LETTER FROM EGYPT.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 133, 8 February 1915, Page 3

LETTER FROM EGYPT.

TAiHAPE BOY'S NARRATIVE. THRILLING AND INTERESTING. ; Mr Willie Berteushawr, ia a long descriptive letter to his parents in Taihapc( says: When wo left Albany things were pretty crcck on board, everyone was disatisfied with his share in life. You cannct wonder at it either when you come to think of us poor devils being penned up in a snip We were marched around Albany by an officer just like a let of school children. The Australian squadron were waiting ior us as wo steamed into the harbour. Tiuorows cheered us and we heartily responded. There was great pomp and ceremony when the generals met— Gcdley and Briggs. The latter was in charge or the Australians. Albany is a pretty little place, and I think the congregating of sc many troopships in their harbour will dwell in the memory cf its people a long time. We stayed a day, then put to sea, the Australian squadron leading ia double lines of six. PASSING COCOS ISLAND. I had 10 lay up in hospital for a few days during which time the orderlies were very kind and attentive. On the 4th November cur ship pulled out cf line and stopped her engines while the doctors performed a wonderful and successful operation on one of the boys ®whc had appendicitis. On the Sth we slewed down to as to pass Cocos Island at night with all lights out. But about 6 o’clock cn Sunday our advance guard the '•Minotaur,” scented danger, and came lull speed through our lines, giving instructions. On Monday morning we picked up a wireless from the Cocos, saying a foreign gun boat was entering the harbour. The “Minotaur” scouted and found the Ernbdon coaling from a’ collier The Embdeu scooted at once. The “Minotaur” signalled tc the Melbourne, and she signalled to the Sydney to take up Hie chase as she was the fastest boat. It was quar-ter-past seven Monday morning when the Sydney‘.left us with her ensign at full mast, which meant fight In the meantime the ‘‘Minotaur” and Hhnbden were playing hide and seek round Cocos Island, but the JUnbdifn just ran smack up against the Sydney, with no chance cf getting away. About 11 a.m. the Sydney’s guns boomed and blew • the Embden’s three funnels and mast away, and her captain had to beach her to save her from sinking. Messages from the Sydney were intercepted by the Embdeu so the .Tap. beat and - the Melbourne went off at full speed, but when they got to the skyline they received the message that the Embdeu was beached. When the news reached us there was great cheering. Won’t the Australians be pleased to knew that their boat settled the notorious Evubden? Just fancy all this taking place and our squadron of troopships not SO miles away! The prisoners from the Embdeu coolly told the Sydney men that they came upon the transports lights on Saturday night but clave not tackle us without help. But she didn’t see without being seen, lor that was the cause cf the Minotaur dashing off on Sunday morning. I can’t post this at Colombo as all letters have to be read.

It is monotonous, cue gels tired cf seeing nothing but ships, it vividly thrusts home the fact that you are on a troopship, on a very serious mission, while you are trying to hid yourself you are just taking a pleasure trip. We have started night watches in cur mess on account of the stuff- we have had stolen. We take it in turns, sc it only comes round once a week. On November 13 we woke up to find that we were a long way ahead of the Australian squadron. As cur boats were the fastest they were seat on to Colombo to get well on with coaling before others arrived.

CROSSING THE LINE We crossed the line to-day. Last night an order was issued, that His Deep Sea Majesty, Father Neptune, would visit our ship, the Maunganui, to do homage to officers and men on the occasion of their crossing the line. It was really funny and caused great merriment. Two large canvas tanks were put up and filled with water,then came along Father Neptune and his Councillors, and policemen, who went into every corner of the ship and grabbed the first they ccnud yay hands on, put them on a seat in front of Father Neputne, who pronounced judgment upon them. Their faces were then covered over with paste and they were skav. eel with a big wooden razor; then (hey were pushed bac-kwaids, head-firs; into the tank. The excitement was great when anyone refused, but half-a-dozen or so of Father Neptune’s men pounced on him and put him through the performance It was just great to see the officers dipped. General and Mrs God. ley were looking on and by their smiles were evidently enjoying it. We expect to reach Colombo to-morrow, the loth. The heat is killing, I shall melt away to a grease spot with much of this All our boats anchored cose together in the harbour at Colombo. There was a Russian cruiser and a French cruiser waiting to greet us. When we all got in, with the Japanese men-o’-war, you could see nothing but boats —it was a great sight. A GOOD TIME The troops were all taken ashore in small squads, but they were not allowed to have a drink, or to buy any-

