The bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-06-23

about two thousand English soldiers
march past the end of the road. Very
hot day, and they had crossed from
England the previous night and had
marched from Kingstown that morn
Ing, about three miles; very hot day,
and the soldiers were very tired and
hot. Had passed about one-half mile
away. Heard afterward that the
troops had been caught in an ambush
short distance away and had been
fired on from front and back. Terrible
loss of life. Still no mail, wires or
telephones. Few newspapers, and a
charge Of sixpence to read them,
which sounds like a page out Of a
story of we goode olde days
"Thursday-Dad, Uncle Jack. Mar
garet, Jim a6d l walked to some
friends about one-fourth mile away,
that is, within very short distance
of activities. Talked to the soldiers.
who are very nice, polite fellows, and
who are greatly astonished at and
very grateful for kindness of people
around, who loaded them with food
and tea and cigarettes. Fearful firing
all day, and man in the medical
service told US the number of killed
and wounded is terrible, which, judy
Ing by the noise, we can we'll believe.
Saw fearful blaze in the sky from
our bedroom window and heard next
day that the greater part of Sackville
street had been Quilted. Martial law
at 7:30, and after that hour everybody
must stay indoors. We did. Still no
news of the outside world, and very
worried about mother.
Provisions Run Low.
ALSO, provisions were getting
scarce, but managed to get six pounds
Of beef and steak with great diff
Guilty. No butter and no bacon to be
had for any price. Mother had stored
plenty Of canned goods, and I was very
thankful to have them; also seven
pounds of -four and about twenty
pounds of tea and about a similar
quantity of sugar. Good old mother!
We often leased her about emergency
stock, but we won't be able to thank
her enough now. Decided that dry
bread Is not palatable.
"Friday.-Went to see our friends
again, passing provision shops on the
way, and saw great crowds Of people
standing waiting to get in, as into a
theater. Saw about eighteen prison
ers, very dirty, misunderstanding spec.
linens, one or two slightly wounded.
Very amusing to watch ladies and
gentlemen hurrying to and fro with
loaves Of bread, jugs of milk, ETC., and
huge parcels not even wrapped up,
but tied together anyhow.
In the afternoon went to the end
of our road and cheered about ten
thousand soldiers, infantry and cav
airy, passing on their way to the fir
ing line. Many heavy guns, and saw
field kitchens for the first time, very
overlooking affairs. Still no news
of outside, but a friend crossing to
England took two wires across to send
AOA4 IuO OIuCA oluC. kauOLAC1 UlS LII =
in town, and, sky all lit up. Terrible
fighting round about, especially at
night.
"Saturday.-Home all morning, and
in the afternoon were stopped at the
railway station by sentries with bay
onets, who would not allow us to pro-
coed farther. Helped to give the SOL
diers tea and amused ourselves by
watching people trying to get home.
They were not allowed to pass until
identified. Very funny. Some got ex.
cited and indignant. More firing, very
near at hand all night.
"Sunday.-Woke to find a sentry
with bayonet outside the gate of our
house. Great excitement, and on 60
ing out in the road found sentries ev-
cry few yards up the road. Allowed
to walk about one hundred yards,