WAR JOTTINGS.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 15170, 7 January 1915, Page 8

WAR JOTTINGS.

NEWS AND NOTES FROM VARIOUS SOURCES.

Lieut. A. L. Gee,- of the reserve of officers, Ist (Canterbury) Infantry Regiment, has received an. appointment as lieutenant with the troops for tho relief of the garrison at Samoa. Lieut. Gee was an active member of the Linwood Rifles from the - inception of the corps until its incorporation in the Territorials. He took a prominent part in the volunteering movement, and was also a member of the Linwcod Rifles shooting team, which held the Christchurch Championship Shield for seytfral'years, and one of the team of five from the Linwcod Rifles, which won the South Island Watkinsoii Shield for two consecutive years. Lieut. Gee won the South Island Championship in 1906, and was one of the local crack riflemen. He left for Wellington last night.

Lieut. P. Elworthy, of South Canterbury, who is going to Samoa as an officer of the Mounted Regiment, left for the North on Monday night. Lieut. Tonkin, of the 2nd (South Canterbury. Infantry Regiment, left last night for Trentham. He goes with the rjext reinforcement for the front. Mr J. F. Tonkin, of tho clerical staff of Messrs Dalgety and Co., Tiniaru. has received a commission in the reinforcements, and left for tho training camp at Trentham last night.

At a gathering of ex-members of the Ashburton Rifles, Major A. J. Childs, who is leaving with the next reinforcement of the Zealand Expeditionary Force, was entertained and presented with a shaving outfit in a leather case. Long-service medals were presented Colour-Sergeant W. Childs and Sergeant E. it. Childs, brothers of Major Childs.

Mr A. A. Readdie, of Geraldino, having offered his services to go to tho front, has been accepted for the Fourth Reinforcements, and will leave for Trentham in about three weeks. During the Boer War Air Readdie was in charge of tbe Stores Inspection Department at Woolwich Arsenal. He has resided in Geraldine for some nine years, and has identified himself with the activities of the locality. He has been an official of the Literary Institute, of tho St. Patrick's Sports Association, a member of the Golf and Bowiing Clubs, and holds office in the Geraldine Lodge, of Freemasons, and secretary, of tne Geraldine County Salcyards Company.

Word has been received by Mr William Lindsay, chief officer of tho Kauri, that his brother, Mr Edwin Morton Lindsay, was killed in action in the battle of the Aisne on "September 15th. The late Mr Lindsay was a sergeant in the Black Watch.

On Monday the Masterton police arrested a young man named Otco Theal, who had been employed at F. Rosson's shop as a hairdresser since October 10th. It appears that Theal came to New Zealand just about the time war was declared (fays the ''New Zealand Times'""). He has not been naturalised in New Zealand but says he"-was naturalised in Australia. Theal is a fine stamp of young Germa_, and has served in the military forces in Germany. Suspicion was aroused by the fact that Theal was seen to be constantly making notes when the war was being discussed,, and upon further enquiries the police, decided to make an arrest. Theal was brought to Wellington to be handed over to the military au-horiiies.

An interesting, and, in parts, thrilling letter lias been received by the Rev. W. J. Conybeare, Rector of Newington, from one of his curates now at the front.- Tiie Rev. Cuthbert T. Maclean, of New Zealand, became a curate of St. Mary's, Newington, but on the outbreak of the war ho volunteered for service, and received a commission in the British Army. Writing from France as lately as November 3rd, Lieutenant Maclean mentions, almost, casually, that ho had been in trenches concintially under fire, for three weeks, and, had not even' had a rough wash or taken off his boots. He has had several wonderful esca__s" from death, even being hit in the neck, without, however, sustaining any injury. He then gives this • remarkable experience:— "-."our days ago I spent some hours sitting in my 'funk-hole' in a trench, and then a left-for "'a-little exercise. About twenty minutes after 1 had moved out a- Jingo.- shell burst in the exact spot where 1 had been sitting for hours and blew -im the trench for "some twenty yardsl j - - ■ *

According to. a cable message received '•.. by : the Prime Minister from the High Commissioner,* Mr Oscar Frey-' berg, son of the late Mr James Freybofg. of Wellington, who went"Home in October, has been appointed a lieutenant in the Royal Navy Division His _brother, Bernard, who was in Mexico when.Britain declared war, and at-once proceeded to London, where he joined the Navy Brigade, receiving the rank of lieutenant, has recovered from the wounds which he received at Antwerp, and is back nt the front. He i*6 how a lieutenant-commander.

The feelings-of the British sailors in the North Sea-Fleet are admirably expressed in verses which have been sent Home -by a sailor on board H.M.S. Princess Royal:—.'"ft's the same old stretch of ocean .We are churning up all day. , Wo know ■'. by name each porpoise Which follows us in play. W T e : forecast each day's weather, In sky tints pink and green, : : But as for bally-Germans, They are nowhere to bo seen."