OLD FRIENDS MEET ON THE BATTLE FRONT.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 15931, 19 June 1917, Page 4

OLD FRIENDS MEET ON THE BATTLE FRONT.

| A SOLDIER AND HIS lIORSE. The soldier referred to hailed from Pleasant, Point "where his parents reside (says the Timaru "Herald''). A letter received a, few days ago from Palestine states that the soldier on activo servico, was one day watching f-omc troops pass when ho recognised his old horse Prince, which, ho had sold over five years before in Timaru. The rider was the officer in command and presently Jie saw tho officer dismount and give the reins to the groom. The young'trooper told tho groom he knew the horse well, for he formerly owned it and had broken it in, in New Zealand. Tho groom said he was mistaken for the horse had eomc from

Ireland. The Pleasant Point lad asl\ed if the: horse would perform any tricks him and the groom said ' no." Well, said the soldier,' I a_ photo of him in my swag taken in New Zealand, and I will bring it up after tea. This showed the horse lying down apparently asleop_ with its owner sitting on him.-Permission being given, his previous owner led the horse out, bid him lay down, close bis eyes, or raise his head or lower it, go down on his knees or sit up on his hind legs, like, a big dog. TKe horse, did all this and went through all his old tricks as though they -were part of his daily routine. Filially ho shook hands (either paw), with his previous owner. The groom naving told some of his mates during the tea. hoar that there was some fun on. a big crowd gathered and many present considered it would be, a gracious act for tho officer 1 to tra.n&Ter Princo lo liis former owner, but his new owner had become too fond of tho horse to paTt with him.