"FALL IN, THE DRAFT"

Greymouth Evening Star, 2 May 1917, Page 8

"FALL IN, THE DRAFT"

WHEN THE RECRUIT GOES TO THE FIKLSG LINE.

(By a Wounded Journalist.)

Full in, the draft! These words are on the lips of the orderly sergeants twice a week at most of the feeding battalion stations up and' down., the country. Drafts are constantly dribbling out to the lighting fronts, for the strength of our armies must be maintained. France, of course, claims most of the men, but many go to Salonika, to Kgypt and to .Mesopotamia. The lads who are drafted don't usually have a chance of choosing where they will go, Sometimes' a draft does not know where it is bound for when-it leaves the training centre. Like many a warship, he sets off under sealed orders. But if you were to give the lads the chance to choose where they would prefer to fight, it is safe to say that at least per cent, would plump for France. Wl»y the preference? you ask. Well, for one tiling, the western front is near home ; it is on the doorstep «f the British Jsles, so to speak, in comparison with the far-.'lung fighting lines in Greece, in vile deserts oi Egypt, or the swamps of Mesopotamia, In franco the food, is invariably plentiful and good and the climate tnere is very like the climate in England. You occasionally get home on leave from France. And if you do get wounded at all severely, the chances are that you will be sent to a hospital in "Blighty," So no wonder the young .British soldier just about to start on the Great Adventure is eager to serve in France, lie knows (for he has talked with wounded men from all the fronts) that the .shelling is more intense on, the western front, and that the lighting there is more bitter. But all the same, after weighing the advantages and the disadvantages, he plumps for France, The draits are carefully chosen. The doctors see to it that only fit rnon are sent to fight. The draft is the pick of the battalion. And the men who are just going out are ready and willing and merry and bright ; they are eager to go over yonder and do their, bit. If you are a keen observer, you can tell at a glance when a man has been chosen for a draft. Jle walks proudly, lie "chucks a chest" and holds his head high. He feels that at last he is really a soldier. That he has been chosen for the draft is a compliment to his manhood. Soon he will be actually a member of the British Expeditionary Force. And that is something to bo protld of.

AX ARMY OF CHUMS

Sometimes the ruthless chousing of the draft causes pain and disappointment, (.'bums who have been together since they joined up, who have shared and shared alike through the monotonous days of drilling are separated. The one is chosen and the other is rejected. If it is hard on the lad who is left, it is equally hard on his pal who is chosen. For he is bereft of a chum just when he needs one most. But he can take heart of grace. He will find plenty of good chums out yonder ; the best and truest of chums in the world. Everybody is your chum at the front. The British Army is an army of chums ; and perhaps that fact comes very near explaining our success. There are some men who are bitterly disappointed every time a draft is chosen. Time after, time they are rejected. Such ;i man is Andrew, in our "crush.'' "Andra" is a Scotsman, and for'y-five years of age. and. to put it mildly, he is far fmm being thin. Besides, as he himself confesses, lie is very "short o' wund." But. in sp'te of his physical drawbacks. "Airlra" wants to fight. His son went to the fnvu six months al'o. Since then "Andra" has tried till lie is nearly tired to get put on a draft.

AXDRA'S" TALK OF WO!

lie was telling me his tale of woe the other day. k seems that every time lie goes before the .U.O. tor medical examination the doctor merely pokes his pencil into "Amlra's" rather abnormal btomach, and says, "Away, man ; away to your job." And •"Andra" retires a disappointed man. lie made a desperate iiid to get ins way last week. Jle did an unprecedented tiling. He stopped the colonel while that dignitary was strolling across the parade lie protested to the t.U. that he wanted to go to France. The colonel lisiened sympathetically to his story, and finally told "Andra" that lie would have a chat with the 31,0. about rus case. But "Andra" is still on home defence, and he is likeiy to remain in Fngiand for the uurmion. l't-rJiapSs it is as well, seeing tuai 11 is son is at the front already. i'run tiie time they are picked till the day tlity leave lor the Liont the memueis of tlie draft have a very busy time. Every soluier who leav t s -fc-ny-land for active service abroad goes away lu.ily equipped and clothed, lie is lully ntted out irom ins steel shrapnel liemiet to his MuUL overseas boots. A b.g jack-kniie is issued to each man. It is one of tile diosl usemj tilings lie can cany at the front, ami ue will lind "a use.lur it twenty u.utcs every uay. Then tnere is the linaf leave, a privilege wjucji every souuer [geih ju,\v—lour clear days at home exclusive of tue time taken in travelling. They are great days these, uays spent wiui the old folk at home, old cnums and the best girl. Tne puis almost invariably return to the depot on the day that they are due. To overstay your draft leave is a very serious offence, and one which is uLvvays heavily punished. Then comes the day of departure.' In most battalions the draft is entertained to a farewell supper, and Yi'ry often every man receives parting presents, such as a pipe and some tobacco, from the regimental funds. The colonel will be present at supper-time, and before the men depart he will shake hands with each) and speak a cheery word.

These little attentions back up the lads. They go out to light for the Old Country with a brave heart and determined t<> uphold the honour of the regiment to which they belong.