(letter head) THE SALVATION ARMY RECREATION AND READING ROOM FOR HIS MAJESTY'S TROOPS: I gave your message to Frank Stevens poor McNeven is in the cling for 14 days a very little offence & a hard hard punishment. They are turning soldiers into criminals here evoy day. We have 6 times the number in Jail that we ought to have. iA. New Captain joined our Co today & gave us some consideration & as he knows his business he may be able if he is willing to protect us from our Adugent & O.C. who sit in the orderly room & plan out a almost impossible days work & who never go to the trouble to see if we are fed or housed. Yesterday after a light feed of Mush we were marched off at 530 a.m. & not given time to get even a sandwich with had been prepared for us got back to our next meal at 430 P.M A number of our men have transfered to C. A S.C. & some C.R.E. I have tried to get reduced to the ranks but so far have not been able to make it. I think I can transfer to the C.R.Es as a miner, a staff Officer tried to get me to do so when we first got here. but I stood him off then. I may have a chance to go to France in a few days with a Draft of ours. if I can make it I shall go though I have had very little bayonet practice. I am more eager than ever to try & do my bit. since I have been home & seen my sisters etc also the pretty bit of old England. I saw helps me