BEHIND THE LINES.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 February 1917, Page 7

BEHIND THE LINES.

OUR 'TROOPS IN FRANCE

WONDERFUL ORGANISATION. Describing l ' ll ' conditions in which the New Zealand soldiers find themselves in France, an Auckland resident writes to a friend as follows: ''Through the country districts we can admire the wonderful industry of the French people. The land is in "thorough cultivation, but some of it remains to be broken in, like much of our New Zealand land. The absence of fences, and the custom of country people living together in villages, instead of having farmhouses scattered over the countryside, are naturally strange in our eyes." Where we are now, the land is held in very small holdings, intensely cultivated and very few cattle are met with.

FRENCH VILLAGE LIFE. "Lately we have had several changes of billets, which meant moving from one small farm to another. Now we are in a village. In a town we fill all the vacant warehouses, lofts, and any sort of building whatever that possesses a roof. Now Zcalanderg ooze out from every street, ally, and courtyard of the town. Naturally, we fraternise with the inhabitants, mostly womenfolk, and get on famously with them. Their small amount of English and our equally scanty French suffice to keep our relations cordial. The cafes and estaminets—and they exist in abundance—are thronged with New Zealanders at night The French habit of having a serial glass seated at sniall tables has become very popular with our fellows. Drinking is so much more leisurely, and rati" are not so prone to excess. ' The drinks retailed are light wines, and Fiench Deer, and it would take an exceksivtly weak head to get drunk on either. ''Though you in New Zealand did not pass the measure for early hotel closing, it is in vogue here, as applied to soldiers. The establishments close at eight. Having a meal at an estaminet is rather a complicated business. One generally has to bring one's own provisions, which are ther- cooked by the voluble French lady well cooked, too, only patience is required. THE! SOLDIERS' DAILY ROUND.

"During the day a short route-march is generally the means adopted to keep our men fit. Fatigue work around the billets or through the town is done, too, but it is all in the way of light work, and we are given the opportunity to have baths whenever possible. ToWn pumping in the square is a great pas.time. Really, it is a pleasant sight to see a braAvny Now Zealander, just fresh from the Somme, pumping water for the women and children, who come along with buckets and jugs, 'Merci, monsieur,' is the acknowledgment. The motor-lorries, baggage waggoim, and the numerous colonials in tbe streets, breathe quite a spirit of vitality ana vigor to these quaint, oldfashioned towns.

' ON THE FRENCH ROADS. '•The countryside is a welter of mud on account of the wet weather. What under peace conditions would have been g'fen fields, is an oozy sea of sticky, "rc.y mud. We see mud in New Zealand, but this French mud has a gluey consistency all its own. The main arterial highways are good, but quite an army of 'men 'is employed in keeping them in condition. It is on these roads that one sec? the motor-lorries bringing up supplies. An endless line, or chain, is what it really is. One line goes, and another line returns on the other side of the road. New and then will be seen a powerful steam tractor, with a caterpillar belt on the wheels, bringing up huge pieces of avtilieiy Batteries of guns drawn bv beautiful horses vary the traffic. ilareliirifc down the centre of tbe road are to be Been soldiers from all parts of the Empire, steel-hatful, uu\ with equipment and ride. Dumps, or storage stations, exist at various t.oints—bales of hay and horse fodder, then boxes and packages of biseuils, Kef, and other fojdstulis. The Mipplies of shells, too, are a sight for one's eyes. Tbe munition-makers now can keep the demand well in hand. When you see what a gigantic organisation the British have created at the front, one can think confidently of the future. What is satisfactory is the quiet, (flieiently, business-like way t lings lare dene, and the fine motor-waggons, the quantity of horses and mules, and their condition and equipment. Then the slate of the artillery shows that things have been done well. No one knows when the war will end, but there never is any doubt but that we have got the enemy's measure."

FOOD IN THE CAMPS. As to the conditions of camp life, the writer says: "Bacon is the staple dish m the morning. At mid-day a stew of bully-beef or fresh meat anil vegetables is supplied, and at night tinned food is available. Bread or biscuits, butter, jam and cheese are in ample suply. The tea made by the New Zealand cooks is the real stuff. Tobacco, in the way of cigarettes and tinned stuff, is supplied weekly What is very much appreciated is the ration of ruin. The most confirmed teetotallers will succumb to it. Under the trying conditions and the stress of life at the front, it has really great value as a tonic and preservative against colds."