The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1918-02-21

me and mine. | have to thank you,
Uncle, for that parcel of candy. II
arrived at a most opportune time
we were in what is, suppose, the
most historic city of the war. Those
who shared 1t with me much enjoyed
it. Parcel of papers also came to
hand, for which accept also my best
thanks
You were "chipping" at me, Uncle,
about promotion. Well, of course
I'm losing golden opportunities now,
for there are many vacancies to be
filed. unfortunately Still, one can't
be in two places at one time, and
can assure you I'm genuinely glad to
have a spell away from it all. And
knowing what this weather means, at
this season of the year, to the troops
in the field. one is thankful in a dou-
BILE way.
AS | write this. being Sunday morn
ing, l hear the Church bell of the lit
tie village of Whalley calling to wor-
ship And you don't know, Uncle,
how good these little sounds OF peace
are to us who have seen something of
war.
You seem bent on my attaining
commissioned rank don't know
that I'm so keen. Knowing the re-
possibilities of a commission and
knowing my own limitations. | would
hesitate had I the opportunity Still
there is no possibility in that direc-
tion at present. If the chance comes,
t | will then have to consider the mat
/ ter seriously. 1t is futile to think of
it just now.
| suppose you would like me to tell
! you more of our life in France and
Belgium. Perhaps | NAV be able to
! give you more of an insight into our
/ lives out there First, my own Bat
TALON. Our present Colonel is a
man of action. directness of speech
and whose first thought is of his men.
Consequently we think the world of
him. Our other officers are, for the
most part men of character and
courage men in every sense of the
word AS to my own company, ! do
not wish to ever associate with bet
ter crowd or course, there is al
ways the exception: the waster and
the shirker, but their number Is small.
Our on-commissioned officers. almost
with exception. show a fine example
of bravery and grit to the men. Many
fine things have been done during the
past few weeks by all ranks of my
Bin. and some, the luckier ones, have
received decorations. | think N. c.
Os' and men of my company were
decorated recently, although many
more we're recommended.
To give you one instance, a recent
one. of the grit Of some of our chaps:
! was in charge OF a party of six
men carrying up rations to our posi-
ton the evening before | myself be-
came casualty. Fritz was Smelling
anywhere and without warning a So
dropped fair on the center rear Of the
party. When the smoke and dust
cleared | could see one man lying
dead, one more beyond all aid two
very severely hit, while two were
slightly wounded. One of these re-
manned with me, the other went for
assistance. The two severely wound
ed had been blown into an old water
logged trench, and into this the slight
ly wounded man and | lumped-he
the man | went to had enc leg gone,
another smashed, also his side and
face. Said to him How are you
old mani He replied Its all right,
don't worry about me- | told him
to hang ON for a couple of minutes
and we would get him out. ard he re
peatcd his reply, saying I'm done.
Never a moan or a word of complaint,
yet he was perfectly conscious. Sew
eral minutes later we got him ont and
shortly afterwards he died For the
way he met death in that awful form
| will always honour his memory, lie
was one of our newest hands but he
was an Australian. One has felt bit
terly of war too during these weeks
as he has gone over the ground and
seen the dead as they fell. One OF
our Corporals, medical student,
fine character he was; another Cor
poral, married man, engineer and
surveyor in Queensland; a sergeant
whose spirit was an example to all
who ever associated with him, these
are the men Australia and the world
is losing What hopes are ruined,
what homes wrecked, what genius IS
lost to the world the depth of human
suffering can measure it all?
Liberty has price, a dear one, yet /
suppose it is worth while. God only
knows the great reason underlying 1t
all HE is His own Interpreter and
He will make it plain. We are war
weary, yet | believe we will stick 1t
through to the end
What must Germany think about 1t?
Those troops of his who have to face
our gunflre. their thoughts and hopes
cannot be very bright. I know they're
mighty glad to be taken prisoners.
As time goes on. this war becomes
bigger riddle than ever. First Russia
breaks down and breaks our plans;
now Italy is in the soup and portion
of Brtan's might has to be diverted
to save her. Seems to me, as time
goes on, We will have to work out our
own salvation; little but hindrances
can he expected on any front but our
own. And it is the Western front
which will decide the war in my
opinion We are doing we'll against
the Turk in Mesopotamia and Pales-
tine-those are good moves from the
viewpoint of the British Empire, but
are not deciding the war.
Well, Uncle, I've not yet explained
how it has taken me nearly two
months to reply to yours. But your
letter arrived as we were going in for
big events, and in the two brief spells
we were out of the line since then. the