THE SUEZ CANAL FIGHT.

A DETAILED DESCRIPTION.

KELSONIANS IN- 'ACTION. •

Extracts from the dairy o£ Lieutenant A. E. Forsytho (Motueka), of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, published in the "Star," give a graphic account of the Suez Canal fight in whidi the New Zcalandors participated. He writes:

"Since ray last eutry in the dairy quite a lot has happened. . We left Ismnilia on Tuesday-at 2.30 for Serapcura, a part of the Canal about 8 miles south of Ismailia. Our orders were to go there and report for outpost duty. There were two Platoons, Nos. 9 and 10, in charge of Lieut. Saunders and myself. Major Brereton came with us, and of course was in command. We detrained at Ein1 Glioehem and walked three miles across the desert with very heavy packs. It was the hardest three miles I ever walked. The wind was blowing in our faces and also the sand. We were in full marching order, each of us carrying our rifles (all officers are now equipped same as the men, we have discarded our swords) with 160 rounds of ammunition each and the sand was very fine and soft, consequently every step was an effort. The men were done up by the time wo arrived at the Canal, and we were immediately asked to got our men posted at their proper posts before the darkness arrived. We '■managed to get some tea after the men " were allotted to their various groups. "The Punjabis were on our left and the Rajputs on our right. The English Battery with 6 guns was slightly to our rear. After getting everything in order Major Brereton. and myself had a walk along to inspect -.the various groups. Everything was in order, so we allowed the pickets to go to sleep, after of course leaving a sentry over arms. Major Brereton then went to one of the {tickets for a sleep, but I had a presentiment that something was going to happen, s» I took my rifle;, put on my greatcoat and took up my position on the bank of the Canal midway, between groups of my plattons, staying for a period of half an hour between _ each group in the hope of. getting sight of a stray Turk, as we had been told they had made several attempts to cross singly with the intention of blowing up the railway. "However, nothing happened until 2.30 a.m., at which time I heard rifle firing about 400 yards to our left. I lost no time in getting my platoon into position on the bank, I had previously detailed my picket to their various groups^ so that when, the alarm went every man went to his proper group: and our first movement was carried out excellently, every man moving to his post without any noise whatever. "By the time we were in poßiuon for attack Major Broreton came along. He advised me to reserve our fire, as we had nothing to gain foy drawing their fire unless compelled to, after which he returned to Lieut. Saunters. ~v Turks then attacked in earnest, and 2 machine guns opened fire oatiie Punjabis immediately to our left. Ify men were very cool, and wait©! patiently. By this time there was » terrible noise with the enemy's machine guns and rifle fire, also the Punjabis' fire. .. _.

"About 3.15 a.m. an English, officer in charge of a Punjabi Company oarae up to me in a great state. He said the enemy had brought foo&te, and were crowding into them—in fact fhey were making a bold bid to cross tlie Canal. He asked me to go to Mb assistance. "We were only too keen fo get into it, s<J I sent a message ta Mafarßrereton and took my platoon to assist the Punjabis. Wo got well dowra on the Canal side, took good cover and opened fire. There seemed to bo hundreds and hundreds of them close ..to the bank, and we simply poured oar fir® into them. We must hare riddled their boats, as one sank just in front of us crowded with Turkß. There were swarms of them on the opposite bank, and, although we could not see them', we kept up a heavy rifle fire which must have done great damage. Fortunately for us some o£ our fir© must have silenced one o£ their machine guns, as it ceased, dtherwise I shudder to think what Hie result would have been, as we hadi onijr rifle fire.to assist us. "Just before daylight we withdrew from the Canal side and entrenched on the top of the bank. ftftt wo waited until daybreak we would have been wiped out, "as it was a yery poor day position. Daylight revealed a frightful scene. Seven boats lay o* the- other side of the canal jrftii dead bodies in and around them, and the bank was strewn with^ dead. Then the rifleß commenced in real earnest, j The Turks had entrenched oa the other side of the Canal. From daylight until 2.30 in the afternoon we went at it hammer and tongs. My men fired with deadly accuracy, anfl we gave tho Turks a not time. Major Brereton joined us just before daybreak, and remained with as ail da§v Some of the enemy had foolishly entrenched on the forward elope «ff Jfee Canal bank, aad we gave them «. wary hot time. Some tried to fineafc out and get over the bank, btit they were simply riddled with bullete, poor devils. Lieutenant Saunders's platoon mean. while, although np> under fire, kept ccp a heavy enfilading fire on the trenches opposite to us, and a staff officer told us that the dead; were simply piled up in the rear. The enemy opened artillery fire about 8.30 a.m., but flieit shells went wide. They gradually got Tange, however, and one of their Shells burst over one of our 15-inch guns and did a lot of damage, lulling one man ajid injuring the remainder. "Evidently the enemy did nofc realis© what they had done, as they altered their range and gradually got on to us. One of my men, Beveridge, had a marvellous escape. A shell struck the trench just in front of him obcl threw him over the bank unhurt. The next shell burst over No. 9 Platoon and the cap struck SergeantMajor Williams and severely wounded him in the shoulder. He behaved i splendidly, and . wbilo the ambulance j rendered first aid he got them to light his pipe and smoked quite complacently, although he> must have suffered. great pain.

