o cause a very bad
inflammation and perhaps blood poisoning. Scorpions and tarantula spiders
(which are just as poisonous); snakes which are deadly; sandflies, which
cause a bad fever for several days; mosquitoes, which can inject malignant
malarial germs capable of causing death in a few hours--these are a few of
the many tortures. But of all these pests _the common house fly_, if in
sufficient numbers, is a greater source of annoyance than any, besides
being a spreader of disease. There certainly must have been millions upon
millions of these flies, even within (say) 20 square yards!

Every effort was made to keep the flies down and "straffers" (a piece of
wire gauze about three inches square provided with a handle) were issued.
With these instruments, the flies were killed as fast as the "straffers"
could be brought down upon them. Medical officers inspected the camp and
pronounced the sanitation excellent; yet the flies continued to flourish!
The result of this fly-pest is seen in the number of men that were admitted
to hospital from our Squadron: weeks ending May 10th, three; 17th, six;
24th, eight; 31st, three; June 7th, six; 14th, eight; 21st, nine; 28th,
sixteen (including two officers, Lieut. Millman and Lieut. King); total 59,
_i.e._ more than a quarter of the whole strength _within eight weeks_, and
all for sickness, believed to be caused by flies!

THE "R.A.F." AT SARONA.

As mentioned before, the Squadron camp overlooked the Aerodrome, and many
fine exhibitions of flying were seen there. Boche planes paid us a visit
occasionally, but that was only when none of ours were "up," and as soon as
our men got moving he made off at top speed. Yet, the Boche brought off two
_coups_ that were, no doubt, pleasing to him! It should be mentioned that
the British had one, sometimes two, observation balloons in this sector,
from which the enemy's line, and the country behind it, could be seen very
distinctly indeed, thus enabling our artillery to make it very unpleasant
for any of the enemy's troops, not entrenched; the Turk, on the other hand,
had no such opportunities. Our balloons, therefore, became special objects
of the Turk's attention, and on two occasions, when he flew over to attack
them, he was successful in bringing down on the first occasion two, and the
second time one--in flames! Fortunately, the observers were all able _to
make their descent in parachutes_! The Turk escaped, but only just in
time--our ma