a fighting force, compares favourably with the best that any nation has produced.  His language at times is not too choice.  It is said that on occasions the outburst has been so hot that the water carts have been consumed in flames.  Be that as it may, his diction in no sense denotes the exact state of his mind or morals.  His contagious cheerfulness has established him a firm favourite with the French people, whose admiration and affection he will hold for all time.

An officer belonging to another part of the Empire tells a story against himself.  Arriving in a village late at night, he inquired at a cottage as to whether a billet could be provided.  Before replying the occupant, a widow, asked whether he was an Australian or a ——.  Upon learning his regimental identity, she told him that she had no accommodation.  Somewhat vexed, he retorted, ’If I were an Australian you would probably have found room for me.’  ‘Yes,’ was her reply.  ‘Well,’ the officer observed, ’I fail to understand what you see in the Australians; they’re savages.’  Before closing the door the occupant said, ‘I like savages.’

The following incidents but imperfectly portray the irrepressible humour, unexampled heroism, and splendid initiative so commendably displayed by the Australian under the varying and trying conditions common to modern warfare.

IMPROMPTU WIT.

The ——­th Battalion had been relieved.  The men had been in the lines six days.  They looked forward to a few days’ spell at the back of the trenches.  On reaching the back area some of the men were detailed to carry supplies up to the lines.  Whilst so engaged they were met by a General, who was in the habit of visiting the trenches unaccompanied.  This officer, himself a young man, ever had a cheery word for the ‘boys.’  One of the men on duty lagged some distance behind the main party.  The expression on his face indicated that he was ‘fed up.’  He was also beginning to feel the weight of the sack which he was carrying.  As he passed, the General acknowledged the reluctant turn of his head by way of salute, and then asked, ’Where are you going, my man?’ ‘In the ——­ knees, sir,’ was the ready and witty reply.

[Illustration:  ‘Where are you going, my man?’ ‘In the knees, sir.’]

MORE CURIOUS THAN CAUTIOUS.

A man on duty in the front-line trenches displayed more curiosity than caution and eventually paid the penalty for his mistake.  In the endeavour to ascertain what was going on across ‘no man’s way,’ he exposed himself to the keen observation of an enemy sniper, who quickly trained his rifle on him and a bullet penetrated the steel helmet of the over-curious soldier.  The bullet traversed the crown of the head and lodged in the nape of the neck.  He flung his rifle to one side and did a sprint along the duck-boards.  His mates inquired the reason of his haste.  Without abating his