The Lakeland evening telegram., 1917-11-10

Natures first law-self-preserva
When you're in a trench and a shell
screeches through the heavens-you
always hear it and never see 1.-THE
temptation to side-step is the last
word in irresistibility. You have
been provided with a steel helmet
before starting out on the expedition,
in view of the possibility that stray
piece of German shrapnel may come
your way. These helmets have
saved many gallant Tommy from
sudden death Notwithstanding. Aft
er you've heard a whizz-bang and
find that you are still intact, you ask:
WAS that Boche or one of ours"
you experience an indefinable sense
of relief when you are told that it
was "one of ours" but you keep on
ducking in the same old way when
ever the air is rent.
Yes, it is the invincible grin of
Tommy Atkins in abominable atmos.
pheric surroundings and in the om-
nipresent shadow of death that has
photographed itself most indelibly on
my memory today. But next to that
am struck by his amazing good
health as mirrored by his ruddy
cheeks and bright eyes. Certainly
the strapping young fellows whom
have seen are a vastly finer, sturdier
lot, physically viewed, than any set
OF men now running around the
streets of London in citizens clothes.
1t is manifestly "the life," this end
less sojourn of theirs on the edge of
No Mans Land, with the enemy
rifle-shot away. You ask their Off.
GERS what explains this hygienic phe-
nomenon-this ability to keep at the
topnotch of fitness" amid privations
almost unimaginable. You will be
told that it is the remorselessly "reg-
ular life" the men lead for one thing,
and the liberal supply of fresh air,
for another. Then it is the simple
food they eat and the never-ending
exercise they get for their legs and
arms and muscles. They sleep when
and where they can, in their clothes
for weeks on end. never saying How
do-you-do to bath-tub sometimes for
many days, though they shave each
morning with religious punctuality,
even in the midst of a mighty push.
Cleanliness of physiognomy as much
of passion with Mr.. Atkins as his
daily ablutions are to pious Turk.
fo2 will 80 far before you will find
q cleanerfaced aggregation of young
men than the British army in the
field.
Nobody is so enthusiastic about
Tommy Atkins as his officers. "The
men are simply splendid" you are
told over and over again, when you
ask commissioned man how the
rank and file are standing the strain
Of war that seems to know no end
ing The officers will not tell you,
being modesty personified, what you
will hear from the men-that the
after are splendid" mainly because
heir officers are 'fop-hole." All you
will get out of the officers on that
subject is that Regulation No. /,
when man gets a commission in
he British Army. is: "Men first, Off
,ers next" An officers business in
'ther words. is to see that his men
ire we'll looked after. II there is
my time left when he has done that,
lie may look after himself But
Tommy comes first. That is why
he relations between superior and
in the mighty Citizens
Army of Britain are perfect in the
highest degree. Dukes son and .
ooks son are real pals Glass dis.
inctions are non-existent in the Eng
and that is the trenched fields of
france and Flanders.
Just so we keep on livin'-that's
Ill we ask" was the sententious oh
ervation of mud-clotted Yorkshire
nan who backed against the Shiny
vail of trench to let us pass. We
lad asked him the sterotyped oues-
Tommy. how goes it?" ,
lis answer was Enthusiastically typi- !
al of the spirit which dominates the
Whole army. The men are not happy
o be there. They long for the war
o end. They do not put in their
ime in the slush and rain cheering