WITH THE TROOPS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 270, 24 April 1915, Page 3

WITH THE TROOPS.

A NEW PLYMOUTH BOY'S LETTER. Writes a member of the reinforcements to Ms people in New Plymouth:— tAs stated in my letter posted from fort Said,- we were en route for the Persian Gulf. We were met this mornng at Hell's Gate (entrance from Lilian Ocean to the Red Sea) by the Empress of Asia, an armed liner, and were inlered to proceed to Colombo for bunkers, calling first at Aden for charts; :rom Colombo to Borneo for cargo, and then to Singapore for orders. It is liardly likely that we will take a cargo lirect to England, as the outward and homeward journey would total about DC lays, during which time we would have burned about 2700 tons of coal, at about £3 10s a ton. Most likely we will run to stations on the Indian coast for a while. The weather up to the present has been delightful, a very pleasant change from the western ocean runs. We are not altogether sorry at the prospect of a stay out East, as we will be clear of the English coast for a time. We left Port Said on our journey through the Canal at 2.30 a.ni. oil Friday morning and reached Suez at 4.3b p.m. the same day. We take six-hour watches going through the Canal. The Canal is lined with soldiers, mostly Indians, nearly all in trenches or close handy to them. They are on both sides in some places. I came on deck about 6 a.m. and spotted a New Zealander on the Canal bank. I sang out to him. He was from Christchurch and told me that I would see the New Zealand boys at or near Isniajlia. We passed an Engineer corps on some 'pontoons that had been tied up to let us pass. I called to them. They were the Canterbury section. They looked well and told me that the West land section was in camp at Ismailia. We reached Ismail i a to find their camp down at the other end of the lake wo go through. It was hard luck after [ki.-sitit the Canteitmry chaps and not giving them any of the'tobacco we were saving for the West Coast boys. We passed two big troopships in the Canal with Indian soldiers aboard. It was hard to realise, seem; Indian soldiers with their horses, mules camels and goats, with the colonial anil territorial corps all resting or on Remit duty, sitting in the trenches, biiihlinjj trenches or bathing in the Canal, lliu elose by were also to be seen the li-;''< mounds' of sand that marked the Imriai places of the dead. The Turks crossed the Canal once, and while crossing m another pl&ce were s'liot down in nundreds. Our bridge deck was lined witl: sand bags to protect those oil the bridge ' from being shot at by any stray Turks A few days ago a captain oi a boat going through the Canal was killed am the pilot wounded. The idea of this i! to cause a panic on board and so gel the ship stuck in the Canal. We were travelling too quickly most of the tunc to carry on any conversation with those on shore. We may have better luck go ing back. , Our cook has just stepped into «i bucket of boiling water, and will .mosl likelv be put ashore at Aden, at whie.l: plncc we arrive to-nioi'row nioining When we reach Borneo T will not be fai from home, as it is right on the l.ine.