AT THE FRONT

Nelson Evening Mail, 14 November 1916, Page 6

AT THE FRONT

COMFORTS FOR SOLDIERS. The following letter dealing with, the work of the Y.M.C.A. at the front has been sent on to Mr R. B. Jackson: — "France, 17th Sept., 1916. "In common with the rest of the men in the Division letter writing has heen durino- the past week or two. an almost impossible task. We have been on the move staving in one village for perhaps a night, and then moving on. We have now arrived at our destination, and ere you receive this letter you will know ■how our men have covered themselves with glorv in the greatest battle of history. I "was fortunate in being able to do * something for our men during the few days they remained, here, before going into the fray. T arrived ahead of most of the Division and soon had a marquee erected in a central spot—on a spot which two months ago would have been very 'unhealthy:' Not twenty yards away from me are our old trendies, and from the door of the marquee we look out on the vast battle field. It is a wonderful sight, and almost beggars description. Here, the greatness of Britain's power is seen in tangible form, aaid Fritz is now feelings the pressure of that power in no uncertain manner. '"lt is rather unique to have a Y.M. C.A. amid such surroundings, and I have had to adapt myself to the conditions that obtained. It has been impossible for me to have the features that obtain usuallv in our work . The tent is devoid of such things as tables, lamps, piano, etc. Indeed it is just as well that there .'are no tables, as they would take up the room that would otherwise accommodate some much travelled and w&arv soldiers. As you may know our men are travelling very light, and often have to bivouac in the open. The night the Brigade arrived, was rather cold and damp, and I offered the use of the tent to the companv commander for his men' toJsleep in. The offer was readily accepted, and for several nights we were like a telephone exchange open day and night. "It was a strange sight to see all i'these"'soldiers packed like sardines sleep- [ ing on the floor of this tent. Round the [ outside was just as bad. \ As the men of the Division had not had the opportunity of doing much writing while they were on the move, I did what I could to give them facilities for sending a line home before eoing into battle. I gave away over 10,000 of our postcards in addition to lots of writing paper and envelopes, and in order that they could get them, away I offered to have them censored and posted. The result was that I was inundated with postcards and letters, and it has been some job.getting them censored' and stamped. However, the job is now done and it is sad to think that many of the writers of "these letters have by this time answered the great call. Then, all sorts of commissions have been entrusted to me—the remitting .and banking of monev, posting of parcels, making out of wills and so on. While in this area I have been in a unique position to get a few comforts for the men. I can assure you they have been greatly appreciated. Canteens are few and far between and the men simply crave for some delicacy. We happen to have stores some five miles ■ distant, and I have been able to buy such things as chocolate, cakes, cigarettes, biscuits, etc.. and where possible have made a distribution to the men. As there is no canteen near, I also sold a little and the place was simplv rushed whenever I had a. stock in. The night our fellows went to the trenchos I sold canteen supplies to the value of £IOO in about three hours and could have got rid of as much more if I had had it. = "To-day, I •bought a waggon load of cigarettes, chocolate and cakes, and in the morning I anr setting off for the trenches in order to supervise the distribution of thfi lot of qiiits. Just now is the time the men want some little de- . I'wcy. I'm not spaying the money, *'

I The following- account of the sensational abiding vi' a Vrvnvh bombarding aeroplane containing two aviators is published in the Echo de Paris from a sublieutenant fihgting iu the Doiran district. A piece of bursting shrapnel having severed one or the ocntrol wires of the aeroplane, lie says, the machine began to dive head-foremost, and was apparently lost. Ii was falling within the enemy's lines, to the great delight of the Bulgarians, who gave vent to their jov by loud shouting. When within a hundred yards of the ground the observer managed to leave his seat and, i succeeded in hoisting himself on to the tipper plane of the machine, where, ly- ■ iag on the canvas, he was able i-o restore the balance of* the machine by moving the plane by hand. The motor controls were undamaged, • and as soon as the equilibrium of the aeroplane was restored it was able to return to the .Allied lines and land without further mishap, with a bomb still on board. Meanwhile the observer was perched on the. top oi . .a aeroplane. The Bulgars were so dumbfounded' bv his daring conduct that it did not occur to them to open fire, which probably would have brought down the two heroes.