THE WAR

Feilding Star, Volume XI, Issue 2601, 9 April 1915, Page 4

THE WAR

IN EGYPT.

TRAINING NEW ZEALANDERS

THE MOUNTED RIFLES' TREK

. The Mounted Brigade, thougE not sent against the Turk, has had a harfl time of it during the past month (writes a correspondent from Cairo at the end of February). Long hours in the desert carrying out training manoeuvres, always under the eye of Imperial officers, havo had an improving effect, and tho skirmishing aud eham fighting has given satisfaction. The final week's trailing was taken up by a long trek towards Suez, each trooper carrying his complete service equipment. Leaving camp on Tuesday morning, the three thousand mounted men comprising the New Zealand Mounted Brigade trekked to Nawa, a native town 23 miles southeast of Zcitouii. route followed was for .the most part along canal embankments aud through acres and • acres of cultivated lands, giving one a good idea of how Egypt's wealth is produced. Thousands of natives along the route turned out to witness the novel spectacle— and, indeed, tho long column, extending to a mile in length,,must have looked very imposing. The Egyptians gave every evidence of being pleased, whether from the mere fact of our being British troops of that many piastres wore spent iv purchasing fruit, etc., is an open question. The first night was spent in the open desert, and men and horses settled down to it like old hands. Within an hour horses were picketed, the men were fed from the field kitchens, and tho little army set- ! tied down for the night. Five o'clock next morning saw everyone on the move, and by 6.30 the long train was in motion again, the objective being a town named Bclbeis, lying 23 miles to tho east. The weather experienced was extremely hot, and the men suffered somewhat from thirst, it being a strict injunction that no ono was to drink the canal waters, so that while there was water all along tho march, it could not be applied to driving away the men's thirst. Beyond this the day's march was completed under satisfactory conditions. The Wellington Regiment, on arrival at Bclbeis, was detailed for outpost duty, and within half an hour of arrival at the camping ground were marched out to the respective posts, returning at reveille at daybreak. Active service conditions were strictly adhered to and well carried out. The third night \va s again spent at Nawa, but the routo taken was much longer, and as the 'travelling was difficult, things were more unpleasant than on. the previous days. > Diist was the great nuisance, and it may be said that Egyptian dust is much more unpleasant than any other dust, on account of the amount of filth it contains. Men and horses, sweating freely, were covered in thick dust from head to foot, and presented sorry looking objects on arrival- at Nawa. Everyone was in good spirits, however," and as plenty of good water was available things were soon righted. For tbe final day's march back to camp was reserved the hardest work of the trek, and an engagement with the Australian Mounteds was to bo fought over tlie last-ten mile's of tho journey. Camp was struck before daybreak, breakfast being served at 4.30, and 15 miles were traversed with practically no stop. The Australian advance guard was met at 10.30 a.m., and until 5 p.m. the engagement continued without cessation. It was quito the biggest day' the troops had experienced, and Generals Maxwell, Burwood,' Douglas, and Godley. were keen spectators of the proceedings. The Australians were fresh from camp, and kept the New Zealanders busy all day, but tbe latter carried out their allotted tasks iv a most workmanlike manner, and the week's performance greatly pleased the Commanding officer, who expressed complete satisfaction with tbe behaviour of iho New Zealanders. Tbe day's work occupied some twelve hours, with not even a cessation for the usual lunch, and horses and men came through the ordeal splendidly.