LETTERS FROM EGYPT.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 March 1917, Page 2

LETTERS FROM EGYPT.

j XEWS OF TARANAKI BOYS. lance-Corporal Tate, writing -to Mr. I T. liiinliana.il uirtler date of .January 7 from "Somewhere in Sanai Desert," says that lie is completely recovered from the attacks of malaria and has joined up* again. 130 states that lie was* just unfortunate enough to ,aniss the' ''scrap'' on December 53, having arrived a d:iy too late. However, he gives great credit t'.i tin l New Zealand boys for their share hi tiie fight.

Among those attached to the squadron are Don. Kuiton, of Waitara road; Jack Courtney, Urenui; J. and T. McKldowney and J. Moore', Rerekapa; Dave Webster and Baldwin, Uruti; W. Bishop and Leu. Ruudle, Hell Block; "Ted" Avery and 3' rcrl Early, Xew Plymouth'. Captain lline is at present 0..C Wellington Regiment details. Hun airc'naft pavs occasional visits, and during a football match on the day previous one flew over and apparently saw the game. The writer wonders what they thought of it. Football is encouraged by the o/liccrs, ft Keeps the men fit. Swimming was "oii" that week, owing to the verv wet weather.

Under date -of' the 18th, the writer states his intention of keeping his correspondent well posted with such news as the censor will pass. On' the Bth several brigades, inclusive of Xew Zealand, made a night march, and '"rooted" Johnny Turk from a position some IJO miles away from the present camp. At daybreak tile troops crossed the borders of Palestine, and therefore had their first fight in enemy territory. The fHib was one on the call of time, and in the face of strong reinforcements. On tlie Stli, travelling light, the forces moved in the direction of 15 . Owin"' to the heavy rains the El Waddie was in flood, and a good deal of careful fording had to be done. A halt was made for tea, after which, at about nightfall, the march would be continued. Continuing on the 9th, life says: •'Last night was fine,, with a full moon but bitterly cold, and we were pleased after a long ride to see old Sol. Our regiment is resting just south of R- , being in reserve pro tem. At daybreak ■we passed the border peg, and this is being written on enemy soil in Palestine. The enemy has been located west Jt ■ The offensive is just beginning, the Yeomanry and Camel Corps being in front. T am regimental galloper, and at present perched on a hill for the interception of a certain message. Our legimont moved into the line at noon, our Xos. 2 and 3 troops paving cut across the enemy's line of communication. On reconnaissance, ous planes have been in the air the whole time, reconnoitring and directing the fight of the artillery, and firing is now (1 p.m.) very heavy. Several of our men and horse's were'hit this morning whilst manoeuvring into the present position. I have a good panolauiic view, and it looks as if the enemy will take some shifting. Our shells and machine-gun fire is being simply rained on the Turk, and he will not shift. Thank goodness, it is a fine dav, but I am wondering what the night' will be like. We are in amongst the Bedouins, with their goats and donkeys, and the kiddies will he lucky if they 'do not stop some,of the stray shot and'shell that are living about. Shells are screaming above incessantly, and we must have ""some" ammunition. Joe is not idle either, and his bullets are zipping about pretty freely. He does not appear to have too much gun stuff.

"In the evening I went back to the led norses and got> mine away for a drink at on old stono well that must have been SO feet deep. An order came for a quick delivery-of ammunition to the imu'hino-.smis in the front iinc, their suppl.v having: run out. I had the job, and galloped up with n pack horse, loador], just iu time to see the beginning of the end. One section of the Turks have put up the white flag, but the others are holding out strongly. At this period our boys put in several groa:t dashes under cover of the machine-guns, right up to the enemy Stenches. Our men fell l>"t i'SBR' in comparison with the 1 urks, wflße trenches were lined with fallen merf. Our light explosives did great work, finishing up bv a desperate charge. The Turks have here put up the biggest and most desperate defence yet known, this probably with the knowledge that heavy reinforcements were an hour's march away. Darkness ir> also a factor to be reckoned with, and under the circumstances it has been deculeil to withdraw from the position. \\ e have left some good men behind on the field, but the Tfcrks Buffered very severely. ' '

''On the 10th we rode Rome eight or ten miles out and bivouckcd for t\e night. Our. Nos. 2 and 3 troops stayed as rearguard and escorted the Ajpbil- • lance. They had a giant task to perform. A clearing station has been established here, and our regiment is left in protection of it. The wounded, now chielly Turks, continue to pour in. Some oi the Light Ilorso with ambulances scoured the ground this morning, bringing in the rest of the wounded.and the booty. It is estimated that the Turkish reinforcements were, a regiment of mounted,s and 2000 infantry. Some of our patrols got in. touch with the Turkish leinforcements, and things were beginning to look black for us last night when the Turk was only three miles distant. As a matter of fact, evacuation orders had been issued. The Light Horse and Yeomanry bad just withdrawn as our lingade launched their charge. This proved so successful that the Light 'torso were instantly recalled. There is therefore no doubt that the New Hcalanders had .won the day. This was later officially recognised by the 0.0.C. '•To cut this narrative short, we stayed another day here, and tl;en escorted the clearing station back ■to El- . W hen details of our scrap came to hand we found that the win was a good one We had captured officers, 1«0 men, killed .!00, niul had f o | ir cannon, four machine-gun- and a lot of sundries to tlie good. We are now marking time pending further developments. The railway now being in good working order transp facilities have improved, and our hv , g improves with it. Afresh lot of tents recently arrived, and we weie fortunate enough to get one served out We have had several dribbles of backsheesh" (presents) htely, probably stuff that arrived late for Christmas.

"I fully expect that wc shall 'he here or somewhere else for at least another twelve months. The second, squadron played anothei football match yestcrwinning by .3 to nil (still unbeaten). \ye have received two sets of amber and black jerseys and two footballs from tijiwora sports."

The writer sends Xiig best regards to .riernls. „