OUR BOYS IN FRANCE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 4852, 25 April 1918, Page 6

OUR BOYS IN FRANCE.

PLENTY OF WARM CLOTHES RECENT RUMORS REPORTED In course of a letter to his parents .'te. C. Evernden of Gisborne, formerly on the Tiiiies staff, fully refutes some stories which were current a few months ago as to alleged lack" 0 f

I "'Ui'JiL clotlmg among the New Zealand troops. “A parcel of papers came to hand nllv +ivfi IUIISj 1)0 wr^es j” and natura.y T h x °v ivero very welcome 'J’lio mid-October portion i s evidently to tho Nciv'zni h 01 ’ i f® was alvare that i e Aon Zealand troops had been in t e tienohes for twelve months withai d ha< chan 8 e o f clothing, sled r lllst [ uctl °ns would bo is-w-u-m r , b ? ys should receive Vi tor se het vr r 6 the European aa intei set in. He contended that' Ins information ’came via the last mail (paper dated October 6) most probably by letter. How in tlie w/l----clerness anyone from over here could send back news of this description beats my comprehension, a s such a person must be aware that he was cncukating a deliberate falsehood. Hie only tune I have worn clothing by any means ivorn out, was while ive ivero engaged on fatigue, and if I might say so, I worked better in old clothes than would have been the case if neiv uniform had been issued me for the job. Even in the midst ot this task, instructions Aver e issued that 1 Avas to pay a visit to the tailor, Avhere my trousers (worn throngli slightly at the knees) were exchanged lor a second-hand pair, Avhich had been repaired. On my coming to my piesent school, the tailor was again consulted, Avlien a .new rig-out Avas given me. At regular intei'A’als, which are frequent, a kit-inspection is held, When such things as boots, tunics, trousers, puttees and other articles are inspected, and if worn are at once replaced. So much for outer garments. Baths in plentv are to be found in every sector, of the j trout, Avhere a shoiver bath and com- j plete change of underclothing can he I secured. Of course, in dealing Avith tiuge numbers of men, it is to he re- | tnembered that baths, as eA T erything slse, , must bo Avorlced on a system, but nevertheless there are ' baths /here one can gain admittance at any time. Speaking personally, I have bad as many as three baths in one veek, and Avhere the demand on these sstablishments is clean socks-I ire issued periodically. Besides this, i complete change of undenvear is ! ;arried in every man’s valise, with j 1 ;avo extra pairs of socks, AVoollen I doves, and a pair of leather, gloves i; ;o fit over all. Cardigans and l>al- i iclavas are also provided, in addition j ; ;o a leather, coat, minus sleeves, Avorn i >ver the tunic. Complaint is never ! • leard concerning clothing, and the i ' ■ndeavors of the authorities to keep ! : is warm in winter is deserving of ! * lothing but praise. J ! “When such idiotic questions are;; isked by Parliamentarians, it is pret- | j y plain they know hut little of the j ‘ onditions over here, and, if mv feAV ! 1 acts were to become known, much | J nxiety -by people in New Zealand: on j he subject Avould he allayed. f