A highly interesting letter containing satisfactory news the morals of the Ammanford boys who are with the Welsh Fusiliers has been received at the Chronicle Office from Lance-Corporal Ben Johnson, of B Company, 8th Service, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, stationed at Park house Camp Salisbury. He says :- “I thought the folk at home may like to know how the boys form Ammanford who came away with we to Wrexham are getting along. I am pleased to say we are all in the best of health and spirits, and want for nothing. Of course, things were very strange at first to freshers, but when you remember what a huge army it is to provide for, you will of course see things must be slow at first in getting straight. Please take it from me that everyone here in my battalion is well cared for. Of course I can only speak for my own battalion, but I believe all the battalions are equally well looked after. The training we get is of the best, and most difficult : yet all the men respond to it very well. All the Ammanford boys who came with me are in my tent, and we often talk of things in the old home, in the Amman Valley. I had the Amman valley Chronicle sent on to-day and the boys devoured it eagerly. The names of the boys in my tent are : Wynford Morris, Joe Carruthers, Walter Williams, Johnny James (Pontamman), Jim Jones (Gorslas), David Jones (Gorslas), Tom Williams (Gorslas), Will Jenkins (Gorslas), Jim Phillips (Ammanford). “All are well and happy. The Plain is a huge place, and it is a fine sight to see all the troops moving in all directions. The men are really smart, considering the time they have been in training. “We would like our friends to know we are often thinking of them, even if we have not the time to write to them. We meet Tom Treharne and Clements daily. Last night an air ship landed on our parade ground, and instantly was surrounded by thousands of interested onlookers. We see them flying over us hourly, three or four together.”

The general situation is satisfactory, and more especially so on the Allies’ left, where a great sweeping movement has been advanced further north. The Germans made violent attempts to stem the Allies’ victorious career, but were severely repulsed. The French have also made some slight progress on the German right, but in the centre there has been a lull in the hostilities.

Gunner Trevor Williams, formerly of Ammanford, has written an amusing letter to Mr. Dai Jones, captain of the Ammanford Y. M. C. A. tennis club, on his Kildare experiences. He thanks Mr. Jones for the gift of cigarettes for himself and the boys, and promises to reciprocate matters by sending a photo of the “knuts” in uniform. He proceeds to state that they haven’t all had their togs yet, but no doubt will have them in a day or two. “I’ve just had a beautiful overcoat this morning (he continues), a brand new one, and I look a regular swank. Abbot isn’t willing at all because he failed to get one. I expect they will have to make a special one for him because he is such a giant. By the way, I might as well tell you about Abbot’s first riding drill. He and a few other recruits went out on morning for riding practice, and somehow or other Abbot managed to fall off. The officer in charge of the squad shouted out, ‘Who told you to dismount, Griffiths?’ We’ve had a laugh bout that, I can tell you. He isn’t at all willing to hear of it.” We get as much as five parades in a day here now; so you can see for yourself that we are progressing most favourably. I enjoy having to drill; it’s A. 1. But the exercise I like best is the physical drill we get first thing in the morning. Will let you know more about our drills next time. Oh yes, I forgot to tell you that we have had a few lectures on the gun; it’s most interesting, I can assure you. We have just received a football from home, so now look out for the Irish Sporting News.”

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