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Seeing Australia Withi
A Humorous Eye
"C/o Postmaster," by Corporal
Thomas R. St. George. (George G.
Harrop & Co., London, 11/-1.
MILLIONS of men have
now undergone the rou- <*>
tine of Army camp life, with its
petty annoyances, discomforts
and irksome restrictions. Most
of these liave learned to put up
| with it all, and many have been
able to see the humorous Hide.
But only a few have found the
time and possessed the talent to
' yrite entertainingly of it.
Corporal St. George reveals a
remarkable capacity for seeing
humor in everything (even sea
sickness and Australian mutton!!.
And be has a shrewd appreciation
of what he sees, and a ready
facility in putting bis thought, ami
observations on paper.
! Those who, as a rote, do not
care for tiie American wise-crack
ing style, will still like this author
—his wit is so human, healthy and
spontaneous.
Corporal St. George, wbo came
to Australia with the first "ship
ment" of American soldiers, bas
placed an unerring finger on some
of our national foibles <**W__at do
you think of Australia?'). but
voices bis criticisms with such dis
arming candor and sly. ______ as
to evoke a laugh rather than a
frown.
Bis unit arrived in Australia in
the middle of I_42—tbe censonbip
prevented him fram naming tbe
place, and also forbade him allud
ing to tbe weather. So be com
plains bitterly of tbe incessant
r - - n!
Comical horror is expressed at
tbe living _________ and equip
ment prevailing at the camp to
which bis unit was transported by
a "train consisting of an acute at
tack of asthma and eight car
riages."
Where, tbe author demands,
were tbe thermostats, the bot
showers, tbe beds, and so on and
so fortb. that tbe OS soldier re
garded as bis right?
Tbe Australian straw mattress
was another tragedy, and tbe mut
ton stew a crime—"like cold glue
and with all the delicious appeal
of a soggy snowbank." Tbe coffee;
also was "98 per cent, chicory—'
and tasted very foul indeed."
But all these missing luxuries,
land many other.) soon arrived,
'-ltd Corporal St. George amus
ingly describes tbe reaction oft
?ar-hardened Diggers wben tbeyj
viewed it all. They were aghast. I
_nd all tbey could _______ was
"Bloody beds!" "Bloody __>___!" !
Speaking of tbe "brownout and
tbe young ladies'* the author says.
tbe former was a nuisance, and,
not tbe help in "picking up" tbat
was hoped—the more desirable i
types among the ladies sere ner-i
vcas in the brownout—"thev could:
not see what the*, were getting,
or ratber, what w__ getting
_—_n.~
FtollowTng settled tactics—_hat __i
hanging over a front gate "like
starving popples' until invited in
side—tbe author and two friends:
took afternoon tea with tbe local
clergyman. Tbey regaled their
host with lurid tales of their hart
ships and dangers—only to {bad
that their clergyman bad himself;
played a valiant and risky part in
tbe evacuation of New Guinea
Discussing -Obis humorous Jet
b-wn, the author and bis _______
'agreed tbat what we bad often
beard was true—American. _Jk
too much. Not tbat we shut sp:
we merely agreed that it was trae
and went right an talk__g."
In more sa___s vein, tribute it
paia to Australian _____ntra___.
oc the war—Corporal St.George re-;
marks tbe ctvfUan shortages bene,
which were not In evidence in tbe
US. He pays a splendid tribute to
tbe Cheer Up Hut and tbe Salva
tion Army—to bis evident surprise
he actually found htnrsrlf _______
tea "Army" prayer meetings, and
Joining in tbe hymns. Bat here
tbe i.*i|J>.i'> sense of _?____
babbles over again, and be ______
that, when be stood up to sing, be;
never failed to keep one foot an
tbe seat, as there were not enoagb
chairs to go round!
Corporal St. George is a carica
turist of co__tenune skill and
novelty. His highly comic Aetcfaes
wi_ give tbe reader many a laugh.
Indeed, this book is a _______
from beginning to end. Once be
gun it's bard to put down. j
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