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Free Lance, Volume XVII, Issue 914, 18 January 1918, Page 22

A good deal of "slop" sympathy is expressed for "our boys" who are preparing for the Front, but a little practical consideration for their comfort might weir be extended to. them without overloading the war exchequer. The sufferings of the mien on the journey from Auckland to Wellington military camps on the troop train is a case

iii pointj and is thus'described by one of the victims: "I've traveled some on the Main- Trunk train, but never such a journey as'the last one. It was= awful. We were herded like dorgs-— bloomin' dorgs. Endless hours of sore sit-me-downs and cramped legs, yawns, smells of feet, perspiration, and; bad tempers. We travelled in. old style; carriages, and hurtled through the night grumbling and growling. _ Sleep was absolutely but of the question. If you attempted it and dared close your eyes, somebody would pinch, your coat, or something,- or perhaps a guard.* would force his way through the discontented mob and punch large holes in tickets which were tattered/and sore distressed. Some genial . wit would attempt a song, and murder gleamed! in everybody's eye, and he was howled at and smothered with a. wet blanket. Talk about the soldierly spirit. Bah.!' You want to travel on a, troop train to see men at their worst. A two hours*" break at Palmerston came as a relief, and from there to Wellington we travelled on the Napier express. It was some good, believe me."