"STRAFERS," NOT "BOCHES."

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11512, 7 October 1915, Page 5

"STRAFERS," NOT "BOCHES."

TOMMY'S NEW CUSS WORDS. " Strafe" has been aniK'.v.'tl by the British, forces- In the l.irit trenches nowadays the word is used indifferently as a noun, a verl). an adjective, a " cuss word." and a term of greeting. Soldier asks soldier how ho i.-i >r,ruling '' to-day. When ihe (jerinans a.ro not called " bodies " they arc railed 'St-ralers." " Won't- you strata a little lor usP" Tommy sings out to the (ierman trenches when they are close. To carve a. low! is to (i strain " a fowl, as Mr l* rede rick Palmer, in an amusing description in t-he New York "Sun.'' fit' a, dinner in a British officer's " mcs.s hall in I<r;utee points out. "When tlio cook was inside his kitchen. v he writes. " thr-re wasn't any room to spill snivelling on. the. floor. The kitchen was about ;ili, scpiare, with hoard nails and root, which "was coy r-i'tvl ivith tar |hi per and a layer of earth set level with parapet.. As the chicken roa.stcd and the frying potatoes frizzled, an occasional bullet pinged over the irenohi'.s. That officers' mess hall, next- t-o the kitchen. and built in the same fashion, had some boards nailed on posts sunk i:i tbo ground i'or a table, which was proof against tipping when you climbed o\er it or squ-ce/.cd around it to your place. My hosts were the officers of lwo companies. Their rcgi men i. nc will call i heKing's Own Particular Fusi'mr:-.. If ! gave Ibe real name wTTieh is against, censorship regulations. I might be >aying that it was about- the iinesi. proudest o|d regiment in th<> 15ritif.lt Army, which would be invidious m view of all the other lines!., proudest old regiments in the British Army. sti: \i'Ki> run ki:\. "The spirit nl' rivalry urnong recjiniuit.s is like thai- aiming out battleships )cr bat-tie and target, practice honours. Ami tin? British helie.vc jo this .spirit ; it is oi lb*' hlood ami lionc of their army system. Th« K.O.P.I''. must stick though half the men are dov>ii. beejtuse i;. js the K.O.P.K To you lllri.s sweet and danger i-, life 'I lie oldest of lhe<e youngsters who gathered for dinner i\ as about f e. though when he put, on. an air of authority he seemed « hoi it- foriy. It- was not right t-o «sk tho youngest his age. ' Mas anyone asked iuin it- yet?' one mfjuired. referring to some f(uesiio;i of i lie guest. Nui yd- Then all fog."| iier : When do you think that- t-he war will 1-e h is tl;.- eternal (pusiion o| the trencher the army, and the world. \Y< had ij over helot'' t!ie solciicr cook brought- on the roast.- chicken. Who would carve;-' Who know lu-w to <-;irv<-? .Modesty passed the honour io its neighbour till a 'wave man said: "1 will—l will strafe the chicken!' 'Thar. galJju.it youngster oj iho K.0.P.F.. in the midst of bantering advice, succeeded in .separating all the meat from the bones without landing n leg in anybody's lap or a. wing m anybody's eve. He was appointed permanent. • strafer ' of .ill ihe fowls thai came to I able.