LETTERS FROM EGYPT.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 March 1917, Page 2

LETTERS FROM EGYPT.

UV A 'U'REXCI TROOPER. Trooper "Tapp' ! O'Neill, of Urenui, writing to Mr. Buchanan, says, under date of January .'!: —Since iwriting last, ('till' Tate lias rejoined us, completely restored to health, although they just caught him in time, nevertheless he enjoyed his rest, in the Aotea .Home, which is really u home, away from home in 'the true sense of the word. W'e arc now "stables mates,'' sleeping side by side. Last weel; we received some gift goods. Our troop received the consignment sent by the people of Central Queensland, where, strange to say, I spent some months several years ago, and 1 knew some of the donors of the parcels. Evidently all the gift goods from Australia and New Zealand were ■pooled and divided amongst the various units of the Ar.zae Mounted Division. I board (from rumor) that the Tommy Artillery, Somersets, Ayrshircs and batteries who are attached to us received part of the Xew Zealand goods 50 kindly sent by the good folk of tho Dominion. If such is correct it will cement the good feeling, spirit and comradeship that already exists between us, and they will mo doubt have received as much enjoyment from the gifts as we would have, done, as they are not so fortunate in receiving I such fine parcels as are sent to lis. Christmas was, so far as the "silent mounteds" were, concerned, certainly a merry one, and Johnny .Turk endeavored to make it more so. We had an engagement with them on Christmas Eve, of which no doubt a full account baa already been given in the New Zealand papers. We rode from "somewhere to somewhere" the greater part of two days and two nights, arriving at the Turkish stronghold shortly after daylight on December 23. At about S a.m. we started to advance, the Wellington Mounted Rides being' allotted the front section, Canterbury Mounted Rifles the left flank, the Australian Light Horse the right flank, with the Imperial Camel Corps to work round the rear. Some Now Zealand and Australian regiments were held in reserve, but luckily they were not required. The fight lasted from S in the morning until about 4 in the afternoon. It was a model battle in were the first to receive the Turkish clockwork, to the great satisfaction of the "heads" conducting. It was a splendid and impressive sight to see the various flanks creeping towards the Turkish trenches and redoubts, which, by the way, were of the latest pattern and splendidly constructed. The AV.M.R. weer tl'ie first to receive the Turkish welcome in the form of several shells lobbing overhead—even before we dismounted—and they (the shells) followed up our horses as they were being !ed away to the rear. The scene of the %ht was in a big river-bed—one of the ancient rivers of .Sinai—being practically level. During our advance we covered fully two miles in short rushes, there being very little cover foi the first mile, but fortunately the second half was better in this respects. Mounds of earth of from two to three feet high, not unlike ant-hills, prevailed, and to this we owe the fact of so few casualties. During the com se" of the day half-a-dozen of our aeroplanes were overhead flyin" very low, dropping messages to the staff and giving the Turks beans by dropping bombs. Bomb work scares'the Turk more than anything else. The airmen, who I believe were Australians, were as game as it is possible for a man to be. I sa.\v one using his machine-gun on the Turks for fully 15 minutes. At about 4 o'clock the order came to fix bayonets, when we were some 100 yards from Jacko, and be saw the wall of steel advancing from all sides, lie, being a wise man, threw in the sponge and up went the white flag. Had they decided to defend their trenches it would have been ''good night, nurse" for many of us. The Camel Corps did good work in the rear, and Johnny was completely surrounded. Our Artillery, being ScoltMi batteries, did great execution with their big guns, lobbing shells exactly whore they were wanted." The Turks bad about two batteries in action so far ns we could see, but they were unable to silence our guns. About, half-a-mile behind the. Turkish redoubt--, were some six or eight stone houses, used as hospitals and storehouses, . also an -up-to-date-pumping plant, with engine, etc.; large concrete reservoir, with pipes connected to troughs, where a brigade of horses could water at once.

Wo collected the prisoners and souvenirs, but unfortunately 1 lost all mine through the strap of my bag cominc loose during the ride that night. We, had some 1.50(1 prisoners. Our casualties 1 , were light, considering -tho work-ac-complished. Amongst the 'trophies collected by the Australians one managed to get bold of three fowls, and during the evening he was endeavoring to "swop" one. of them for a horse, his having been shot under him. Ido not kiiQw. if he was successful.

Towards sunset we started for home somc_2,-) miles distant, the march taking a\i night, as according to Army regulations it is compulsory to walk, thojii. In our squailron are a great number" of Taranaki boys, many of whom you will known. One was Abel Camlin's 'brother who unfortunately was killed towards the end of the day, being shot r i„|,t through near the heart, and was quite close to me at the time. He just said "Good-bye, I'm done." We also lost one oilicer, Lieut, Harding. He was a very line stamp of an oilicer, and much thought of. We felt the hns of both these men, Camlin being „im of the cheeriest, and a good comrade. Comim' home I think most of us went to slceo on our horses, which, by the wav, were the best part of 40 hours -without water.* "•Vo spent throe nights out of four in our saddles, and parts of the days, so on Christmas Eve sleep was the" order of the day (or night), all hands being dead dog-tired and sleepy, It is not altogether the distance we travel, but the number of hours spent in tho saddle that tires you out,

Reverting back to the light, I must say that our machine-gunners did very fine work. They would fire a few rounds, pick up their guns, run 10 to '■*" yards, and begin firing right off the mark again.

Since Christmas Eve we Imvd had somewhat easier times, there being little night work to do. 1 believe that the Sinai is now clear of Turks. At the time of writing I am in our rest camp, within 20'G yards or so of the blue Mediterranean- and within a score of miles of the border of a land famous in the Bible. We have wells for watering the horses, and others for our own use within 100 yards of the sea, the water being fajrly fresh and quite drinkable, The railway is still following i|i up ami makes the place more llkp London every day. QllV bones are as fit as (iddles. Our rations are still the same-liully-beef, .bread, marmalade, bacon ami tea" beina

tli* principle- Articles of diei just nowClilV is endeavoring to boi! the billy-ho. IMb is "some" cook now, and hot stuff on making toast! Each section does its own cooking. Occasionally we manage to pet one man over to the Y'.M.C.A. or A..T.F. canteens for some little luxuries, but us si rule r.vc are too far ahead of them. These institutions ore doing gror.t work, and we all find them exceedingly handy, if they are within reasonable distance for us to patronise them. The mail is in and distributed, but I have received neither letter nor paper, a most unusual occurrence. Possibly they liave_sni>.e astray. It is six weeks since T received my last letter. Writing on January !), the correspondent says:—This last two weeks the weather has been cold and showery, rain every day and night, to-day being the firv fine one, and as all hands are being drying their blankets. It reminds one of good old Taramiki, but there is one thing missing—the golden cow. We still play football whenever we can; don't! know why, but the football bump is strongly developed in us mounted?. Taramiki squadron, I am pleased to say, can still hold their own' with any of the other squadrons, so far not havinsr been defeated. Clill' still plays as good a- game as ever. It is hard work in the loose sand and on the beach. I have hart bad luck the last two weeks at the game, having damaged my right arm and sprained my foot. .Never mind. Kia oral