IN THE STORM AREA

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 55, 6 March 1915, Page 8

IN THE STORM AREA

A WELLINGTONIAN'S EXPER. lENCES SUSPENSE AND EXCITEMENT IN SUEZ CANAL. Some interesting experiences arising out of the war were related to a Post reporter to-day by Mr. L. Binns, a Wellington resident, who has just returned, from a twelve months' visit to England. Mr. Binns was at Leeds wheh the Germans bombarded Scarborough, and stated that it was idle to say that the advent of German shells caused no excitement. The residents, he said, rushed from their hoUEes, and J/ook the first train departing from Scarborough. He saw many of these refugees arrive at Leeds, and some of them were in their night attire. All the large houses at the famous watering place were now occupied by soldiers, the owners having departed for the country. Mr. Bihhs, who left England on 15th. January, is of opinion that the manner in which tb© large employers of labour have risen to the occasion during tha great crims t will obviate any necessity for conscription. In his particular trade making — for instance, and in. many other trades, the employers are only engaging single men who can produce medical certificates to show that they are unfitted for active service. Employees leaving for the front are given written guarantees that their billets will be kept open for them, and while they are away their employers make up the difference between their pay as soldiers (7s 6d a week) and. 39s (the money they would earn at their trade). Passing through the Suez Canal twenty-four hours before the Turks made their ill-fated attack on the waterway was a novel experience, full of suspense and excitement. The following notice was posted up in -the Orient liner Orsova, in which Mr. Binns was travelling : " During the steamer's passage through, the Suez Canal passengers are warned to keep away from the port side of the ship, as there is a risk of their being fired on from the Canal bank on that side. Anyone exposing themselves to this danger will do so entirely at their own risk, and the Orient Company will nob be responsible for any harm which, may come to them in consequence." The whole ship was in. total darkness and no one was allowed even to strike a match below, in spite of the fact that the port' holes Were covered with steel plates to prevent the ingress of bullets. The Aus* tralasian, British, and Indian troops could bo plainly seen in the trenches, and those on board the Orsova exchanged salutations with the New Zealand soldiers, who called out the names of the regiments to which they belonged — Canterbury, Wellington, or Auckland, as the case may be. Where there were no soldiers the desert was flooded to prevent the passage of the Turks. About the time the vessel was passing through the Canal there was some outpost skirmishing, in which the Indian troops were engaged, and passengers aboard could plainly see the wounded mett being carried on stretchers to the base hospitals along the banks of the Canal.