Lieut. Chas. Ackerman Writes His Mother:
We cull a few items of general interest from a letter written by Lieut. Chas. Ackerman to his mother in Peteborough and published in the Examiner:
I am sitting in my dug-out listening to snipers trying to find our Ross rifles. Have tried a few shots but my loophole was so small I could not see the effect. I had some fun a few minutes ago with a periscope, looking at their trenches, when they took a few shots at it. I haven't seen any yet, but hope to very soon, as their trenches are not very far away.
Our company had the honor of being the first Company of the First Contingent to go up the line and I had the distinct honor of being the first officer to take men into the line. We hadn't any casualties but heard a great many stray bullets, just near enough to make it interesting.
It is quite safe in the trenches especially if one takes the proper precautions.
It seems hard to realize that we are at last right up face to face with the Germans, and I guess we are all glad to be here as it has been a long and rough passage which we will not likely have to go through again.
The English officers are very decent and seem glad to see us here now, though we are only Colonials. I think that before very long they will have more respect for our military discipline than heretofore.
Just saw an aero (British) fly over towards the German lines looking for something to fire at. It will then come back and our artillery will likely get whatever target the aeroplane has picked out.
The star shells that are thrown out at night are wonderful as they light up a very large area and as a rule, any person that happens to be out of the trenches usually digs for cover until the danger of being seen is all over.