LOSS OF A STEAMER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15864, 10 March 1915, Page 8

LOSS OF A STEAMER.

VESSEL PROBABLY MINED: RESCUE OF THE CREW. (Received March 10, 1 a.m.) London, March 9. The steamer Bengrove, which was reported to have been torpedoed .off Ilfracombe, left Barry coal-laden. A heavy explosion occurred five miles off Ilfracombe. A steamer picked up the crew. It is believed the vessel was mined.

CHAPLAIN IN TRENCHES. LEARNT TO COOK AND WASH. BULLETS ALL AROUND. Tho Rev. L. F. Tyrwhitt, chaplain-in-ordinary to the King, and rector of Rolleston, near Burton-on-Trent, writing from "Somewhere near Somewhere else," relates his experiences as a chaplain with the army in France. "Soon after 7.30 a.m. I started off to the trenches, calling first of all at the headquarters of the regiment. The roof of their headquarters is riddled with bullets. From there we went to the trenches, across some fields, and entered by a ditch, which passes into what is known as the communication trench. I remained in the trenches about three hours. I could see the German trenches 50yds in front. I also used-tho periscope, but the frosty air and mist prevented me seeing much. One of our men was polishing up a German helmet which no money could buy! •In many places the trenches were both deep and dry, in others one had to keen one's head well down and also plunge through water, icy cold and up to one's knees.

" As we.left one line of trenches for another, we had to run hard over the more exposed places, and though there was less firing going on than usual, bullets kept striking trees and stones all around us. I've no time to tell you of my own domestic arrangements, how I have learned to cook my own bacon, how much further the same plate goes without being washed than T ever dreamed of, jam on a bacon-ny plate gaining greatly in flavour! Shaving with cold water in my backyard at Holieston would have seemed quite strange till I came out here! And why have your linen washed by others when one can so easily wash it oneself in a canvas bucket, in the water used previously for various other purposes!' is a question which puzzles me to answer!"