Daily Kennebec journal., 1916-04-04

But they say you are never a soldier
Until you have frequented this abode
at least once. Then comes paymas
ter's Office, company orderly, and
quartermaster store rooms all in one.
Facing these on the other side of the
road are large numbers of huts.
These are laid off in blocks C bat
talions to a block), each hut is num-
bered and holds 40 men, and every
man has his little space to hang his
equipment. His bed is three boards
strung up on brackets 6 inches from
the floor with a straw palliasse, and
four blankets. He can rest quite
comfortably. A little back Of these
huts is the cook room, about nine big
ranges all in a line attached to a big
building where the whole battalion
go in and sit down and eat. They
line up first at the door with their
army mess tin, and each man gets
an equal share. Attached to this
mess room again Is the dry and wet
canteens. A soldier has to pay D.
or cents Canadian money for a pint
Of beer. This canteen is open 4 hours
a day. The dry canteen is a regular
general store. Both are owned and
operated by the Junior army and
navy stores and they pay a certain
per cent monthly to each battalions
regimenta1 fund, out Of their profit
FURTHER back again comes the officers
quarters These buildings look Just
like common dwelling houses with
buildings attached for messing and
sleeping apartments.
Each night orders are issued what
the routine will be for the morrow,
and we have to go through the same
experiences in a sham way, as the
boys do at the front. For example:
A few days ago after a decent Cana
dian snow storm. the battalion was
ordered out at o'clock at night with
full pack. We were advancing across
a field when the order was given to
dig in, and we had to stay there all
night without blankets. Nevertheless.
the boys spirits are good. They are
urea OF drilling, and clamor for act
I've service. We have a draft of $50
all ready. not knowing what minute
they will be called to go, as notice
generally is very short. When 7 say
along with many more Canadian bat
tallons, to be a reserve unit Our
DUTY will be to reinforce the older
patta!ions at the front A private,
While he has a good time in the hu,
at night. never knows what minute
ne may be called to duty, so he has
TO be in readiness at all times.
l Know of one chap while on isolat-
ed guard duty, his meals somehow
were neglected, and after the next
rellef came on and he was released.
ne goes out and steals some hens
1rom a farmer and cooks them. Com
pants came in, for all the evidence
was there. but where necessity was
the mother of invention, doubt if Re
will be harmed much.
soldiers irrespective Of ranks have
certain examinations to pass before
they can go to the front; then they
nave to be fit physically, etc, bu4
some get left after all the hard train
Ing, and that is the biggest disap-
pointment of all.
oWlng to the dampness two Of our
men died last week from pneumonia
t. +. McDougall from st. George
=. p, and Corporal Gordon from
YORK county. splendid chap. Sickness
mas been very plentiful It's hard
enough to die at the front, even if
you do die fighting. let alone dying
while going through the course Of
preparedness. One thing the Cana
dlans praise is the services of tho
british hospitals. They are plentiful
indeed, and the system organized
would be worthy of investigation and
adoption by Canadian authorities of
that branch
hope this epistle will be feasible
to you, as l know l am getting tire
some The next time 1 may have thu
pleasure of writing you from the
'front.', and be able to sling a new line
OF thought and experiences.
With very kind regards,
l beg to remain,
II T. E~o,r1or