THE CHAMPAGNE COUNTRY.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15608, 5 June 1916, Page 3

THE CHAMPAGNE COUNTRY.

t,— A LETTER FROM RHEIMS. A Christchurch resident lias received the following interesting letter from 31 r Charles M. Heidsieck, the famous French champagne manufacturer, dated Rheirns, April, 1916: — ... • "Nothing much new in this part ot the world, unless to tell you that the Germans will never take \ erdun. and ihat after all .'this has been :i serious defeat tor them. Poor Rlieims was agaiu bombarded for the last three weeks, but last Smidavwn.s a particular treat— something like 1500 shells were poured into tho town. Still, it i,s only a. ijiiestion of r-oiii'.' more patience, and wn shall see the on,l of all this trouble. 1 shall be railed before the Military Conimirssion again within a fortnight iiv order "to decide \\ nether I am fit to join again y>r not." I think they will allow me to rejoin'now, us 1 am really much better. If.' so, I shall be a soldier again .in another sis weeks. A young brother of mine is just passing not lax from Rheims on th.? way to the front, and, if nothing crops (n, 1 hope to see him on Saturday. He has not seen anv one of tho family for at least, sis months, and the other day volunteers were cailod for, amongst the younger cnes, and ho offered himself, so that he is leaving for the front without having seen again any of us. J shall bring a few bottles of champagne for him and his companions, and this will be a merry farewell. I see conscription has l.r>en* passed in England, aiid such a ste t , is really worth admiring. lam sure it must have been'a great blow to Germanv when hearing of this. It shows tlio determination of tho Allies to tight until the very end, and it* has frightened Germany. lam told on good authority that overtures of peaco have been maiie by her in the last fewweeks, which shows that things are not 5p very bright on the other side of the iines."