THE SUEZ CANAL IN WAR TIME.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 24, 26 March 1915, Page 3 (Supplement)

THE SUEZ CANAL IN WAR TIME.

MIGHT OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE

•'By a Correspondent of the Londoa "Daily Chronicle.")

.Many people pass through the Suez Canal, but few arc vouchsafed so interesting a trip as tho passengers on a recent Indian mail boat. Short of going to the fr mt in Belgium or France it would be hard to get into clos»r proximity to txpected fighting; whilst a-; an ocular demonstration of the might of the British Empire tho occasion was unexampled. My narrative liogins with the moment our boat moored in the harbour of Port Said at breakfast-time. The unusual character of the shipping was at once apparent to passengers on deck. The most unusual sight was a number of great liners and merchant vessels painted the naval grey and packed full of soldiers on every deck. Some of these beats contained N'ew Zealand troops, whilst others carried Australians. There was also a Japanese mail boat in use as a transport and an Austrian vessel recently captured lying in the harbour. A collier from Cardiff was discharging coal into huge lighters, which were then towed across to the various transports. On each lighter worked a crowd of native Egyptians shovelling the coal into baskets, which they carried on their hacks up planks to the ship, crowding one behind another and returning by another plank. Whilst our own ship took coal we passengers were able to spend the morning on shore in the town of Port Said. The extraordinary situation of Governments and nationalities in Egypt since England declared war on Turkey is surely without parallel in history. There are proclamations by the Com-mander-in-Chief of the British Army of occupation posted up informing Egyptians of the state of war between England and Turkey, and stating that England is fighting to protect the liberties of Egypt, that Egyptians will not be called upon to fight against the forces of the Sultan of Turkey as he is their religious chief, and enjoining all to remain quiet and in no way hinder tho British troops. The array of post-offices is temporarily increased by the Indian Expeditionary Force having its own, where the stamp-collecting public may buy Indian stamps over printed T.E.F., which will beiome valuable curiosities when this war is ancient history.

EVERYWHERE RUSTLE AND ACTIVITY.

In our boat returning to the steamer were two officers of the New Zealand troops going back to their vessel. In passing through the canal the previous night they had heard some firing. They believed that the whole of the NewZealand and Australian troops would land at Alexandria and camp in Egypt for training until the spring, it being deemed too cold for them now in England or at the front. Soon after we regained our ship another Australian transport came majestically along from the canal with about 1,500 men crowding all the decks and vigorously waving handkerchiefs and shirts to every boat they passed. Their band was playing, and it gave lis a thrill to hear it strike up the "Marseillaise.'' Although not visible, we were told that Captain von Muller of the Emden was on board the cruiser lying next us, together with a number of German prisoners, mostly his crew. By 2 o'clock we were well under way down the canal. Just beyond the canal banks on either side lay great shallow lakes stretching almost to the horizon. That on our right (west) is permanent, but on the east the land had just been flooded as a protection against the expected Turkish raiders from Sinai. We passed a great cut in the bank through which a torrent was still rushing and around which was a swarm of natives working.

Three ships were in line passing through the canal in front of us, and everywhere there was bustle and activity," civil and military. The great dredgers were mostly at work as usual pumping the liquid mud far out on to the desert. After sunset events became more interesting for we had passed well away from the flooded area, and nothing but a flat sandy plain stretched eastward for miles, over which a horde of Bedouins on camels could dash with speed. It was practically dark, and moon was gaining when we became aware of a camp. We gave a few rousing cheers, and were surprised to hear them answered by a solid chorous of English voices a little way ahead. All the passengers crowded over to this side of the deck and cheered with redoubled volume. We have on beard 20 subalterns newly from Sandhurst going to military stations in India, and they led off with "It's a long way to Tipperary." The soldiers on shore joined in till the two parties got out of time.

A PROCESSION" OF TRANSPORTS. Soon after passing this camp the ship slowed down and was tied up to the bank. We saw a searchlight far down ttie canal, but coming nearer. Gradually there hove into sight a big liner, which, as she slowly and majestically passed, we recognised as another Australian transport. Our subalterns led off with stentorian cheers, which were re-echoed tenfold by the Australians. Then came question and answer, " Who are you?'' We replied. "Where are you "going?" they asked. "To Bombay," we replied, and probably we should have had a redoubled cheer if our destination had been Australia. Soon our boat resumed, but shortly before 10 o'clock we stopped and were tied up again. A searchlight was visible a long way off, for every boat passing the canal at night takes a searchlight on board. Slowly—very slowly—it came nearer, as ships" travel at only five or six miles an hour in the canal. In half an hour it was passing us, and as it was another Australian transport there were wild cheers from both sides, ending with "Tipperary.'' As she passed away into the night we awaited with interest the maturing of the next canal light, and amused ourselves watching two searchlights on the bank sweeping the desert and the skies. After a long lo minutes the next ship was alongside. Imagine our disgust: it was an old tramp steamer, and we gave it a inoi-n cheer, which the only soul visible on board did not deign to answer.

Another Ion;.; wait was varied by the two searchlights being trundled alongsidel on n train. After examining us and the desert lieynnd they passed on, and a further wait was rewarded liy the next ship proving to lie anotlier Australian transport. Tin-, men were mostly in their luniks, however, and our cheers brought many of them runnim: out in nil kinds of Costumes. Another <|imrter of an hour, and then another transport, and another and another after e.'pial units. Knob had rousing cheers, varied with "Tipperary." But it was now midnight, and most of us went to 1)0(1, though we could see the searchlights of four more transports still to come, and a few enthusiasts stayed up to cheer. Awakened at 7 o'clock next morning, we were nearins Suez.