ABOUT THE WAR.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 November 1915, Page 5

ABOUT THE WAR.

A COMICAL SIGHT. "There is a comical sight to be witnessed here every day on tracks leading to wells out in the open on our right," ' says Gunner G. A. Carnation, a member of the Second Field Battery with the Main Foive, in the course of a letter to. his mother in Auckland. "If you were, looking out across the plan you would suddenly see different water-carriers — Gurkhas, Australians and New Zealanders—rushing off in different directions for cover; a strange action when everything seems so quiet. But suddenly the riddle is solved. A detachment of English Tommies are marching in a solid bunch down one of the tracks to draw their water. Uis always too tempting a target for the Turkish gum ners, and soon the shrapnel starts. Kcally tiiose men make us tired, and it is no use warning them. Nearly all our stray casualties arc caused by til is habit of theirs—in going about 'in groups. The usual iiv of warning is, 'Look outl Here coitfes a gang of Tommies!'"

| A I'LUCKY DEED. A plucky deed was performed at Galltpoli on August IS by Corporal Jnmca Swan. D.C.M., whose parents reside in Dunodiu. On going out to locate an enemy trench lie came upon it unexpectedly', just over a slight rise, and found a Turk on the look-out, and on the point of tiring at hire. Corporal Swan ami the Turk fired together, and the latter dropped. The oZrporal, who was -10 yards ahead of tile company, called oil the men to chargl, which they did. lie himself pounced) on two Germans who were trying to' manipulate a machine-gun, and in a few minutes the trench was captured, with only three or lour casualties. It was fortunate for the attackers that something had gone wrong with the gun. If the Germans had succeeded in righting it the havoc in the ranks of the charging company would have been disastrous, aud the trench could have been taken only after considerable loss of life. Aa the officers were all shot in the operations that took place about that time, it is impossible for any recommendation to go forward in Corporal Swan's favor. Ho is at preaent in Egypt, suffering from an injury to his arm.