WITH THE MAIN FORCE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2429, 7 April 1915, Page 6

WITH THE MAIN FORCE

JOTTINGS FROM CAIRO

PREPARATIONS FOR DEPARTURE. A Wellington man attached to the Medical Corps with the Main Expeditionary Force sends the following interesting lettor from Cairo, under date of February 26: — My last notes were; I think, written oil January 19, and with the exception of the "dust-up" with tho Turks at tho Canal, in which our Infantry Brigade took part, matters at camp nave been of the usual methodical description. It is estimated that tho Turks wore about 12.000 strong, and some admiration is duo to them for their successful march over the desert, with its many difficulties of transport, etc. It seems to bo recognised that they managed to bring at least one six-inch gun with them, aud quite a considerable quantity of bridging material. They were allowed to actually commence bridging tho Canal, and at a given signal a very hot fire was directed at them, and had deadly effect, the result being that all their bridging material and quite a number of camels were captured. Their casualties were also very heavy, and at this particular- point about 300 prisoners wore taken. They were sent to Cairo, aud were in a wretched condition —half-starved and in a state of collapse after tlioir weary march across the sand. The fighting was very hot whilo it lasted, several men-o'-war taking part; the Indian troops were right in amongst it, and as usual proved themselves to bo magnificent fighters. You will.. have heard by this that we (New Zealand) had one man. killed and one wounded, which is, I think, a matter of congratulation, seeing how bright and merry the fighting was. I applied for three days' leave from Tuesday, 23rd, till Friday. '26th, for the purpose of visiting Port Said to meet some friends passing through on their way to New Zealand from England. I did not give myself much chance of getting it, and was considerably surprised when it was apr proved. I left by the 11 o'clock train on Tuesday,last, and arrived back again last night. It was such a treat to get away for these few days. . I stayed at the Eastern Exchange Hotel, the leading house in Port Said, and simply gloried in getting back to somotluug like normal conditions of living again. The wire-mattrcssed bed and tho sheets were too much for me altogether, and I spent most of the first night trying to find something solid to rest on—l seemed to be suspended on thin air all the time. The second night was much better, however, and I did have an intelligent idea of what the waiter was doing in the room with morning tea when I woke up. - My friends were travelling by the Orontes, and she arrived at 3.30 oil Wednesday afternoon. I went aboard as soon as she anchored, and was the centre of some interest to the passengers when they noticed my New Zealand .badges, in fact several came up and spoke to me, and were very anxious to know how our Force was progressing. Since the advent of the new order of things in Egypt, Port Said has quietened down enormously, and the town gavo one the impression of being absolutely dead. The Oroni.es continued her voyage at 8 p.m. on . the 24tli, and as I was not anxious to denlete my somewhat limited supply of cash I left next moaning for Cairo at 8 o'clock. Although the Turks are reported to be still on tho retreat, tho Canal, defences have not been relaxed. At Ismailia I saw an aeroplane in flight (the first one I had seen), and was naturally very interested. I also saw a hydroplane at Port Said — not actually in flight, but merely skimming along the surface of the water, and the speed it attained was really astonishing, it having passed where I was standing before I realised what it was. We are at present making all preparations to leave .Egypt. Instructions have been issued that our personal belongings are to be reduced down to what the •Army' regulations allow. The transports attached to each unit have been allotted just sufficient space for each man, according to regulations, and this will be strictly adhered to. I don't quite know what to do with my swag I have 1 accumulated quite a wardrobe and have enough to fill three kits. The only thing seems to be to sell all my extras, but I hate doing this, for it has really all been sent to me. Most of our men are in the same fix, so there is no uso giving it away to them. Naturally nothing official has leaked out as to where we are bound for, but I am led to believe that we are not going to France. Some of the Australians have left' already for Alexandria, and I don't think that we will be very long now until we follow them. As long as the Allies continue to hold their own on the Western frontier and indeed make such good progress, I'm afraid we will not see the Continent. Kitchener's Army is now concentrating in France, and everything indicates that thors is do shortage of meii» Perhaps by next mail I will be able to say more definitely just -where we are to go; in the meantime we have a very strenuous time in front of us preparing to move. Our infantry brigade returned from tlio Caual last night to also make the necessary preparations for moving. For the last week tho weather has becomo decidedly warmer, and we have had a slight indication of what tho summer is lite—it must be worse than tho Tropics with so much sand about. When we do get on tho move I expect that our correspondence will be limited to postcards, so yon will understand when you receive a tew very commonplace remarks from me that it lis impossible to seud moi;e. I intend to keep my notes going whenever possible, but of course this will depend entirely on circumstances. , I heard to-dav that the —- had left a train as flagship with tho Wird Reinforcements. It if the Government is going to keep her for a transport. She is a veritable palace to the troopships that are running from India, and we New Zealanders should be very thankful that such splendid arrangements are being made as far as troopships are concerned. Time will not permit me to fill up this page, but anyway there is really nothing very interestin" to tell you I will bo sorry to leave Egypt, for.it is undoubtedly very fascinating, but perhaps if I experienced a summer here 1 would not feel so enthusiastic about it.