GREAT WEST FRONT

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2870, 7 September 1916, Page 6

GREAT WEST FRONT

A WELLINGTON SECTION "ON THE WINNING SIDE" THE YOUNG O.C.

From "Sornewhero in France," Lieut. A. Sievwriglit, of the First Wellington Infantry Regiment, writes an interesting letter to his parents, Mr. and Airs. J. D. Sievwriglit, of Wellington. Lieut. Sievwriglit says that things have not gono well with his company sinco they reached France, especially as regards officers. Late in June ho was the only ono left out of those who went from Egypt. Two had crossed tho Great Divide, one was detached for another company, and Captain Narby, 0.C., had gone into hospital with appendicitis. Thus, by a procoss of exhaustion, Lieut. Sievwriglit was O.C. of the Wellington West Coast Company, which was holding a few hundred yards of tho groat Western' battle-front. One of the'officers attached, to him was Meuli, of Manaia. Tho O.C.'s duties entailed goneral supervision of the trenches, being always on the move, getting little and broken sleep, and the getting up of everything for defence. The men, N.C.O.'s, and officers were great, very keen, and ready to do anything asked of them. Tho lotter continues: —"No longer is seen the growling that is experienced in training. They know' wo are fighting all we know. They know we are on tho winning side. They see that wo are masters of tho air, for have they not seen duels iu the air victorious to our side, and also the falling in flames to the ground of balloons used by the enemy for observation? It was indeed a grand sight to see four of theso destroyed by incendiary bombs dropped from aeroplanes. Also our men see that we aro putting over shells at the rate of five to one. They can' see our artillery is superior to that of the Bosche. They have seen the trenches of the Hun pummelled! by our devastating trench mortars, and sand bags going 50 feet in the air. Our machine gunnery is excellent, and our snipers have dono so woll that tho Hun daren't show an eyebrow over his parapet. Finally, we' are fighting the Hun with his own hideous weapon—tho use of which, ho gave his word to keep outside tho game of war, hut which he secretly prepared in the laboratories in the days of peace. "Yes, our men know all this, because seeing is ibelioving. Their morale is excellent, becauso come what may there is evidence of strength and organisation, which instils confidence. But they know that there will bo no speedy termination to tho war. It is to be a long and bloody encounter, and we need tho utmost help in every way from-New Zealand. We need that help in tho future that has been so unstinting])' given ur> to tho present. But there is no doubting hero but that JSfew Zealand will continue to play tho game. There is no pessimism hero. The men aro fit and keen simply because •they know and feel and see that all is •well. In other words, they know we will win, and knowledge is power. "For myself, moving round as I do, not a day passes bnt what my good luck follows me. Yesterday afternoon the Bascho opened witth shrapnel very suddenly just whero I was directing some strengthening works. There was a •scatter, and luckily no one was hit, but I got round a sand-bagged corner just in time. ,

"A fow nights'ago, too. : I ; took out 20 men to put up wire in front of our lines—protective 1 wire, barbed. Wo were just finishing when wo wero spotted, and the Boscko opened with a machinegun after putting .up flare lights to locate us. Wo all dropped flat on the ground, but that was little protection, as tho ground at this point is perfectly level right up to the opposing trenches. However, he stopped after a burst or two, and so I gavo orders ,to finish off tho wiring and fasten ; the ends. We had just finished when along caine tho rat-taWat of cracking bullets again just a couplo of feet over our heads. When the gun paused I ordered the men in over tho parapet, while my n.c.o. and I waited behind to see them safely in. "They got in all right, and wo were just following when swishswish they came again. My nose was on the grass in about two seconds, and I got tlio fright of ray life when a bullot •struck an iron standard just at my •side. Another pause came, so the two' of us moved back slowly and carefully. I was just crossing an old trench when the machine gun opened again. I dived head first straight into that old trench, hut it was soft and slimy. I was covered with mud from head to foot. An : other . pause enabled me to get over tho parapet to safety. It was simply a miracle none of us was hit. And many wero the jokes of tho lads at the expense of their O.C. that night as he, covered with mud, dealt out to each brave chap his portion of rum. Those fellows treated the whole thing as a joko and were ready to go out over tho parapot the next night to continue tho job. The work has to be done, so why not with a. smiling face, but no one likes it—the man who 6ays he does is either a fool or a liar —and there are not many of tho former in the New Zealand forces. "However, there is one pleasing feature about warfare in France. We live well. Just listen to our daily menu:— "Breakfast, at S a.m.: Quaker oats, fried eggs and bacon and toast, with as much tea and bread, butter, and jam as one cau manage. "Lunch, at 1 p.m.: Soup made from tablets, with barley added, followed by moat and vegotable hash. "Dinner, at 7 p.m.: Roast'beef and roast potatoes and onions, with stowed (dried) apricots and sago or rice. "In addition we often got cabbages, rhubarb, cherries, gooseberries, and ovoti strawberries from orchards round about our trenches. Our orderlies wander about and do well at the foraging game for us, and supplement our rations. Wo never go without a few fine flowers for our mess table—although the outsido may be rough and ready, it is neat and clean in tho little dug-out we use as our mess room. Wo liavo just purchased from_ London a superior mess outfit in a wicker basket. It cost us £8 complete, and it is just excellent, with its full outfit for six officers, and fryingpans,- saucepans, a kettle, and oven a meat mincer, in addition to half a dozen jars and dishes for carrying butter, jam, and various provisions. Wo are doing ourselves well, and wo have a good cook. "It is a great gamo this war business."