WITH THE R.F.C.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 April 1917, Page 7

WITH THE R.F.C.

IJETTER FROM A NEW PLYMOUTH RECRUIT." Writing to a local friend, Mr. C. H. Crew, late of New Plymouth, who Is now studying with the Royal Flying Corps at Jesus College, Oxford, says:— "There are about 1000 flying men at Oxford, and we arc using four of the old colleges—Christchurch, Lincoln, Exetei and Jesus. No wonder the undergraduates thing 60 much of these buildings! One never tires of walking through their quadrangles. Jesus College id of fairly recent date, being'established in 1571 by Queen Elizabeth. It'has two quads and about eight stairways leading up from each quad These quaint stairways branch off in al* directions on each floor, and .one has t( be perfectly sober in order to get to one'a own room safely! I really don't know how the students managed it. If the walls could talk they could tell us, perhaps, and many other things as well. We all mess together in the students' dining-hall, witlh its ghastly oil paintings and its beautiful oak carvings. We Use their old silver, .and their ancient waiters still pace the hall with dishes a« they did in the days of Queen |!ess. They may be different men, but there is a dpuot about it! The system in the B.F.C. is good and jthe instruction splendid. During the first year of war pilots went out as soon as they could fly. Now they go out with valuable knowledge gained from the experience of many fights. The result mu't mean a greater margin of safety, combined with greater- efficiency—two important points. Of course we all get more or less impatient, and think at times that we shall never see France. It seems such a long time since we joined the corps, but, looking back over the work we have done, I am surprised at the helpful knowledge gained, and. after all, the man who knows his job has a distinct advantage .over the other fellow, (doing right in the eriysexzfi(ifi'ffiifi ) D|tel , "The war news looks'fairly gloomy at present (February 8). The papers are poking holes in the methods of the higher authorities until not a single man is doing right in their eyes. The cause, I think, is i state of 'fed-upness.' Everyone is sick of war, and our enemies more Biek. However, pin your faith to Britain and expect good news very soon. "No doubt you know by the cables that we have had extreme weather. Btople have been skating for over two weeks here without a thaw. For several days this week the thermometer has been IMeg. blow freezing point at 0 a.m. I have seen ice eight inches thick ■and canal barges held firmly In icc. Still, we don't find it unbearable, we dressing ! for it, and have comfortable quarters) ! ■whilst not a few are putting on layers of fat. "I called at the New Zealand Soldiers' Club the other day iand there saw Mrs. Claude Weston and Mrs. Walter Empeon, and also met outside Dawson Webiter."