WAR HUMOUR.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11512, 7 October 1915, Page 4

WAR HUMOUR.

A FRENCHMAN'S LETTER. A touch of humour occasionally relieves the painful stories tliat appear in the despatches from the European battlefields. Her? is the translation of a French soldier's letter to the London "Times," -which is at once "humorous' 3 and "human."' The soldier writes:— "We had been., shelled day and night, and had not been reviotualled for several days. True, wo still had. our ■emergency rations, bnt these -wore growing very scanty; the hunger, cold, and the heavy firing were taking the heart out of us. One day I was teenfc back several miles with a message to the commanriatit. "I found the commandant, but he was asleep in his chair. Good for him! I can give my message to the next in command, but I will wait a little and look. Happy man I Dozing with a whole lot of now bread on the table within reach! How good it smells! Perhaps he will wake and give me some! ' Mon commandant!' I say. No answer. I cough and shuffle, and again say ' Mon commandant,' but there is no response. Now I arn very near the bread, and my pals were hungry, very hurgry, and here—well, they can always get some more by cyclists. I write down my message: the chief still I ask his permission to take away his loaf of bread. Ho does not say 'No!' I take it and return as quickly as possible to my trench. What n reception I received! " Tho next day I was again told oil to carry a message. I anx not keerj for it because It is to tho same eoinmsndant. He is not asleep this time, but stands .stern and hooded, pe receives my message and gives mo the answer. Then—' By the way, who came to me yesterday ?' " ' I—l think it was I, mon commandant.' "'You think! Well, I had a loaf on my table.' "' Mon commandant, you arc lucky. I wish we had a loaf in our trench.' "'Do you? But do you know somo silly ass stole my loaf F' I stood at salute while he called that rascal many names. Then I ventured, ' Perhaps you will get another.' "'I have got one,' he said, 'and now I will give you a slice, of it, and we will call that square with the one you took from me yesterday while I had one eye shut. 5 So saying, lie blinked wickedly. I caught the look between tho big moustache and the great hood."