thing. What do you think of the wowser officers? Mess orderlies came off better, so 1 enjoyed a good ream round and a decent bottle cl beer £he streets arc very quaint raid blacks are everywhere. We were allowed ashore again on the 16th, but had to be onboard again by six. Well, Novmau and 1 and three others could not see cur way to get back as we were having such a jelly time, so we returned at 11.26 pan. Consequently wc wore up at “Orderly” tire next morning for missing parade, and roll call. We were each fined a day’s pay and ten days C.B. (ecufined to barracks). We didn’t care, L was werth it. We had a scrumptious time out in a rickshaw for two, hours. My word, those blacks can hep along They took us to a temple, and black boys pulled off our boots acre re we went in. The carvings inside were really beautiful. THE EMBDEN’S STORY ' When ws get back, to town, the “Sydney” men had just tome ashore; heir ship had just brought the Embden’s commander and captain. Other prisoners were brought by the Empress cf Asia, a Survey ship. The “Sydney men were describing the light. When the Sydney left us to go after he Kmbdon she did 29.4 knots an hour, they say itie firemen winked as they had never worked, so eager were they tc get, into action. When they came up Lite Ernbdon swung round and Ist the Sydney have a shell that struck her tight cn the stem, killing two Sydney boys and wounding seven. This set Tie other Sydney hoys going and they )-ct lour shots in in succession. The first swept the Embdan’s foremast and bridge away, the second blew her fun nels away, the third swept her decks from stem to stern, and the fourth par a hole in her that you could drive a 'noise and cart through. They say rhe Erabdeir’s wounded were a terrible fight, some had legs and arms blown :lt, others had half their face carried away. The Germans had 2GO killed md 50 wounded. The Sydney lest 4 and It wounded. We saw the English and German wounded lying on the Sydney’s deck. Great was our surprise when six German sailors and one effl-

cor was brought aboard our ship. The Ernhdc-n prisoners were divided among .he whole of the transports A watch was kept over thorn day and night. They leek quite harmless and seem a line lot of fellows. One of them who spoke English, said we will never roach England, but that remains to be seen. A SAD EVENT. We are at sea again. When I was in hospital with influenza I made the acquaintance cf such a nice boy. He had a severe attack of influenza. We became great friends; he was only 20. After I came out I used to go and chat with him Well, the influenza developed into pneumonia and he died on Friday, the 20th. 1 can tell you 1 felt it very much. He was an only son, and had left a sister and mother behind him. They wirelessed at once to Tim■ru—it will be an awful shock for bis mother, won’t it? That makes three deaths altogether. The second was Lieut. Webb, who would dive into the tank instead of being dipped at Father Neptune’s Court —he struck the deck with his head and broke bis neck. He was a Dr Webb from Taumanmui or thereabout. This is November 27th. We have left Aden behind Things were net too good there . Twenty miles up the coast the Tmrs had started fighting, and.the Aden garrison had gone to meet them. Later we heard the British casualties, were 4 killed and 1C wounded. We heard here that a large force cf Turks were marching on Suez, so we only stayed at Aden a few hours

and we are now steaming as fast as we can for Suez. New calenders get a wav first, the Australians being slow;

