FIGHTING IN THE DESERT.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 May 1916, Page 6

FIGHTING IN THE DESERT.

THE N.Z. RIFLE BRIGADE. IN ACTION FOR THE FIRST TIME. Writing to a New Plymouth relative, a member of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade says:— ■ We were lucky in getting into the fighting so soon, and in such an interesting part of the world. Although the country is now a vast expanse of desert, it was at one time the centre of a high civilisation. It was there where .the famous beauty Cleopatra travelled so much. Traces of ruins are still left to mark where huge buildings once stood. The country is honey-combed with caves, and it was in these that the enemy frequently collected. They are carved or hewn out of the solid rock, with huge pillars left as supports. I think I can safely say that we have marched a greater distance than any other New Zealand force. We had to continually follow the enemy up. On one occasion wo did 03 miles in two days. Brackish water was what most of us had to drink, and, of course, only increased our thirst. Mile after mile we pushed on, but the only traces of the enemy were dead camels and luggage that they had thrown away in their haste. Christmas Day I will never forget. Far variety of incidents it surpassed anything I 'have ever had anything to do with. We set out on the march very early in the morning, I should say about 2 a.m. Our destination was Wadi Majed, about 15 miles away. Just as it was getting light we could see the Australian Light Horse ferreting about in a low-lying ridge straight to our front. Presently the enemy's rifle fire could be heard, and the big Shiekhs could be seen moving about on the skyline. After the mounted men had ascertained their position, we started to move forward in artillery formation—that is, small 'bodies of troops scattered about the plain. It was* just as well we were in this formation, for presently >.i 15pounder shrapnel burst just on our left right among the loth Sikhs. However, this danger space was carefully avoided by other troops, when their fire became heavier, and the losses were not so heavy. At this part of the game we had extended out in line, as the rifle fire was getting hot. I happened to move through our big guns, which had just wheeled into position. Presently I thought the end of the world had come. I was very nearly knocked out by the concussion. At first I thought a. fairly decent shell had' hit close alongside me, but it turned out to be our own. I must admit it gave me quite a decent shock. Our fifth shell landed ■ fair on their gun position, and sent the lot to . This was rather gratifying, and made things quite different for the advance. Shrapnel makes n very peculiar noise when it bursts, and is not at all pleasant. Meanwhile our machine-guns were peppering their position on the ridge. The Indians formed the first firing line (what wonderful fighters they arc, too!), while we were supposed to back them up. The platoon that I was with went right forward, though, and we found ourselves wedged in with the Johnny Sihks. It was thus we had our baptism of fire. We peppered the retiring enemy for all we were worth. At times we fixed bayonets to charge, but the beggars were not having any, and scaled for all they were worth to the next ridge. It was here I first saw the peculiar customs of the Indians. They calmly set fire'to the clothes of their fallen enemy. Several of our fellows had fallen 'by this time, and we were fit for anything. Up on to a high plateau we followed the fire, which meanwhile had practically died away. It was here that wo took too much for granted, and strolled along looking for snipers. Presently a heavy fire started from a line of huge boulders about a chain in front. We, of course, dropped on our faces, and the five went high. My right-hand man went down here with a bullet in his hand., I bandaged him up, but it was useless, for he dial a few minutes after. Having driven the enemy right off the plateau, orders came through for all N.Z.R.B. men to close on the right. The machine-gun fire here was pretty heavy. It is wonderful how you dodge the bullets. Wo formed up not to make the final assault on a donga, or dried-up water-course. Most of us did not know of its presence until we were right into it. This was where we suffered. There was absolutely no cover, arid the fullypacked valise, weighing about 701bs, dotted about the plain revealed the presence of a man. I tried to- locate the enemy with my glasses, but the Turkish uniforms they .were wearing made them very difficult to locate. While all this was going on the battleships were shelling their position from the sea, while our big guns from the land were doing likewise. This was why they collected on the donga. With our machine-guns at the mouth of the donga (one could almost call it a canyon), the Light Horse on the left, half our battalion on the right, and ourselves coming down with fixed bayonets, made things very unpleasant for them. Their Turkish and German officers must have told theni,sbme dreadful lies about lis. There were no prisaners taken. I'Voni out of caves we dragged them. ■Big, ferocious brutes they were. Some took their own lives. It was getting dark, so we shot the camels that the enemy had for carrying- ammunition (they were very nearly done with fatigue), and started for home. I have been tired in New Zealand, but never so much as on that night. The water ■was done, and get away from the donga we had to, in case of a night attack, for there was quite a large body straight ahead on the beach that.was giving themounted men trouble still. Well, to cut a long story short, we reached camp on | the evening of the next day, every man walking in a kind of stupor. A good sleep at the base put us right, though, and exactly a month after we went out and gave them another decent rally up. This time we met more of the trained regulars, and they had more heavy artillery. Our losses on this occasion were much heavier. Tlie aeroplanes are of great assistance to our artillery. They circle gracefully about, and indicate the presence of the enemy by dropping smoke bombs.