IN MESOPOTAMIA.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 280, 24 November 1915, Page 11

IN MESOPOTAMIA.

. "AN ABOMINABLE SPOT. - ' NEWS FROM AN AUCKLANDER. \ An Aucklander, of H.M.s. Philomel, fends extracts from* letters dealing with %he paffik. the maiet that-Slip are playing in the Mesopotamia campaign. On | October 27, Colonel Elsmie, commanding fl the forces engaged, wrote to Commander 1 Hall Thompson as follows:— ■ "I do so regret the death from heat m Etroke pi the petty officer and two men of the naval detachment which you so kindly* sent to us from H.M.s. Philomel. - The heat overcame them as well as several men of the 'Buffs' quite suddenly. ■, and .-it was found impossible to rally them in that awful sandy desert. They had reached their extreme point, a village on our right, which was held for several hours by the 23rd Pioneers. Apparently in their keenness to get into the ] firing line, the whole detachment doubled some distance, and this, added to the long march knocked them out, although good water was obtained in the village. It is indeed melancholy to think that we have lost three such magnificent men, but I feel that it was one of those accidents of war which could neither be foreseen nor avoided. The sand was so hot that one felt it burning through one's boot Boles, and men crumpled : up in a -minute. I think this climate is especially trying just after the rain. The whole detachment has borne all trials in this abominable spot so cheerfully, and all along been so keen to do their duty, that I know that you have lost three j excellent men. They have set a magni-| ficent example to the Indian troops, in whose section they have been living, and an example like this has a wonderful ef feet on the Indian soldiers, who then realise the stuff of which the 'Britisher* is made. Please convey to all their comrades my deepest sympathy on their loss, and my great appreciation of the splendid Spirit which could not let them give in until they dropped on their tracks." A brigade order, No. 7, issued from rlieadquarters at Sheikh Othroan, at tile same time," states: "The officer commanding Sheikh-Othman Brigade area is instructed to convey to all troops under him the thanks of the general officer /commanding Aden, for the excellent work done by them on the occasion of the capture of Waht on the 25th September, 1915. The feat of marching to Waht, turning out its garrison of 4 guns, 700 Turks, and 1,000 Arabs, holding it against reinforcements from Lahej and returning the same day to Sheikh-Othman, was a magnificent test .of the endurance, dash aud spirit of all engaged in the operation. A distance of over 20 miles was covered, and the troopß bad to march across a waterless and shadeless desert with deep sand on an exceptionally hot day. The officer commanding the brigade especially wishes to thank all engaged for the excellent manner in which all units 'mutually assisted each other and cooperated from start to finish, thus assuring the achievement of the goal aimed at with a surprisingly small number of casualties."