The Scotsman - Thursday, 31st December 1914, page 3

CHRISTMAS AMENITIES AT THE FRONT .

Mr R. s. Pilchor , manager ol the Aberdeen Corporation Tramways, has received from an CXtramway employee. Private John Robb, who is in France with the 6th Gordon Highlanders, n letter throwing au interesting sidelight on the relations between the combatants at the front. Private Robb, writing on Christmas Day, says:—"I received my parcel from the employees of the Corporation Tramways to-day, and I tilank them very kindly, as it is very useful to me. Our battalion is having a pretty hot time Hist now. We have lost a good many men, but wo nave to expect that. I have been very fortunato myselfthank God, although I had a very narrow Fhave last Friday night, as we had a charge, but none of our chaps were .touched. The Grenadier Guards an<l tho Gordons Jost n lot of men that night; the Germans were about 30 to our 1, so we had no chance at all. We shall require a large amount of men out lioro yet to assist us, as we are outnumbered. We are four days and four nights iu the trenches at a spell, and we are knee-deep in mucl .and -water all the time. This bcins; Christmas Day, both the Gonnans and us ceased firing-.the whole day, and our chaps left their trenches and went over! to tne Germans and wished them a merry Christmas. Our chaplain, the Rev. Esslemont Adams, went up to the firing line to-day, and had a talk with the Germans. Ono of tlio German majors gave him a cigar for a. souvenir, and Mr Adams gave the ' major a small prayor out of his cap in return. He also road the burial service to 17 Germans who were buried today . Tho major told him that they were quite fedup , and wanted to stop; so we commenced fighting at 5 p.m. again. I wish it was all over, as tho trenches are not quite the bestbut wo are sticking it with a right heart. I wish vou a happy New Year and good luck.

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