LIFE IN PALESTINE.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 April 1918, Page 7

LIFE IN PALESTINE.

SEWS FROM A -TARANAKI BOX. lu a letter under (late from Jliffa, Sergeant Cliff Tate writes to Mr. T. 'Buchanan, of Waitara:—"How does jlhis effort' strike you? Not from the pen of ft German but from a German pen, or rather typewriter. Yes, when our regiment was in J— this machine from the. German Consul's office somehow got tangled u[> in our gear and was brought away. Also quite a lot of useful stationery found its way orderly-room-wards. Ido not know what the'characters in the corner amount to, but presume they are neither swear words or of military value, and trust they pass the censor. (The affixtures represent a Turkish censor seal, a war issue stamp and the everyday registered letter label of the Turks, all of which are righj off the ice). Don't judge By this t|iat I am hack at my old position orderly room. 1 am here temporarily only, relieving while the sergeantis back over the Canal for a few days on 'business. When I rejoined th« regiment after my little indisposition I was fort mm to enough to get on the strength of my old squadron as sergeant of my original troop. Rather lucky, eh! Tapp O'Neill is among my number, so now we are again permanently together. Even after I came out of convalescence this time T did not feel too well, but since joining up again I have been Al, There is no doubt this is the life, and the climate is not at all 1 unpleasant, similar in many respeets to the Taranaki climate. But rain! gee, it can rain! We estimated the fall from one shower in two hours at four inches. That's a. good slice off the 2S inches which are supposed to fall during December and January.

On Christmas Day we were trekking 'back to reserve and had a continuous deluge, which in a short time created acres of flat into watery slush traps, and the nuiuerouswadis into rivers. I ein assuro you it was one of my worst experiences of mud, etc., and I do not look forward to a repetition. Arrived at our new bivouac we were fortunate enough to have a few line days. With tbi» and the receipt of a New Zealand mail, and a fair sprinkling of parcels, our New Year opened up very brightly, and we spent a few happy daysWe continue to get patches of rain and cold, but with our lines down on tho sandhills at Ashed the consequences are not nearly so bad- Wo had a great old time with the oranges up further. I suppose you ha-ve heard of the ,T—----oranges. Of course since tho start of the war most of the groves have sndlv deteriorated, but, we have a good idea' of what they mn't bo at. their best.

Another noticeable product is wineYes, good red wine, in all makes, shapes and sizes. In the same way'as the country is scattered with orange groves so are other parts with vines, and the accompanying distillery. These have, as a rule, large storage capacity, mostly underground. One at Aynn Khara, owned by the Rothschilds, is said to be the second largest in the world. This village is the first Zion settlement in Palestine, and is called bv them Tlichon T.e Sinn.

Similar villages are freely dotted about the country, and although the inhahij tants live in a more European style, ithey slimy signs of tough times, and arc a very mixed lot. T have received your newsy letter of October 7 This mail had been held np for some lime while we were at the front, line. But I say, your "Baby Contest" was "some stunt" and the result is something to be proud of. Paper', which I hare received gave some good accounts from time to time, but it's truly a marvel how the show was kept going. Practically everybody must, have done their bit. Congratulations to Uren\>i on their efforts! I heard from outside sources also re huge success of Freezers' Ball. Xoto where. Bert Arms is in the office and am pleased thereby. My best wishes to' him and trust he makes himself at home. Percy Allen should also be a useful Councillor.

A p.s- some days later says:—.Tnst slipped over to the orderly room for a ehivt and take the opportunity of finishin? this letter. You see it's this way: We have two tents per troop just now and mine, chiefly on account of the fact of Tapp's accordion powers, mare or less assumes the aspect of a home, and accordingly is full each evening. It's very nice that sueli is the ease hut my letter writing suffers in due course.

Lately we have shifted back nearer the line, and, incidentally to thirt ISj; wine press that I previously mentioned. As. usual wn had a deuce of a trek up *till in reserve, through rain and mud. Xiuuerous horses were bogged and many lost in the mud, but now we have established ourselves so to speak and erected bivvics, etc., matters are not half bad. 11 was good, too, to get back to the oranges. Yesterday T struck a tree wilh some whoppers on it and must take a. snap, ft n surprising how the hoys srssp every opportunity to boot the ball about. The '2m'!s have played three Slum" —l ,n at :> Panierbury souidron (1 to nil and drew with the fltli, and an Auckland squadron team. • Tapp played in the senior Iwks to-dav and shaped not half bad- "Pahs" Hooker is in the Divisional transport, and 1 hope to surprise the unlives with him some day—if he is still in form-

Vehicular traffic has the deuce of a job moving about yet. but matters are improving and also the rail is well through. Tapp is at, the tent door sparking well; sends regards- Too lazy to write to-day.