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2 corrections, most recently by pauldow - Show corrections

SOLDIERS' LETTERS. Extracts from letter received by Mr. T. Lang, Melton, from his son, Private Horace Lang:-In the Field, France, 22.12.16. I'm still alive and well, and hope all at home are the same. We are having very miser- able weather at present, very cold, with snow and rain, and mud up to one's knees. It is impossible to keep dry, and it makes, one very miserable with wet and muddy feet all the time. I have a fair supply of socks, which are what a fellow wants as much as anything, and you can always send two or three pairs every parcel you send over. I have good news to tell you, and I suppose you will all be very pleas- ed. I told you in my last letter I held a very precarious position last time in the trenches, and that I had a very trying time. Well, our Cap- tain recommended me for a decora- tion, and it came in our Battalion orders of 19.12.16, that I had got the Military Medal. So it is very nice for you all at home. I was in charge of the team that held the post. I enclose a piece of the ribbon -only a small pieces as at present I have only enough to wear, with this piece over. I didn't deserve it any more than the other chaps, but it was my luck to get it. We are having a morning off this morning, so I thought I had better write a few lines to you all. We were having a very different time this time last year, and were at Lemnos Island. Didn't it seem funny, not to have to keep ducking our heads. I don't know what this Xmas Day is going to bring, as I have no idea where we will be, except close to the firing line. We are doing well lately as regards tucker and gifts, plenty to eat, &c. We had plum pudding yesterday, that was sent over from Australia, and a Xmas cake. My mate and I have had our Xmas din- ner in London. Don't laugh, this is what we had, and I tell you, we did justice to it --Soup, fish, roast beef, turkey, pheasant, plum pudd-   ing, sweets, fruit and nuts. When you tell me --- has enlisted, please give me their address, so that I can look them up. 26-12-16. Just a line to let you know we had a very quiet Xmas, plenty of tucker, and received our gifts alright. "'The- Australian National.' Govern meiiet shouldi d.Cgiven every chaiie' to exist. All persons who .have the welfalire f their -counitry at' heart nust agree yith .the sentiments 'ex. pressed b" ,the- two leaders, no 'iat terthow miuich'Athey may Shave dif-, fered wiith 'hem in the' paist. 'Primo Ministei- Hughoes-Lt"us put asidtf our little differences, insignificantas they are' besidde the great menace, vwhic& like 'an. axe, .is laid to thi very foundation of the tree of :tlfb Empire ,'of liberty, of :iidustrialisim, rootedi:in the -kbil of .dem'ocracy root ;which go to vdery. found tiolin f ur' civilisation. 'Ini '*this crisis -let us: aU least demeoan ' our selves as meinmbrs of a frede race, and as- piople of a free country." Lot us forget that iyesterday wo :-wo Labour or .Libelial: Let usrealise that' we aare Australians, - and that. Australia is .an integral part of the. Empire. With this realisation will comen understandingn that ýithout thl protection of: theEmpire .6e are !n done.o Then, 'iwith our recognition of what Englaiid has sacrificed ;iiice the: commencement of-the war, we shall 'be able to send a messa"gt) across'the seas that wo-too are pro pared to stand unitedly: behind the Empire in thd lhur of peril, and at the '.time -of service :and eacrifice. (Cheers). '.Thok'lMiister for . the' Navyi,(Mr.i.'Jo~ h Cook)-We are here sinlkingall[ personal and party prejudices,; andj'!joining hands in a great ;.war leigueo ~i !bbat the' Hun, and to :riii g -about that spirit of unityi in ::the Federal . Parliament which l'one' cari::bihold every day in the trenches.; A.nd so on the invita tion of the Prime Minister such ar rangements ;have been entered into as I' feeil will lastduring the war- and fLhic I profonidly hope will list .for imanya.lng years after the wiar ::Tho National Governinent his been formed, to defend the old sane. sound principle of responsible gov ernment, under :which Parliament should b :responsible to the country, anid not to any outside body. . The pirblongation of"'Parliament would enable .the people of' Australia to ha;ve aisay .on;the -issues' which are toibe considered .at the .-Imperial Conference.:.-Like. sensible men in ,ar timie, we think it better to fight the Huhn together, and to fight him like men,' instead of fighting each othr, like fools.' (Cheers).

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