WITH THE ARTILLERY IN EGYPT.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 15267, 1 May 1915, Page 7

WITH THE ARTILLERY IN EGYPT.

A HIGH STATE OF EFFICIENCY,

A Christchurch officer oP the N.Z. Artillery (Main Expeditionary Force), writing to a friend in Chrifitchurch from Zeitoun Camp, under date, of March 20th, says:—

Just a lino to tell you we are still alivo and moro or less kicking, though there is not much vitality after some of the scorchers we havo hero. The - old Canterbury nor'-westers aro mero zephyrs to th<j blasts wo got her©, and out on the desert it is heart-breaking. Tho sand storms obliterate everything ' at times, and it is'nothing to see tho camps coming out to meet you on.your - way back. Tho training hero has been ; very solid, and the artillery havo had solid going alltt o timo. Starting first \ with battery training, we vresctt.'on to brigade training, and now fore final " ; effort wo are in the throes of divisional training—by . by iiight. Wo havo"<hero orie;brigade of Australian Light' Horse (all fwell over 12 stone), one brigade'of Australian iu■fantry, ono brigade of\N."Z'.''M:l.; and .. ... one brigade of N.Z.1., aleo a~brigado of ' . thrpo field batteries - battery, which arrived.threS'wSeka ago. So-you can imagine we. have some " • great miniature battles over the undulating sands of the desert.' Tho heat h ■ very bad now. and tho unfortunate infantry get it" pretty hot.-though they . . aro totally different-to .what-they were" , . when they left Now Zealand. You' -'. would not recognise some of them now. . 1 have seen the Turkish prisoners here, and they aro a very harmless lot. \ - They look quite well fed, though.- of- „- course bootless, for which the reason is ■; quite as immediately they vrieh ~: to movo quickly they at once discard their boots, as they cannot got uaod to • them. -Piles of boots were found close • ; to their trenches. ■ . ' " The training here has been very well -- carried out, and- the O.C Division — General Bird wood—seems quite well * -- satisfied by hie notes.- "Wo also havo \ a General in Command of tho Now Zealand and Australian Artillery, who has : ■ • corns out from, the front •to talto ■._ - charge. General Cunliffo-Owen ie nis , name, a"d a fine-man ho appears to be. ; ■ Ho knows all the latest methods, ami | " his supervision is invaluable. It is '- .- really remarkable the stato of efficiency - th c batteries are in, when one takes into consideration tho fact that only-'a. small percentage of them Jmow any- ■' tiling about the game a few months , - ago. We are now, according to our = General, quite 'fit'to take part in tto ■ war, and are only waiting for certain ~- equipment to arrive. „-.'". It was a treat to see Archie Mao-* dohald-'ancl George Grrfchrie playing ; football again. The N-Z. Field Artfl- • lery played tho Australian Artillery,-- . . anci oura was nearly a representative .- team. Wo won .two out of «>»» matches: Th 0 games were splendid—as good, if not better than senior football. McDonald made-a name for himself with three lovely runs in on the line." _ The scores were:—New Zealand,2l, Australia 14; New Zealand 10, Australia 15; New Zealand 17, Australia 5. Mclntyre (Petone) captained our fcl- v lows. "The matches attractod a great crowd, and took placo on the pnncrpaL sports ground in Cairo.