BACK TO ROMANS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 117, 20 May 1942, Page 5

BACK TO ROMANS

DOMINION ENGINEERS

EXPLORATION IX SYRIA

(N.Z.E.F. Official War Correspondent)

CAIRO, May 15. within the hilly country of Northern Syria is a small party of Aew Zealand engineers who bathe , ally in a Roman swimming pool thai « ls L by the same spring that flowed when it was first built! it is one of many in that part of the country, few of which are still suitable for bathing. Their only entertainment is that - own mal ?ing. These men spend their spare time exploring the wealth of ruins in the district and have been rewarded by finds of pure copper coins of the Roman days. Their immediate neighbours are rriendly Arabs who provide horses tor excursions, and one ready learner has already been taught enough English to act as a guide. During route marches the New zealanders sometimes tread the well worn stones of Roman roads and halt by interesting ruins. The counso rich in historical interest and the soldiers are so eager to learn as much as possible that lectures are given to various battalions b y Mr A. Carleton, an American authority on the subject.