THE PALESTINE CAMPAIGN.

North Otago Times, Volume CV, Issue 13935, 18 July 1917, Page 1

THE PALESTINE CAMPAIGN.

A, HELD SECRETARY'S EXPERIENCES, '

COMFORTS IN THE DESERT.

The last mail from Hie East brings to lifiml a must interesting report from Mr Pninlc K. Wilkinson, of Duncdin, who is now 0110 of the field secretaries of the' Young Men's Christian Association, serving with the Now Zealand Expeditionary Force? in Egypt and Palestine, Mr Wilkinson's letter gives a vivid idea of how greatly tlio association's canteen work is needed, and how very keenly N ft is appreciated by tlio men in their time of need. "Tlio last three months," writes Mr Wilkinson, "I've been following the railway out East, ami this is the seventh camp I've been in since I left M . Leaving M about January 181 was at M (I.) for a bare fortnight before I was moved on to open up at A (II.) There for a fortnight, and then to A (I.) in the same camp. Another fortnight, ami on to S.Z., and in little more tlmn a fortnight on to R, When I got to K.Y. I found that there was n chance to get right through to the railhead, At midnight we decided to go on, and by midday the following day all arrangements were made, and Parry and I (with a dozen others to help) were unloading the first two truckloads of stores, while Vclvin temporarily took charge of the place at K.Y., opening just that morning. I shall never forget that Easter time, We arrived at midday. By C p.m. the marquee was up, and all the stores under cover, Some more stores, and six orderlies arrived about 8 p.m. By 9,30 the following morning (Good Friday) we had opened the canteen. The crowd was terrific. Men were waiting for six or even eight hours to be served. One man at the head of the- queue refused live shillings for Ins place. Imagine as many men .as your city lias inhabitants who have been living oil the simplest of Army rations for weeks—aud then tlio chance of a change. Men waited through lunch hour, and through dinner hour'. Behind the counter the men worked with a will. At 8 p.m. we had to close, But the. men would not go away, Could you wonder.' Then word arrived of another truck—and no fatigue parly was available. Willingly every men offered his services not only to unload the truck, but to carry its contents across to the tent. Fortunately '.for them it was chietly bulky tables and forms, for they finished it in one journey, and then they fell in again, and we finished serving them, At midnight two heavily ladjn trucks arrived, and Parry, Griffiths, three orderlies and myself -were busy

till 4. a.m. A dim light was beginning to show in the cast when we tunieil in. At ten o'cloek a fatigue party of thirtysix Indian troops arrived to erect the large recreation marquee—ooft by 30f f ., Not one of them knew anything about it, and not one of them could speak a word of English, In desperation I offered any man who could come .and speak Hindustani ten shillings, The following day a man who could do so approached me to know what I wanted. In four hoiira we had the r.arruee U]i and equipped—and the piano play'.:i;r. At 10.JJ0 p.m. one hundred'and fifty men arrived after four hours on the train as thirsty as the desert can make one-. We fixed them up with tea, and the following morning (Easter Sunday) utilised them for unloading and carrying across two truekloads of stores. The rest of

that first week is ono chaotic memory of hustle. The previous' record of takings in a Y.JLC.A. canteen was £2OOO in a week. In two days we took £1750, and in the first seven days we took about £BISO. Then the other canteens arrived, and the strain was over. When the fighting started we found a real op( portunity in foeding the men as they arrived at the casualty clearing station. Cocoa or limejuice, biscuits and cigarettes wero the principal lines distributed. You can have no idea how gratified the boys were. A number of secretaries took it in turns day ami night while tlio rush lasted. One man who'had lain out for three days without food or drink said as I was feeding

him, "I was dreaming yesterday that someone was giving me something to eat anil drinlc." The splendid endurance of the wounded and their dauntless cheerfulness defies description, A Scotch boy of about nineteen was smiling cheerfully as I passed round somo cigarettes and sweets. "How are you, Jock?" "Fine,'.' he replied. He looked a bilndle of bandages, so I queried, "How many did you.stop?" "Eleven," was his still cheerful reply, "but most of them aren't very serious." Another man I discovered who was looking through a ward for his sergeant, whom he had heard was there. Ho chatted away quite cheerfully, about the differ-

enfc men'in his platoon. Only incidentally did it come out that he had lost his ore just that morning by .a bullet wound. At 5 a.m. one morning I overheard part of the conversa:ion between two men just in from the firing line waiting to linve their wounds dressed., They were discussing the value of anastigmatic camera lenses. The spirit in AvliU'li our help was accepted by the Casualty Clearing Station Staff can be gauged by the following letter, which came to hand a few days ago:— "The Secretary Y.M.C.A.—Dear Sir, —1 wish fn take this opportunity of thanking you mid the other gentlemen of yq\ir association on behalf of myself

and the wounded for' tlic very groat assistance which you have rendered during.-the. two actions, about—— Your aid in providing, comforts and • in .ministering to the wounlled has been j I most valuable,' and. T have appreciated, | very. Hindi the dfivotiQn of your work- | ets in this good a lyitnesj of |lieir uuti/ing energy, both > Si-/* _ '~.'a t J . ' 4 * ''

i faithfully recording tho sentiments of tho wounded, my staff anil in expressing our united'thanks .for. all you have done.—l beg to remain, yours truly, (Signed), R.\J. Cohill, Lieutpni ant-Colonel R.A.M.C,, 0.C., Casualty I Clearing Station." I At present ,we are some miles back | from-the'firing ..line, but nevertheless [ within range of the big guns. Tho other morning somo fragments of' shell spread to within tho area of our tent ropes, and -;he morning before a bomb had been ill opped about three hundred yards awaj One of the secretaries daily takes the camel loads of 'stores up to the troops for free distribution, but a large number of them nro able to send in occasionally for what they want. So far as our water supply will permit, wo run free hot cocoa to the men coming to the tents. The recreation tent is crowded every night to overflowing. Last night we had a ventriloquist and his doll, tonight au impromptu concert, to-morrow 'night the mid-week service, and on Thursday an elocutional recital by a Roman Catholic Padre. By Friday, I hope we shall have the cinema, We luive started two or Ihree Bible classes, but their members have moved "further .up." Last night wo had about twenty, to-night about sixteen for half an hour's Bible study and prayer iu the Devotional Tent. This is tho best part of the whole job. There is plenty of dust, and swarms of flies, but nevertheless the game is still good, Have had several air' raids lately, and have had to reduce tenting to one marquee and one tent; but pictures tonight and Mother's Day on Sunday nevertheless,