NEW ZEALAND RIFLES' FIGHT IN THE DESERT.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 67, 18 March 1916, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND RIFLES' FIGHT IN THE DESERT.

SENUSSI ROUTED IN DAY-LONG ENGAGEMENT. SLIGHT LOSSES SUFFERED BY ATTACKING FORCE. / ARABS NO LONGER DANGEROUS. « » New Zealand War Correspondent's Cabled Message. CAIRO, March 17. The First Battalion of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade again acquitted itself creditably in the recent deseri fighting on the western frontier of Egypt. Leaving camp at 4 p.m. it marched 15 miles and bivouacked at a well in the deser* Next morning it marched nine miles as the rear unit of a force attacking the Arabs. Mounted yocmanry had got into touch with the enemy three miles ahead, and were attacked. The 15th Sikhs, with the SecfJlid South African Infantry, then attacked. The latter, nearly all of whom had been with General Jlotha in German South-west Africa, had not been trained for . marching, and were landed OO nly the night before, but they behaved splendidly. Many had to fail out with blistered feet, but at the sound of the firing they returned to their units and fought with great courage. They included both Boers and British. ' Half the New Zealand B Company formed the right flank guard A Company being the rearguard. With B Company were two machine-guns wh.ch made excellent practice. The British subsequently came upon two -Turkish oflicers and 42 Arabs dead at this spot. The enemy carried off all ■ their wounded, not a single wounded man being seen that day. MIRACULOUS ESCAPES FROM SHRAPNEL. Our machine-guns quickly silenced the enemy machine-guns, which had opened on our force. By this time C and B Companies, which had come up as rearguard, were under fairly heavy shrapnel lire from four enemy guns, but the aminuiut.oi. wa 3 poor. Though shells were .bursting all about our men they escaped miraculously, none being hurt. C Company was now sent to reinforce the Sikhs, who had hitherto fought magnificently, and half of D and A Companies were sent to drive off an attack on the left flank Before the close of the day the enemy was routed and driven off. Our ! force going on to the enemy's camp, burnt and destroyed many Bedouin tents The camp was equipped with ammunition, food, and water tins. The enemy lost heavily. One hundred and fifty dead were counted, and many wounded must have been carried away. Our losses were only 49 killed and 130 wounded. I he New Zcalanders lost one man and two officers killed-Licutcnant Holland and Captain Brydon—and 30 men wounded. MIRAGE GREATLY HAMPERS OPERATIONS. The operations were greatly hampered by the mirage, *hich made accurate rangmg .mpossible. At one stage the force seemed to be coming up against a walled town with men and women walking about in it. This, like a ridec winch seemed close at hand, soon vanished? The Sem,ss*i disappeared in tthe m.rnge over a great plateau to rocky undulating desert, with patches of camel thorn growmg on it. The ground about the Arab camp was filthy, so our men marched three miles and remained there for the night. The men\vere without h ankets and overcoats. It rained all night, and a bitter gale blew from the Med.UM-ranean. They endeavoured to warm themselves at little fires made from desert scrub, many boots being burned in the process. BITTER' NIGHT EXPERIENCES OF THE TROOPS The transport had been hopelessly bogged some miles in the rear. Eath unit having buried its dead, the forces n«xt morning marched back nine miles to Birchold, where it had bivouacked the first night. After all their lighting and bitter night experience, the men had now to turn to with drag ropes and extricate the bogged transports. With wet blankets and overcoats, they spentanother n.ght in the wind anc rain, but all the transport and wounded were successfully got into Mersa Matruh after a 15 milts' march. During the whole march in and out, only eeven New Zealanders, in addition to wounded lcll out. • Some days later our battalion did a fine march of sixteen miles to form . an advanced post at Unjcla. They made the return journey to Mersa Matron in five hours. During most of this marching they carried three days' rations ■n addition to rifles and equipment. Only two men fell out. One hinted and one sprained his ankle. I. f aßha ' tHeir ,cader '* a P ris ° D "' and the severe knocks they have had, the Arabs are no longer dangerous. The Bedouins, whom thevxecruit--8o largely, are coming in in considerable numbers. The former are in khaki uniform and arc armed with Mausers. The latter had various rifles o.i t fores returned to the scene of action, brought in all the bodies, and buried them at Mersa Matruh. Proof of the European inspiration of the Bedouin movement arainst at Athens. Some extracts from this precious document are "iven by a <orrespondent of the "Times," and the introduction is worth quotas for the light it throws on German methods. The proclamation purports to emanate from MerS "" " ° PeB8: " lD the ■ Same ° f Allah, tllc Com P a£S »°"ate and The appeal to tlie chiefs runs as follows.— -You have seen that in consequence of the oppression ceaselessly inflicted on your Mussulman brethren by their enemies, France, England, Italy, and Russia, that the Mussulman who once enjoyed freedom, have been reduced to slavery a"nd humiliation. These tyrannical nations have no other aim but to blot out the light of Islam throughout the world.

"Of all the instruments Allah has chosen for the protection of our religion the surest is the German nation, with its sympathies for Mussulmans. These our allies have placed the precious help of their policy at our service! They have begun to help .us in every way in their power to' emancipate ourselves from the afflictions which our oppressors deal out to us.

"In these circumstances we have realised the imperious necessity of proclaiming a Holy War throughout Africa, the north of which continent has been corrupted by the dissolute morals introduced by France, England and Italy, and dishonoured by the contempt in which Mussulmans are liejd by those Powers.

"In all that region the most powerful ruler and the one possessing most authority in the Mussulman world is his Excellency The Imaum, the Illustrious Exemplar, the Champion of Islam in the cause of Allah,,who is our Lord and Master, Seyyid es Senussi, the Sure Guide of All Elect.

"This leader is bred in the truth of the Koranic Law, and his soul, shining with its pure effulgence, has undertaken the task of purifying all corrupt souls and directing them in the path of life revealed by the Holy Book given to all Mussulmans.

"Your glorious renown, Your grand designs, and incomparable bravery, Oil, Chiefs of tiie Senussia, are known throughout the world. All the Mussulmans* of the earth count on your bravery and noble conduct in proclaiming and waging a Holy War, by which the bright rays of Islam will once more shine on African soil, and the Mussulmans of North Africa recover the rights of ■which they have been bereft by tyrannical nations.