NEWS FROM EGYPT.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 August 1917, Page 6

NEWS FROM EGYPT.

BLOWING UP '-JACKO'S" RAILWAYS. | NEWS OF TAEANAKI MEX. Trooper Tapp O'Xeill, of Urenui, writing to Mr T. Buchanan, says:—Since writing' bis! there is not a great deal to relate, v. it It perhaps the exception of blowing up by dyi::imito of some lo miles of ''.iaekoV railway. It is one of the hardest 'stunts" we have bail, at times we being 30 hours in the sadille, only stopping for feeding the hotses and carrying out our objective I happened to be o;ieof the X./i. party of dynamiters. We previously received two weeks' instruct ions in the handling of high explosives. We successfully accomplished blowing up our particular sector of .'1 miles, including 3 bridges. Every rail received its dose, the result being that every one was shattered and twisted, lumps of rail tip to 18 inches being sent skvwards.

One big bridge the Engineers blew tip was composed of IS massive stone arches which must have taken a long time and great deal of labour to erect. jn less than a second, when all was ready, it went up in the air by the simple process of pressing an electric button, making a very line spectacle as she ascended heavenwards.

A total of 13 miles was blown up, including over a dozen stone bridges and viaducts.

We caught '"Jacko" napping, as he did not have the line very well guarded. and we soon pushed back the opposition we met. Coming home we raided all the Bedouin and Arab fowl houses we fottld see, as you know we Colonials have a weakne.-s for chicken at any time! We also burnt all their crops of barley, etc, which otherwise would go to the Turks, ami also in retaliation for them sniping at us, which they wetf.' doing mo-i of the day. Coining home we were naturally dead tired and sleepy. 1 know I went to sleep several times in the saddle while my good neddy ploddid steadily along. A few days later th" dynamite crew were paraded before Major Chauvel and complimented l.y hint on the good work done, but I guess we would have been better pleased had he given us 3 days' leave in Cairo.

About a week ago we (the Anzac Divisions) were relieved by another mounted division and came back to the good old beach for 1-1 days' rest, which, needless to say. we are at present enjoying—including the luxury of a swim —which pleasure our horses seem to enjoy as much as we do ourselves. Al.-o her" v.e escape the dust of the plains which is d , and that is not saying the wor.-t by a long chalk. The latest rumour here is that there is a possibility of the Main Body boys going back to X.Z. between this and Xmas for 3 months' furlough This with the 3 months' necessary travelling will mean a six months spell. Ido hope this comes off. a.-; they will soon have three years' active service to their credit, and it would be a good move, as not many of the old hands are now left —less than 25u in ~gypt I believe. Abo there may be a chance of our getting it later on, as the war looks good for another twelve months at least.' One time I was of the opinion that if would eifd this year, but as the U.S.> has come in now she will make it last, longer, as she is able to provide John Bull and Cov. with the bullet-silver. Glad to hear the drought has broken in Taranaki. It was raining when you last wrote. Guess Taranaki cookieswould be joyful. Iu this part of the world you see raitt only every six or eight months, the rainy season being from November to the end of January. Everything just now presents a burnt and dried up appearance. However, the lack of rain is provided for in another war bv nature in the form of heavy dews each night—as well we know by our experience sleeping out in the open during the past two months. Have just heard from Ted Avery that Rewi' ran third in the big race at AVellington on the second day and that Rawakere got second. We saw the results of the first day's racing in tho

last papers received, and we also beard that Desert Gold'had her colors lowered. It must have been "some race" and would cause considerable excitement. Xext door to me your old friends Jack Moore and Jack MeEldowney from the F.erekapa arc arguing the present price of X.Z. stock. Other boys whom you may remember, Ted Avery, Lett ltundle, Biliy Bishop. Don Fulton, Tom MeEldowney and Lloyd Williams are all Al. Jack Bower, who was wounded some six weeks ago, is making good progress, so 1 hear; also Bashford, late publican at Manaio. Cliff Tate is OK and will writ; to you next week.