SPORT IN THE EAST

LIFE in the East, more particularly in connection with sport, is described by Private T A Panting, Seaforth Highlanders, (a Newport man), in a letter to the Editor:

"After hard fighting during this great and last campaign of the war, we are reaping the benefit in a different kind of recreation, at a place called Beirut in Syria.

I am extremely glad that I get your paper every week. The news it contains is great, especially of the boys getting home, and more so, the sporting news.

"There were interesting contests in my regiment between the four companies, A, B, C, D, and these companies consisting of Scotsmen, soccer was the game.

The excitement was high. C beat A, B bat D, leaving C to play B. This was the most interesting game of all, because a cup was to be presented to the winners by the General of our Brigade, so things were rather warm.

It was something like a Newport v Cardiff match as regards excitement. The teams lined out on a bad pitch, sodden from the heavy rains.

C Company were the favourites, and the passing among the forwards was good, and ended with C scoring the first goal of the match, amidst the highest excitement.

A 'Jock' shouted to me, "give it a rest", and my answer to him was, "do you want a small gamble on the match?"

At this time, B were pressing C's goal mouth, and the ball went into the net.

The whistle went for lemons (which they didn't get, and in the next half there was something doing.

It was not long before B had taken the lead after a good movement among the forwards. They kept the lead to the finish, and ran out winners by 2-1after a well-fought game.

C Company's supporters, myself included, let the touchline with our tails between our legs, rather disappointed with the result.

"Without these recreations life would be rather dull out here.

"One day we had racing at Beirut. We passed a fine afternoon, especially when some of the horses' names were familiar to the boys , such as Nimrod, Wildfire, Pixie, and various others.

"The great question at present is that of getting home. Some are lucky and others are not, myself included.

"After doing three years 'of the best', Mesopotamia, Egypt, Palestine, Syria, we are now making another drive into Turkey, because of the unrest among the Young Turks and Armenians.

We are still in the best of spirits, waiting our turn to see Blighty again. Best of luck to the sporting spirit at home. We are anxious to see the Newport pitch once again.

INFLUENZA SCOURGE

THOUGH Newport, in common with other towns, is experiencing the third wave of influenza, and though there are numerous victims, and doctors are extremely busy, there have so far been few fatal cases.

Last week only one death from influenza was registered, and so far this week there has also been only one death.

There are numerous cases among crews in dock, and more than a dozen patients, chiefly seamen, have been removed to Allt-yr-Yn and Cefn Hospitals.

The only advice that can be given is that people should do their best to maintain their general health and live and sleep in well-ventilated rooms.

Registrar-General's figures of death from influenza for the week ending Saturday February 15, show that the comparative figures for the great towns in Great Britain were 1,363, against 604. In London there were 273 deaths against 100, and in Greater London 451 against 169.