we are quite on our own with no escorts, and from rumours on hoard the New Zealanders will be the firs! tc see action. If we are it will be a feather in our caps, won't it? We are in the Red 3ea and the perspiration simply runs off Clio doing nothing; they say this is their winter time —God help them in the summer! THROUGHT THE CANAL This is December Bth. Since writing the above a terrible let lias passed. It took us 10 hours to go through, the canal. Oh,what a beautiful trip through w e had! With powerful arc lamps on our bows we could see over the desert on both sides; I assure you it was well on in the early henrs before I went to bunk. English and Indian troops are stationed all along and as we passed they cheered us like mad. We ccaied at Port Said, and as we all thought this was to take ns on to England, we got ia Surprise whe.n we learned that the Maunganui had to go hack io New Zealand from Alexandria COALING. A I was quite interested in the coaling. Hundreds of niggers running for their dear lives with great baskets of coal on their heads, and if they clidn t n’lii the boss gangers lashed them with a whip. We were not allowed ashogkat Port Said, it was fearc-I that Bill Mas. sey’s wowser army would take too much booze. It was not till sve left Port Said that we were told we were to land at Alexandria. From the copy of the disembarkation order’s I am sending to you it seems as though everything was cut and dried, and our officers knew where we were to land scon after we left Wellington. At Alexandria everything was a bustle. My platoon was selected us rearguard for A Company.

We had to pray behind and clean up the ship, each man had ten niggers. What a time we had; I could have cleaned up the lot myself in half the time it tool: these poor black devils to do it: you want eyes in the back of j your head, IVr directly yen turn round : they stop wcik. In desperation, a'; last, 1 had to do as the ether boys did, and go round with a piece cf repe in my hand. We arrived at cur camp at 11.30 ; p.m. What a camp it is! There are 8000 of us and .1000 English Territor- ■ inks. They are a very young lot: East ■ Lancashire’s and 10th Manchester's. They talk very bread and remind me ~f Uncle when he lapses into the Lan- ; cashirc i wai:g They are very good to us, acting as our guides and taking v.s all round. We are not allowed to go cut without our bayonets, for-although the niggers seem friendly to wauls us ■ they are naturally a treacherous lot. NOT MERE FOR PUN It doesn’t lock as thomfij we are i here for fun, as the Turks are rising j in Palestine, and battle is already waging on the banks of the Suez Canal at j [smailia. The Lancashire’s left for ' 'here yesterday, and we are expecting | f o be called cut at. any time According ; o Mr. Asquith's speech in the House, | he intend; to take Palestine and give j it back to the Jews. Things are begin : ring tc look vc-rv serious, and everyI ' me reckons, we shall have & smack if the Turks before long. Ah, well- Theminer the better. THE UNION JACK. Monday will put the first bar cn to our medal, as we are to march ini. Cairo and hoist the Union Jack. Although Egypt has been looked upon as English, cur flag has never been hoisted. Trouble is not expected but if it comes there will be plenty of force to cope with it. I can hardly realise being in Egypt, it seems so strange, but a hen you see the Camels, and Egypians riding about cn donkeys, it brings he fact heme tc yen. My work is with Regimental Sergt.-Ms.jci’ Wccdhead in the stores tent, I haven’t attended a parade, and I get plenty cf time in the afternoon for a sleep if I want one. But, oh! how different it is muter | British conditions. We can smoke cigI irettes. have a wet canteen where they i scdl the real genuine Tilde Ccoue, In- : dian Pale Ale, made at Burton on : Trent. General leave every night from 5 to 9.40, two half days a week off. It's great, I can tell you. It is very cold here at night, but awfully hot in the 1 day time. I went into Heliopolis with Percy Morgan last night; he is looking well. You will be surprised to know that we play football on Sunday. Tonight (Sunday) I am stiff and sore all over. I picked a team from the 7th Wellington and played a team from the 10th East Lancashire Territorials. The Lancs, were very nippy and tricky but we were too heavy and too fast for them, and after a hard fought game we managed to beat them by 4 to 3.