OUR MEN IN PALESTINE.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 July 1917, Page 1

OUR MEN IN PALESTINE.

LACK OF WATER AND ' / SLEEP. Some insight into the experiences of the New Zealand Forces lighting in Southern Palestine is given in a letter received from a quarter-master-sergeant of the Auckland Mounted Rifles, who has" been on active service for almost three years, and was through the Gallipoli campaign. Writing to a friend, he says : —“ There is .no use in worrying on our account about the lack of water. We can manage with very little to eat or drink, without inconvenience, because we have become used to it. One lives on excitement, but lack of sleep will kill me. It is very often agonyafter a few days without sleep, although after the first few nights one does not notice it. During this last fighting I did not-feel sleepy at all, although we'had very little

sleep for a week. The sand is had enough, but I think the dust 'here ‘ takes the cake.’ When we came here the country for miles was standing barley and grass, beautifully green. In less than a week the horses had eaten every blade of barley for miles round, and now the country is white with dust.”