The soldiers are experiencing the frightfulness of the elements, the rain filling the trenches with ice-cold water.
A German shouted from the trench: ''How deep?'' The British replied: ''Up to our blooming knees.''
The German retorted: ''We're up to our belts.''
Frequently the German soldiers plead for a truce because of the awful discomfort.
Many British soldiers are provided with waders reaching to the thighs.
Several are suffering from what is known as ''trench feet'', the limbs being numbed by the intense cold.
Mr Gibbs gives an instance of heroism.
A sergeant was thigh-deep in water when a trench mortar smashed one leg.
A surgeon operated on the spot, his comrades holding the patient half out of the water.
The sergeant joked after the operation, and wrote a letter to his wife. Many of the trenches are simply puddles of mud, which fouls the rifles and gets mixed with the food.
The wind is so cold that cuts through the thickest clothing like a knife.
The German soldiers appear to suffer more than ours.
The British soldiers' unconquerable cheeriness enables them to paddle in a wet trench and stand for hours in the freezing slime without despair.
• At the invitation of the Union Steam Ship Company, a large number of the medical profession, members of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board and others, including wives and daughters, visited the hospital ship Marama at Port Chalmers yesterday.
Every opportunity was given of seeing round the ship and admiring the completeness of the arrangements.
The visitors were treated with all courtesy, including the provision of afternoon tea.
Outwardly the vessel, in her white paint and regulation band and crosses, appears quite ready for the duty she has to perform, and this is indeed almost the case, wonderful speed having been made in connection with her fitting up.
Like the Maheno, the new hospital ship is a thorough credit to the dominion, and this was fully recognised by those who saw her yesterday, comment on all sides being rather of wonder at the completeness of the appointments than mere approbation of what has been done.
The wards are fine and airy, and there is an unlimited provision of electric fans, so that the heat of the Mediterranean and Red Seas will be met under conditions most favourable to all sufferers. - ODT, 30.11.1915.
• COPIES OF PICTURE AVAILABLE FROM ODT FRONT OFFICE, LOWER STUART ST, OR WWW.OTAGOIMAGES.CO.NZ
