WELCOME TO SPRING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15887, 7 April 1915, Page 8

WELCOME TO SPRING.

P HERALD OF ADVANCE. ST. PATRICK'S DAY AT FRONT. TWO FLAGS SIDE BY SIDE. Times and Sydney Sun Services. (Received April 6, 730 p.m.) London, April 5. An officer writes: "On St. Patrick's Day I saw a number of men sporting sprigs of shamrock in their caps- An Irish flag materialised from somewhere, and was stuck at the top of the parapet amidst a burst of cheering. Shortly after a Union Jack was placed by the side of the Green Ensign. Everyone was wildly enthusiastic. The whole trench burst spontaneously into the National Anthem- It was quite unrehearsed and sounded splendid. " Thank goodness," continues the writer, "it is spring. Warm sunlight means movement, the drying up of these abominable marshes, and a great advance which will terminate this wicker' war. It is a great prospect, a line 200 miles long on the west and another line double the length in the east, sweeping irresistibly onwards until they finally crush the German armies between them. I hope I may bo there tp see the end. It is an enormous privilege to take part in this war. " Apart from the question of right and wrong the whole thing is absolutely epic. Everything is on a colossal scale. Millions of men are struggling over the map of Europe. Gigantic guns are hurling tons of metal with every shot. Hundreds of factories are feverishly pouring out supplies of munitions. Yet when one is hauled out of bed in the morning these high falutin views vanish."