SOMEWHERE IN MESOPOTAMIA

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2789, 6 June 1916, Page 3

SOMEWHERE IN MESOPOTAMIA

LETTER FROM A N.Z. WIUEU3SS MAN. A few weeks aro the Now Zealand Government supplied tho Indian Government witli .a small unit of capable' wireless men. lii a letter headed "Somewhere in Mesopotamia," one of tho wireless men writes to a friend in Wellington as follows "The New Zealand 'sparks' aro going along splendidly. "\\'o had a magnificent trip to Colombo, and when we left the Tenths wo received a good send-off. Tour days in Colombo, ami wo all made tho most of it. Entrained for tho northern edge of Ooylon, and took the ferry steamer Elgin at Talaimanar for the short rim of about two hours across tho straits. Entrained again at Dhanascody for Madras, about 24 hours' run, changed trains there and left same evening for Bombay, arriving oarly on Sunday morning. I can say with confidence that none of our troop ever wish to travel again under the auspices of tho Indian Government. They shoved us into third-class carriages, the same as the Indians use, and the sanitary conditions wero frightful. Goodness knows if they ever wash the carriages. They wero about on a par with tho sheep trucks of New Zealand. Oui old tracks from Trenthain wero Pullmans compared with them. However, despite all tho discomforts, I enjoyed every minute of the journey. Tilie Tico and cotton fiolds wero an eye-opener, as wero also the old ruins passed en route. The natives are still very primitive in their methods. On account of our heavy Trontham uniforms we were uncomfortably hot. At Bombay we found the barracks full, so went under canvas in a nice littlo park overlooking the sea and within 100 yards of a swimming bath. Tou can imagine how wo smacked tbfot bath. Bombay is a fine place for a soldier to bo out of. It is not very palatable for tho colonial 'sojor' to find 1 a notice up— 'Soldiers and Dogs Not Admitted,' or 'Soldiers Not Served Here.' "Our boys made good uso of the Y.M.C.A., and thoroughly enjoyed themselves boforo receiving marching orders. Wo had eight days in Bombay. Left on April 10 for 'somewhere in Mesopotamia' —the Garden of Flies—l mean Eden. I alii scouting for Eve, but think she must have shifted south. Our hick stuck to us. Tho trip up tho gulf was perfectly -calm. Now the 'eavy 'and .of the censor descends, and J. oannot tell you of tho many interesting sights seen on our journey to our present destination. We are camped amongst the date palms on tho fringe of the desert. Tho Arabs have treacherous dogs about here, and we are only allowed out in parties after /dark. The flics aro na abomination—very rude, too, never say 'After you,' so one has to keep his arms in perpetual motion. Wa 1-ero just running into tho summer, and hero tho temperature runs cheerfully up to 120 degrees in the hot months. The water is very bad; If 'Speight's' could hear the prayers offered up I .am sure tlicy would, send up a shipment. Most of the troop have been slightly sick on account of tho watsr. . . . Someone in Bombay asked us what part of Now Zealand Australia was in. l?li£s, flies—goodI. bye-flies!"