LIFE IN CAMP

Otago Witness, Issue 3227, 19 January 1916, Page 54

LIFE IN CAMP

FACTS OF NEW YEAR

(By L. S. Fanning.)

"Half a band, right wheel," was somebody's playful order to the musicians, as they marched off tho Trentham parade ground at 7 o'clock on Monday morning. The bandsmen, like other units, were not at full stregth; but they were in good wind after the holidays, and they sweetly tempered tho physical exercises to the various squads, busy with tho prescribed gestures, swingings, bondings, and twistings. Perhaps a thankfulness at being out of that performace was blown by tho band into cornet, clarinet, trombone, and horn, and beaten into the drum. So tho New Year began for a great number at Trentham, and differently for others, who were preparing for a turn at the rifle range, A few were brought by the New Year hours into the "klink" (the camp lock-up), where they took their punishment more or less philosophically. Early on Monday morning, which was bright and warm, tho top halves of the prison windows were clown. As the writer was passing he saw tho crown of & head rising cautiously, as a frog in a pool beso thy enemies A pair of eyes peered quoerly through the bars above some frosted glass. "Then a hand went up stealthily, and tho fingers waggled a greeting—from an unknown to an unknown, Then tho corner was turned.

SEARCH PARTIES FOR STRAGGLERS. On Monday the Trentham list of "the missing" was about 300, including all kinds of absentees—the sick, the pseudo-sick, and the sound. Of course, some dallied in the same paths of case and pleasure as certain comrades (now confined to barracks) did at Christmas, and, after failing to catch one train, they went on tho old lino: "As well to bo hung- for a sheep as a lamb.' On Monday tho picket for the city was trebled —36 men were out instead of tho usual 12— and Wellington was thoroughly ransacked. In these days any soldier seen outside the camp is liable to bo asked to show his pass, for tho picket has orders to inspect the document. THE C.B.'S NEW YEAR. Four times tho buglo blew near headquarters at Trentham on Now Year's J&\rc, and four times the members of tho " 0.8. ' squad (restricted to the camp, because they had overstayed Christmao leave) assembled at tho double, and tho clatter of the running over tho loose metal was enjoyed by other soldiers. Four times they answered to their name 3, and four times they dispersed, with faces which reflected various moods. An expression of sullenness j is comparatively raro among tho "C.B.'s" They are as men who feel that they are paying a penalty, for fun or frolic or excitement or sleep or languor, deliberately taken, but occasionally one meets a person with a grievance that his sentence is comparatively severe. He goes into details of other cases with a nimble tongue, worthy of tho traditional "bush-lawyer." One such complainant remarked that he had been only five hours late in his return from some days of leave, and ho was given " seven days' OB." Then, as a kind of afterthought, ho added: "I suppose I wouldn't have got so much if I hadn't answered back." That was the main point. He was asked why he was late, and he replied coolly that he had done as others had done; he had made the most of his leave. He was then reminded that a soldier's selfishness in such a matter could make the work harder for comrades in camp, and his comment was to the effect: "Each man for himself." In short, as ho put it himself, his argument -was practically on© word, " self." The debate was abruptly closed by two words and two letters: "Seven days* C. 8." In the gloaming of December 31 "C.B.'s" sat on or near tho doorsteps of their hutments and blew the blue smoke citywards. Somo were in the institutes, but quietness was about them. The usual reason offered for the stay in quarters wa3 "no money." but it is truo that numbers of soldiers deliberately preferred tho peace of the camp to the noisiness of tho city streets and the smokiness and sloppiness and raucousness of the bars during the rush hours of New Year's Eve.

More than one spoke of a vanished overcoat, which is believed to have, been regarded by somebody as a Christmas gift. A soldier who loses his own great-coat may borrow (without asking) the garment of another (not in the same company), and the owner, when he discovers the " loan." which he deems to be a loss, may decide himself to be a borrower —and thus tho "loan" could be passed on indefinitely. It ie possible to imagine coats as currency among a large number of men simply because one coat h.ns disappeared, but finally payment has to be made for any article that is missing id the stock-taking before a reinforcement embarks HARPIES' TRAPS FOR SOLDIERS.

There is evidence that predatory women of the vampire type—the unclean "rag anci a bone and a hank of hair "—have set traps into which a few gullible young soldiers have fallen. It is a trick to secure, by formal warrant, a portion of the dupes' pay while they are on active service. When a man's mind is soft and easily pliable by reason of alcoholic solvent, he is persuaded that it is his duty to allot part of his pay to a certain harpy. Of course, the plot is much more subtle than it can be made to appear in a family journal, and the criminals do not always succeed. It is suspected that a certain woman has attempted a farming of impressionable young men (probably very young) by means of wily girls, scented and smiling, and purporting to be respectable. A discerning eve could pick the class a block away—tut not every young soldier has that ability. As far as tho writer has ascertained, only a few men have been thus ensnared into signing away money to tho vampires. Lately they became bolder, and tried a game of blackmail, but this was quickly detected and foiled. Tho civil authorities, as well as the military, are vigilant, and they are confident that they can defeat the parasites' designs. In this matter, too, tho camp chanlains, whoso practical religion has a frankness and robustness and healthfulness which command the respect of men, are very helpful—and the signs are that the machinations of tho despoilers will bo well countered. MOMENTS WITH BUCKJUMPERS. On Monday and Tuesday evenings, Barton's Circus was back at tho old stand, not far from tho Trentham Camp's main entrance, and the men had special leave to find some fun there. Naturally, tho best-liked

turns were those done by soldiers themselves on and off trick ponies and buckjumpers. Many a man tried for bareback honours on a fat littlo pony, whose sleek barrel could not be firmly gripped by the knees. Somo kept an uncertain seat for a round or two amid cheers and shouts of encouragement, which changed suddenly into laughter at a comical inglorious fall, with tho legs and arms at all angles on tho grass.

Next came a buckjumping competition for soldiers. An embodiment of dynamite, named "After Dark," was led in, and tomebody shouted: "Good-bye Oliver," when tho timo came for tho mounting. Steed and rider parted at once; they probably split a second. Tho next equine hurricane vas "Tornado," who quickly emptied tho saddle. Thus the riding was nothing but a succession of somersaults till a big bony animal, "Rooky Ned," was brought in. An infantryman seated himself cautiously, and as soon as the rocking-machine began tho high stepping, he took a tight grip of the pommel, much to "Rockv Ned's" disgust, and the amusement of tho onlookers. Tho indignant horse gyrated around tho ring five or six times, and unwound tho rider's puttice, but could not break that hefty hold of the pommel. So "Rocky Ned'' retired beaten, and hurt in his inner feelings as a respectable professional, vanquished by an amateur's unromantio ruse.