Sergt. T.C. LAPP Writes. (from France) Sergt. T. C. LAPP, brother of Gunner Clarence Lapp, Editor and proprietor of the Brighton Ensign, wrote from France on March 24th, to the Editor of the Belleville, Ontario, as follows:
Editor Ontario: The day for which we patiently worked during the past nine months in England, has come and gone, and this letter leaves me on my second trip up the line in France. My experiences during the past few weeks have been many and varied but for the most part t4ey will have to remain untold till the great day when censorship shall no longer be necessary. I have again changed my battalion, having come on draft with a number of old 235th boys and others to the 4th Canadian Mounted Rifles. The only thing we ever mount is a firing step, for there have been few opportunities for the use of mounted troops in this war, consequently most of the Cavalry units will be found taking their turn in infantry work in the line. Of course we find conditions somewhat different over here from training camp in England, but our training is standing us in good stead and consequently the health and spirits of the boys are excellent. On one occasion after a hard day's march in the rain, we were billeted in a leaky old barn with the most 'odiferous' farm yard hard by that I ever experienced. In spite of adverse conditions the place echoed with songs and laughter, followed later by the deep breathing of untroubled sleep while the water pattered down through many a hole in the roof. Germany can never hope to beat such a spirit. Even the mud and vermin and many other disagreeable things encountered are made the subjects of much humor. Can you imagine two men sitting on a firing step in the front line hunting through the seams of their shirts for 'little friends' and comparing their respective captures for a wager? I think that this unfailing sense of humor accounts in a large degree for the splendid morale of the Canadians. No doubt ere this reaches you much of the widely advertised German offensive in the west will have developed. Everywhere where I have been in France I have found a deep feeling of confidence in our ability to meet the strongest efforts successfully. Newcomers are imbued with the same confidence and not without sufficient reason. But it would be censorable if I told why. So much has been written and told of the life out here that there is not much that I can add that would be of interest. I might say that the folks in Canada need never be afraid of writing too many letters to the boys. You have no idea how letters are appreciated. Reading matter is also greatly prized, especially the home papers. If papers and magazines are sent in small bundles frequently they serve a more useful purpose than a large bundle at one time. Every paper and magazine passes through many hands before its usefulness ends. The weather here just now is like early summer in Canada. The grass is quite green, and a variety of song birds hold forth every day in No Man's Land in spite of the roar of guns and the rattle of machine guns. I startled a pair of partridges from a shell hole just behind the front line the other night. Thus nature triumphs over war. With every good wish for your health and prosperity.
Sincerely yours. T.G. LAPP.
