BEHIND THE LINES.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 14126, 19 October 1916, Page 8

BEHIND THE LINES.

; NON-COMBATANTS IN THE .; DANGER ZONE. from the firing line in France in r August, one of the Salvation, Army r cha.plainssays: "Anothsr week has gone, and I still have to thank God for His care and protection. Last Saturday afternoon I ran out a few miles with our second in command (a major, born in my native town), and accompanied him on an inspection of some work our men were, doing close to the firing line. Wo got there safely, and were returning

i_i - i , v V-'.'- :..^.^f through .a village where there ■ old . church, ThU ;.building , Sva3^6jiWg shelled, as we. passed up the majn "street. Some of the shell? were bursting abea'd of us, on the road, and we took shelter behind a' small; weli-built. villa. ; ; Immediately aftertvattds a'siiell earner Over and burst over the. housey scattering '-its contents in every ''direction. I ;16ok^d around the edrner td see what damage was. don|\ and theri , fteai'd" the dull 'plonk' of a guii in the enemas lines. I knew the sound. 'well* and a second or two later recognised the- screech 1 made by the approaching' shell. You geri£tally get a few seconds' notice in' this wa)y. 'Look out !' pressed, myself flit against the \vall. arflin d" moment 'tine shrapnel"burst over our heads, hltlihg the officer on. the side of thl; temple,, and injuring ,a soldier in tlVe.'te'g, '-arid a. lad in jhe; chest, 100 yardi • up the street. For "a .moment I \thougMT' I ".was" hit, and felt' greatly 'digtressed. ■seV'iny friend lying huddled on lij^grpiynd,. 4uite uncor/scious. I have him before he was taken to the .ftbspital, away from our .district- We hope he recovers. One of the sti*angest : sight's "here "is '.'to see shelb landing 'oh a prominent burld- . ing ar.d withiri a few hundred yards to »<>e ch'ildrei;/ playing a game something' like hop-scotch, and women- ieaning out ; of their uPPcr window!, looking ,at t\ie, show like some great pantomime affair. For some weeks the men have been at it day and night, and tHe only way in whicli one can see them is by going out to the trenchos or wherever they are working. It means little rest often, but one must keep in touch with them. What with visiting the lads in their abodes— some queer places tlfey live in, tpo — .looking after sti'ay ' men, and seeing to the censoring of letters, and other business* matters in. camp, I have, few hours to spare?."