"About 3 o'clock an order came for us to retire on headquarters. It was easier said than done, as we had to

cross over an open space under fixe. Two "Punjabis were killed- right away, and we did not feel very keen. However, we crossed in small groups, with the bullets whistling'all round. , "I crossed with three, men at the double. About three-quarters of the way across Ham, who was in front of me, dropped, shot in the neck, and I Fowler, who carae after me got one through his hat. Ham we found , afterwards got ouc bullet in the rifle also, so they were very plentiful. Ham was groaning badly, so I crept back and made him as comfortable as possible. He could speak, and said he had lost the power of his arms and legs, so I knew the bullet must have lodged in the spinal column and so paralysed him. Shortly after the native stretcher bearers went out and brought him,in.

"We went on to headquarters, and rested there for, a short time, and about 4 o'clock we were sent back to do outpost duty for the next night. When we got back to our position we had something to m eat, the first since the previous evening, so that we had been 24 hours without food. On Wednesday night we were left alone by the enemy, and next morning were relieved.

"Just before we were relieved 2 Turks (1 lieutenant, 1 private) gave themselves up xo the Indians, so we took them back to Ismailia with us.

' "I <"orget to mention that part of the 82nd Punjabis crossed the Canal on Wednesday afternoon and made a counter-attack, !mt were so hotly swept by shell fire that they-hud to ■ retire with a good many casualties, one captain having hit; ht-nd blown or'i by a shell.

"Oa Wednesday morning the 128 th Pioneers went across to clear tiie other side of the Cana!. Some Turks hoisted a white flag, and vvlien the (white) officer went up they fired,on him and killed him. Poor chap! I had been speaking fco him just previously. "Well, we caught the train and arrived back aboat 2 o'clock, all begrimed with dust and very tired. "P.S.—On Wednesday morning the Swiftsure came down and shelled the enemas trenches. One man, shot in the vow's nest, died four hours later.

"lemailia, Friday, Feb. sth. "Have just heard that poor Ham is dead, bo that will be another -funeral. The Turks haro retired, so we have nothing to fear for some time now. Private Ham, ,who belongs to my platoon, is the first New Zealander'killed in notion, and my platoon is the first. of the New Zealanciers in action with the euemy.

"Saturday, Feb. 6. "T->-day Major Brereton and myself have been making all arrangements for Ha-m's funeral, which takes place tomorrow at 9.15 a.m. The hospital staff have been very £ood, and have given us every assistance possible.

"dunday, Feb. 7th. "Ham was buried this morning with full military honours. The whole company turned out as mourners. There were also present General Walker, Colonel Johnston Colonel Stewart, Majt»r Temperley, and a naval officer. In tno afternoon, captain Griffiths, Lieutenant. Jerois, and myself went to the hangars and had a very interesting time inspecting the aeroplanes. "Monday, Feb. Bth. "All tho battalion togtiier once more, so wo have started ordinary dull work again, which seems very tame after being in action. "Tuesday, Feb. 9th. "Msjor Brereton got permission to go to tho .scene of our recent action ami took Lieutenant Saunders and myself; al.«o Major Jordan and two of his sub-alt-eras. We left. Lake Timsah in a <:iuial motor boat at 9.30 and had a loveiy trip down the Canal as far as Tousspum. We got off there and walkied down as far as Serapeum on the opIposite bank to the one we had defended. It was quite an education, as we could look over our recent, position from tho •enemy's-point of view. "At Tcussoum the Canal staif were hoisting the boats the Turks used on barges 7 They were mr.io of zinc and libberi inside". I.thought they were wood from the other side of the Canal. They wero all riddled with bullets, and some had pieces torn out where ri^er boats had shelled them. All along the bank oi the Canal was the evidence of a fierce fight. We at last arrived at the scene of our recent operations, only on the other side. We must have done .severe damage, as the trenches behind were piled up with bodies and thinly covered with sand. In some cases the sand was blown off the bodies, and it was a very gruesome spectacle. We collected a few trophies. which I am keeping. Later we crossed the Canal and -'had lunch at headquarters. The staff there, of course, recognised us, and were very decent. Later we caught another motor launch and arrived back in camp abo\»t 5 p.m.