NZIBD
France
30/7/17
Dear Uncle Julius
During the last few days I have had a perfect deluge of letters, many of them being readdressed from the New Zealand Base PO in London. On Saturday evening I got the cable and a pamphlet from the Cable Company and your letter written on 27th June. I think everything has come to hand now. Some of the letters and packets have travelled about so much that the wrappers were worn out and the contents were delivered piecemeal. Some of the letters I have got were addressed to my old address, before even you began to receive them for me. Yesterday was sunny and I spent the whole of the day reading my letters and replying to them.
There seems to be very little to write to you about. The routine of the camp goes on as usual and more drafts have been arriving and others going out. A young fellow of the name of Nelson who used to work for us at [?] was here when I arrived at the base. He spent a week or so up at the lines and was marked "unfit" on account of weak eyesight and has been sent back to England en route for New Zealand. He did not leave NZ until last February and it is a wonder the military doctors don't find out these defects before the country is put to the expense of training and getting men of that sort here.
The behaviour of the Prussian troops in Galicia does not augur well for the part that Prussia is going to play in bringing Germany to terms. It looks as if we must be prepared for another winter of it over here, unless Germany can be made to foresee the inevitable and call for terms. The summer is getting well advanced and there is plenty to be done yet.
The letters from home report everyone well and Anne returned to her duties in Auckland.
From your affectionate nephew
Bernard Sladden
