A fire which occurred at Salonika during the week -has
unMr- tunately destroyed-many:hundreds of houses and Tendered a-large number of people homeless. It is not to be supposed that a disaster on this scale can happen without throwing a great deal of unex- peeted incidental -labour on the garrison. To provide food and shelter for those who are in distress is a duty that must necessarily fall largely upon the military authorities. We are sure that the labour has been efficient and cheerfully carried out, but it would be an injustice to the troops at Salonika if it were not recognised here that the performance of their military duties has been made far more laborious during the past few days. It is one of the penalties of bonus at .a distance, and of holding a relatively unim- portant field of operations—as importance is reckoned in this war— that the record of the Salonika troops has not received all the attention-and the praise it:has:earned. These troops lave success- fully defended a very long front, and have not merely defended it but have continually worried the enemy. They have endured in silence one of the most pestilential climates to be found in Europe, and they have come through it all capable. and smiling.
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