WAR NOTES.

Wanganui Herald, Volume L, Issue 14745, 26 October 1915, Page 4

WAR NOTES.

In the course of an interesting letter, wiii,en from Oallipou on August Ihth, .Major Kalla, of Dunedin, who in iu eom‘Uiui.t of Ao. 1 How lexer Jiutiory, says: "1 have nothing hut praise lor the men of my battery. V\ e have had more fixing man any other battery ashore up to the pie.AU,, and their service of mo guns ..as been simply .splendid. liuniig the h.avy tiling cu ten days ago, not only were they uring all nay and partly t.iroagh the nignt, but each night they uad to tiansport and prepare ainmunition (ahieh is very heavy work) for the following day s shooting. 'ilic men have put up some marvellous performances in i tus country: only those who have seen them iau lealisu this to the full. I saw ail then lighting, and felt very sad when I realised Us euect, though lucre was a savage satisfaction m our annihilation of tuo Turks by artillery fire tile following day, when they attacked in thousands. 1 never exjiect to take part iu siieh gunnery again."

Privates Sloan and Wilton, two returned wounded soldiers, arrived home at Wollongong, New South Wales, flic other week, ana were accorded a civic reception. In returning thanks. Private Wilt m emphasised the need tor every ablebodied man without encumbrance to volunteer. He said those that were in a position to volunteer, and did not do so, ».eto practically murderers, because they were content to allow their fellow Aust alians at Gallipoli to remain without timport, and tluu bo killed. He had lest t ,o sight of one eye, but ho would return to the lighting hue if the military "ould have him, rather than that his mates over there should go without, support.

Writing to his parents under date August lllb, Lieutenant Fred blames, oi Lower Moutere, says: “I had had bullets ‘pipping’ around me and Flipping dirt over me all morning, hut to i ave a shell strike the ground and explode three yards from you i« fairly helli.h. 'lire result—six shrapnel bullets in ilia left arm from shoulder to just below the elbow (well peppered), and ouc entered just under left armpit, and came out through my left breast just above tiie heart (narrow e-scape). That one has given me very little trouble—-ami auo.bor one smashed up my forefinger on my right hand, making a total of eight bullets catching me all at once (too many to be pleasant); but fortunately I am getting along splendidly.” Lieutenant btarnes has since embarked for Kugland.

Uy sheer grit, a West Au-tralian farmer has won a place in the ranks of tho Australian Imperial Force. Many weeks ago he sold his small farm in the back blocks of West Australia, and went t i Perth to enlist. Ho had, however, eont acted sandy blight, which so affected hi.. e eight, that the medical officer refa eu io pass him. After making one or '■vo further unsuccessful efforts, he came t > Melbourne (says the Argus), and again offered himself as a volunteer. He had by this time travelled fully 11000 miles in (> der to win an opportunity to fight for lis country; but, he met witJi no better

success at the Victoria Harracks. With but a slight ray of hope left, ho declared t' -it he would seek work, to maintain himself while under mediea* treatment: ami a paragraph was inserted in the Argus, stating his case. F.mployment was given him, and the young farmer placed himself under the care of an eye special-

id. His reward has now come, for he is iu training at one of the military camps rear Melbourne.

There has been a remarkable increase ■n the numbers of aeroplanes employed on tho western front, and the aircraft of the Allies in France and Flanders arrow counted hv, hundreds. No official figures are available regarding the aeroo'ane strength of the belligerents, but there can be no doubt that Germany also has largely increased her number of machines. A message from Paris recently hinted at tho probability of a remarkable development in a ' r warfare in the near future. A party of British and Ameni on 'ournMi-ts. we were told, insnected a French “air fleet" of two hundred new

armoured gun-carrying aeroplanes, and witnessed tome remarkable and thrilling manoeuvres. Besides numerous small biplanes of high power, and credited with e -peed of 90 miles an hour, mention was '■ade of a monster “battle-plane," capable of a speed of 71 miles an hour, carrying a crew of 12 men, and armed with two H-inch guns. This machine is doubtless •-ry much after the pattern of the Ruslan giants of the Sikorsky typo. The improvement in French aviation is said to b« wonderful. One factory is turning out five aeroplanes a day. and others nearly equal this number.

Regarding the great development iu the voval Firing Corps, the exploits of FriHsh naval and military airmen afford the best proof. The material strength of Britain's “air navv" is an official secret. 1,,,t th- lis f s of appointments bf officers published daily by the Admiralty show that the personnel of the service is increasing at a remarkably rapid rate. According to the .Inly Navy List, the Royal Va al Air Service numbered 494- officers. Including 12 wing commanders, At no”ad.on commanders, 45 flight commanders. r “) flight lieu! "limits, and 247 flight sub"'vt»nan‘K. Th" .Tune Array List shows hat on Mav 91 the military wing of tho Royal Flying Corps numbered 99'’ officers, id "ding 24 s-madron commanders. <l9 flight commander*, and upwards of 259 Hrino- officers. Lance numbers are m training at the British Aviation Schools, and during the last four months many row flying officers have been appointed to both wings of the Flying Corps.