PICK AND SHOVEL WORK.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 15313, 29 July 1915, Page 8

PICK AND SHOVEL WORK.

ITS VALUE IN MODERN WARFARE. An old,boy of Christ's College, who is with tho Main Body of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force at the Dardanelles, writing to his parents in Christchurch, under date of June 13th, says :— I know now what it is to go unshaven and unwashed for four days. We are at present taking relief in the trenches, which practically means no '. sleep while w© axe in the trenches. It is a life of hard work, hard tucker, and little sleep, except when we go back to our bivouacs for a day or two's rest. We cam© out of the trenches to-day after a forty-eight hours' spell, and every on© of us is tired out. We have had a rough time, and all will bo glad when peace is declared, whenever that tim© comes. Th© weather now is" very hot, being mid-summer, and the climate ' generally is very like that of New Zealand. Tbe latest: Staff-Sergeant-Major MacMullen died of wounds on the hospital ship. Staff-Sergeant-Major Brant is well. The fighting has been really solid, and those who have gone through it all without a scratch must have been born under a lucky star. As for nawying with pick and shovel, well, our boys would put an ordinary road-navvy to shame. So much depends upon tho pick and shovel in modem warfare. We are loolcing forward to obtaining a few curios in Constantinople after we "got a move on" and reach that coveted spot, but there is no chance at present unless the Turks suddenly "pull out." It is a great novelty and experience living like rabbits in these dug-outs, without furniture, etc., and very funny i to see" the hundreds and thousands of men diving in and out of their holes. The Fourth Reinforcements have just arrived, and are being told off to tho respective companies to fill up the gaps. Wo are. hoping to be away from here before the next lot arrive, as we haven't had a good rest since we landed on April 25th, and find it pretty solid work. There are rumours that we may <zo to England after all, but I don't think it will be beforo we have visited Constantinople The numerous daily , papers, etc.. you send arrive regularly, and it is so nice to read all the Christ- , church news. etc. It makes one fancy he is at "Home. Sweet Home" again, if it were not for the hellish noise* that are continually going on here day and night, and seeing the awful carnage. We aro now enjoying a well-earned rest after being fourteen days in the trenches, and ouv "dug-outs" are beauifully situated in a gully looking out to sea. The fighting is mostly trench work at present. Thc Turks amuse themselves by throwing bombs at us, and we retaliate with the some weaponsand are quite as good at the game as tbey are. if not much better. Some of • theirs which do not explode in our trenches are instantly picked up by onr ; men and thrown back to their cost. Wo ' are fortunate in beinc; close to the sea, as we h*»vo a bathing parade each day. ■ which h very enjoyable, and keeps us in ' good fettle*.