IN PALESTINE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1748, 3 November 1917, Page 1

IN PALESTINE.

ON THE "LONG, LONG TRAIL.”

SERVICE THAT’S APPRECIATED.

The "long, long trail” must surely have taken on a new meaning for many of the troopa, comprising the Egyptian Expeditionary Force who have mai'chod across the desert of Sinai to the present fi’ont before Gaza. Now, however, the military railway (which is recognised as such a magnificent feat) is open the whole way from Kantara East on the Canal to the Dier-el-Belab, in Palestine, and the "long, long trail” efin be covered in 13 hours in a “first-class” open truck —but even that is none too comfortable. FOLLOWING THE TRAIL.

The Red Triangle has followed the trail tenaciously. When in the early days of the Sinai campaign the troops were encamped in large bodies along the whole length of the east bank of the Suez Canal, the familiar sign of the “Y.M.” was the first seen in any camp. As the Turks were gradually forced back from Romani into Palestine,>our troops were massed along the railway from Kantara. As they advanced, so the Y.M.C.A. pushed on, and within a short time of any halt the Red Triangle would submerge from “somewhere” with marquee equipment and all the comforts so well known and so tremendously appreciated. At the important stations all along the line —Kantara, Romani, Bir-el-Abd, Mazar, El Arish, Rafa, Khan Yunis, and now at Deir-el-Belah —the Y.M.C.A. has established large centres, including one marquee for recreation, concerts, and meetings, and another for canteen, together with a small devotional tent. In connection with the four latter places, officers’ rest camps have also been established, and both officers and men are not slow in showing appreciation of the comforts supplied by the Y.M.C.A. as they journey along the trail into Palestine, or whilst they are encamped near these stations, BILL AND HIS BILLET. Nearby the station as Deir-el-Be-lah the Y.M.C.A. Palestine headquarters arc situated, comprising four dug-outs, and from here the Red Triangle operations from Kantara to the front line are directed by the supervising secretary, affectionately known as “Bill” Owens. It would be impossible to say too much of this striking personality who has for the past eighteen months had charge of the Red Triangle in this part of the Egyptian field. At this spot also the Y.M.C.A. is allowed to have one of its largest marquees —marquees which are the wonder of all —and it is of untold value. On the occasion of a recent visit one was able to see a special service from this centre. A new division was gradually being brought up the line from Kantara. ' The authorities informed the Y.M.C.A. secretary of the time of arrival of each troop train and the number of men thereon. The secretary saw to it that every train—day and night—was met, and each man given a cup of cocoa and a piece of cake, free of charge. In this way alone the Red Triangle was brought into touch .with every man of a division, and they DID appreciate it, after 13 hours in an open truck. NOT. TO BE ENVIED. Here, however, the work is simple as compared with that being done in the series of dug-outs far ahead of the railway along the whole of the front line before Gaza, or with the various Mounted Brigades. The position of a Y.M.C.A. secretary with a Mounted Brigade is not an enviable one. The movements of the Brigade are swift, sudden, and frequent, and Y.M.C.A. work sometimes centres round a dump of stores, with perhaps a bell tent, whilst often, of necessity, the work is carried on in a dug-out. At other times, when the Brigade is away from the line, and perhaps resting, a marquee is called for, and the Y.M.C.A. MUST answer in a day or two, somehow, and produce the desired marquee and equipment, To “run” a Y.M. with a Mounted Brigade is the most difficult task a Field Secretary can have, for, owing to sudden moves, he is sometimes quite out of touch with headquarters, and stores, and has no “fixed abode.” THE HOT TIME, With the Infantry Divisions who man the front line trenches the Y.M. has established dug-outs, and -the aim is to. have one with every Brigade. The usual comforts in the way of canteen goods are sold as long as the supplies last, but perhaps that which is most appreciated is the free lime-juice during the day and cocoa at night. It is all the appreciation one wants, when the men come by from the trenches, after being in the hot Palestinian sup, dusty,

tired, and loaded with pack and rifle, to see them take a drixik of cool limejuice with evident thankfulness. Besides the canteen and "cup of cold water,” however, the Y.M. always provides space and. facilities for reading, writing and games, and the secretary, if unable to carry on a great deal of platform work, is able to do the personal work which counts for so much, and many a man will look hack upon the little Y.M. dugout as a sacred place in his life. THE GOOD SAMARITAN, Away on the right of the line in the desolate, rough-looking country in which one could easily imagine the story of the Good Samaritan, travelling up hill and down dale in the Y.M.C.A. Ford ear, practically nothing is visible of an army (everyone being dug in) and then, in the distance, against the grey barren hills, one sees a white board, and on getting closer, one finds that it reveals the same old sign, the red triangle, and one knows that at any rate, the Y.M.C.A. is trying to get some comforts to the men who are dug-in on this part of the .line. Here is a splendidly equipped little canteen, and in another spot a shelter for reading and writing. WHAT A NOTICE! Another Division holding part of the centre are favoured with three Y.M, dug-outs, though, for the urgent need for workers, one secretary has the responsibility for all throe. In the ease of one, the two parts comprising the Y.M. are under the shadow of Ihc hills, and another has just been put up by the military in a redoubt in rocky and desolate country. The third centre with this division is a building, partly dug-in and completely sand-bagged, being very near the front line trenches. It was once a Brigade Mess, but owing to shelling, it was given up, and, after being improved, was handed over to the Y.M.C.A. Under the sign a notice appears that men must not congregate in this spot! THE SAFEST PLACE. Three dug-outs of a rather different nature serve another Division. The safest one is completely under the ground, while another is beautifully dug-in and sand-bagged, being within 100 yards of the firing line, and the third is dug into a communication trench and within three miles of Gaza. It is well that the secretary in charge of these centres is not suffering from lack of nerve,.as he needs to ho somewhat careful in order not to run into a bullet from a machine-gun, or a shell from one of the Turks’ big guns, . SPLENDID WORKERS. Enough has been said to give an idea of this phase of the work. The Y.M.C.A. has also been pressed to. do all that is possible for sectitons of the men resting. A shelter has recently been placed on the beach for one Brigade that is resting, another divisional rest camp has its own Y.M. and secretary, whilst in connection with the big official rest camp at , the. Red Triangle is much in evidence. Here there are two of the largest English marquees for the men, and the Y.M.C.A. also control the officers’ mess and lounge, and, indeed, malm the camp what if is. The Military Authorities are especially appreciative of this camp as, at their request, it was all going in three days! The work is splendidly led by men like Mr Owens and Mr William Jessop, who was mentioned in one of General Archibald Murray’s dispatches, and of whom a general stated, "The debt that is due to him from the Whole Egyptian Expeditionary Force is a very great one ”