WITH THE NURSES IN FRANCE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12085, 14 August 1917, Page 6

WITH THE NURSES IN FRANCE.

Writing to her mother, a nurse who has been on duty in France since 1914, states—"We arrived at our new quarters yesterday (April 10) Tho camp is in a stubble lield-which sounds nice *nd clean—but at present it is the last word in mud. We just slosh about the place in gum boots and sou-westers jind hope for finer, warmer weather. To-dav they have put down a great many "duck-boards, which is a vast improvement and comfort. Last night I thought I would be careful to put my clothes whero they would keep dry, as the floor of my tent was wet nearly nil over, so 1 put them right in the middle, silly-like, forgetting the little ventilation slips, and as we had several blizzards during the night, tho snow drovo in and so on to all my clothes. "Water is almost, as precious and as scarce as gold, half a pint bas to go a long way, so wo can't bathe or wash too much—which really is a blessing this cold weather. We have a little hot water for our hot water bottles, and that has to do for bathing, too. The Hear Germans spoilt all the water in the wells beforo they left, and we have, to send a long way for all tho water used by the whole hospital. Our journey here may have been interesting, but it certainly was sad. Poziores, La Boisselle, Le Series, are all level with the ground. At Poziercs the name of the station on a BTg board was left standing on what used to be the platform. It looked such mockery to see the name of the place clear and clean, and all round it ruin, trees splintered and burnt, houses heaps of bricks, and beams and iron frameworks looking like a giant game of spellicans; broken up perambulators and house furniture ind the surrounding country churned up into liuge craters, and shell holes and solitary graves dotted all about. Wo saw tanks stuck in the mud, a rubied aeroplane, two trains upside down, guns peeping out here and there, and there were, although I am glad to say I did not see them—unburied Germans. Thiepval also we came through, and Bapaumo. Wo asre cpiito close there. The roads have been mended in a way, btot in spite of that wo had j to cling on with our legs and arms 1 and any way we could to keep inside 1 the ambulance. One box full of 1 groceries was shot up and tossed like a pancake, and all the Quaker oats, raisins and marmalade poured over the floor. Parts of the road were knocked into craters and there they had made little temporary log roads round tho damage. I think we must hav e been about the first women up this way from the way tho troops cheered and waved, and ono old man said, ' It was a, shame to send them women 'ere.' I am on night duty with two other sisters to-night, and it will soon b e morning. Tho night ha« been alive with vivid gun flashes and fitful moonlight, and the ever present loud and distant noise of the guns. Star shells aro pretty, too, spraying up into the sky and floating gracefully down. It is so cold I live in my jersey and big coat (which is very muddy) indoor and out. Yon seem bobbing in and out of tents, you never quite know whether vou are j n or out. There is a big patch "of wire entanglement in our camp, and many shell holes. The wire entanglement is German and very fierce. I don't wonder the men said it was such a treat to see tho country that the Germans had retreated over, untouched by shells. Thero is nothing beautiful about the other. This place is blown to bits, too. When there is a blizzard and the tents flap there i s such a »©iF* flue cant hear ouesclf speak." '