- the war, well, that I'd try and look her up., You see " Together they tackled the hook, and in a few minutes the secretary found the missing name and address. The man was del'ghted, and uttered his most grateful thanks. One longs to know the end of such stories, but it is seldom one is so gratified. The camp at Trentliam is permeated by this beautiful spirit of brotherliness. The idea of the Y.M.C.A, of becoming a centre of social attraction has been admirably carried out; the "home from home" element is no more a rhetorical phrase, it is the vital principle which has given the Association its marvellous "grip on life." Here is an extract from a letter, written by a "Boy" to his mother: "The Y.M.C.A. are about the only people who -eem to care about us boys in the way >f amusement. They supply us with all writing material gratis. If they ask for any donations on behalf of soldiers' comforts, give them one guinea on my account." A reader of The Donrnion wrote to Ihe Wellington branch of the Y.M.C.A.: 'Having read in The Dominion your apneal for music for the boys at Cairo, I have very much pleasure in sending" you 10s towards music or songs. I have a ■on at present in the hospital, and just n few davs before he took sick he wrote a comforting letter home, saying what a true blessing the Y.M.C.A. was to a 'onely New Zealander in Cairo, and lion 'c'nd everyone was." The poor mother idded that she only wished she could 'end something more to express her thanks, and she hoped that those parents of means who have sons at ,the front will remember the helpful work of the Y.M.C.A. The following is an extract from a letter written by the mother of a district engineer to one of the secretaries of the Association: "When Stanley wrote he again referred to the goodness of those connected with your institution at Alexandria. The signallers were spending the New Y'ear in Alexandria, where they were undergoing inoculation, and being very tired and feeling very seedy they had gone in for a rest and a meal, and had written their- home letters from there, as they were short of stationery 'and the wherewithal to buy it. Many a lad owes the little comfort he gets, whilst away there, to your institution, and I, as one of many grateful mothers, tender you my thanks for benefits received, and should like- to feel that in some way I can repay you." A son, writing home from camp, says: "There's not the slightest doubt that the Y.M.C.A. are doing work hcrl; in faat, the Y.M. seems doing nil the work. In this camp the Association has a big writing room in the Australian lines, and a cafe in the New Zealand Mounted linos. This cafe is a very good,one, and the food is good and well served. . . . The Y.M.C.A. hall is always full, and is well-spoken of by all here. If you want anything, it's always 'Go over to the Y.M.C.A. and get it,' "' A mother, wishing to send a parcel to her son through the Y.M.C.A., writes:

"[ am afraid I am trespassing on your time in t!ms troubling you, but venture, knowing from my son in Egypt what an enormoua amount of good is being done here, in Cairo and Alexandria, and other places, by your wonderful society, and your general willingness to help the boys' cause all over the world." These few extracts from a handful of letters, selected from piles, will suffice to show the. standard of usefulness attained by what Is surely the foremost Association working for good among the young mrfnhood of the world. I can only state in conclusion my own conviction, after visiting thp camp at Trcntliainl that I believe'the Y.M.C.A. is there doing an incalculable amount of good, useful spcinl work. Metaphorically speaking, it grips with a firm and friendly grasp the hand of every young man who passes through oamp training. It cares for all with ceaseless vigilance, and is a constant reminder of home and wholesome things. There is nothing '■goody'' or namby-pamby about the As. soeiation. It is the real thing. 1 hope, later, to tell something of its doings with the "Boys" in Egypt, Cairo, and' Alexandria.