MESOPOTAMIA.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 19 February 1917, Page 4

MESOPOTAMIA.

SYDNEY OFFICES WITH THE GLOUCESTEES. FIGHT WITH ARABS. Lieut. Norman Hill, of “The Grange” Dulwich Hill Sydney, who is at present in the firing line with the Gloucestcrs at Kut-cl-Amara, and who Avas formerly with the Australian Light Horse, in a letter to his mother says: — “I am the luckiest man alive to be able to give you a bit of news. Two mornings ago I was in charge of a small party consisting of another officer and seven men doing reconnaisance duty. I had gone about three miles from camp and had assembled my men prior to changing my direction north, and at the moment I was studying the map, when suddenly one of my men said, “God, the Arabs are on us. ” I looked up and saw from 20 to 25 Arabs coming for us at full gallop firing as they came. They were distant about 500 yards. I really thought our time had come, but determined to make a fight for it, so we fixed bayonets and retired a few yards and got down into a slight hollow in the ground and opened fire on them. The Arabs came up until they were 200 yards away and then they pulled up. Some of them dismounted, lay down, and opened fire on us. This continued for some time, wc keeping up a steady fire. Owing to the dip in the ground none of my men were hit, but I know for certain two Arabs and horses were badly hit. Anyway, they could not withstand our fire, and retired some distance shortly afterwards. When they did so I retired my men to the banks of a river so as to have my back to it and to stop the Arabs surrounding us. During the retirement the 'Arabs fired on us like fury, and bullets were flying all around us. Once again luck was with us and none was hit. On reaching the river I had called up camp by heliograph. A party came out to meet us, and the Arabs cleared out. It was a narrow shave and I cannot make out why the Arabs did not charge and finish us, for wo had only seven rifles against their 25. I think our fire must have been too much for them. ’ ’