DEFENCE OF THE CANAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15886, 6 April 1915, Page 8

DEFENCE OF THE CANAL.

MEN WHO WERE ENGAGED.

LETTERS FROM SOLDIERS.

AUCKLANDER'S NARRATIVE.

Tho first accounts of the fighting on tho Suez Canal, written by members, of the expeditionary forte who actually shared in repulsing tho attack by the Turkish Army, are given in letters received by tho last mail. Tho following narrative of his experiences was written by a corporal in the 3rd, Auckland, Infantry from Ismailia:— Our departure from Zeitonn (Cairo) was somewhat sensational. At tea, one night the news suddenly arrived that we were off to the front 'first thing to-mor-row,' whereat tho bands played discordantly, the crowds cheered continuously, and tho colonel later told us wo should bo fighting for our lives within 24 hours. Next day we trained it to Ismailia, where we spent an atrociously tamo week. Then the enemy came and bombarded (inter alia) El For dan, a station 10 miles up, one morning with shrapnel and rifle fire. Off we rushed (February 3) by train, and in the afternoon wo feverishly dug trenches on the canal bank, while besido us a warship shelled a Turkish gun out in the desert. Wo could see the shells bursting, but nothing further. Subsequently we ascertained that tho Turks had to abandon the gun, which was captured next morning. That night our section was specially picked to do outpost work on the canal, so we spent the night peering out into the darkness, straining our eyes to see the Turks coming. However, nothing happened either that night or for a week, which we spent building gun pits and bombproof shelters. Our rations were fearfully low, and we did a 6tarvo for three days. Turks March Across the Desert. "Then I was fortunate enough to take a guard down to Ismailia with a prisoner. We first saw him soon after he had given himself up, and was being interrogated. We arrived on tho scene with shovels to dig a shelter. He not unnaturally thought we were a firing and burial party, and it was only after a lot of explanations that he ceased his prayers and vehemently kissed the major's "boots. We heard from him the whole story of their march across the desert, taking 20-25 days. They were well clad and well equipped. " Down at the Ismailia Wharf are 18 pontoons of galvanised iron, each 22ft by 4ft, which the Turks had carried 200 miles over the desert, and launched in the canal at Serapeum. One cannot see them without evincing a wholesome respect for whoever carried out the work of the expedition. On Sunday 21, a friend of mine who had been under shrapnel fire at Serapeum accompanied me by boat to the battlefields of Serapeum and Toussoum. En route we saw three of our departed foes floating in the canal, and on the desert a long way from the Indian trenches and wire entanglements, wo saw odd boots, clothing, and multitudinous graves. They say that some of the bodies are buried in very shallow graves, and the wind has blown the sand off them. The Canterbury officers who visited the place two days after the battle, say that thero were at least 800 left dead on the field. Tactical Exercises Resumed. "At present we are having a dreamy time at Ismailia. In the morning wo drill; in the afternoon we bathe in the lake'; and at night wo do outpost work. Yesterday we had an interesting sham fight, in which our little band of scouts covered themselves with glory. Having to retire over a small bridge 6tuck up a notice, "This bridge is blown up," and, much to our surprise, tho enemy, on advancing, duly respected tlio notice, and after some delay forded the stream! To-day (23rd) we have just finished lunch on a route march about six miles from Ismailia. This.' afternoon we shall march back. " Ismailia is a wonderfully pretty little place. You know how beautiful Auckland is with the kowhai or pohutukawa out? Well this place leaves Auckland poverty stricken in comparison. The streets and promenades are long avenues of acacia. Their trunks grow laboriously into the sky and break into an extensive domo of'green leaf and brown, long seed, now golden in the afternoon sun. Tho parks are a mass of palms, short and tall, and of trees laden with purple creeper. The houses and hedges are heavily festooned with purplest tangerines— wonderful sight as tho sun catches it. Then in tho parks are occasional :»rcophagi, steles, and sphinxes ; everywhere is a network of canals, lotas and drawbridges, and to tho sunny south is Lake Timsah, with its glorious promenades and bathing places. We shall be sorry to leave it. Indian Soldiers Admired. Writing from Zeitoun on February 28 to his father in Auckland. Private K. ]~ Skinner, 10th, North Otago, Infantry, states that his company was stationed about six miles from Suez on the Asiatic side of the canal, this being No. 2 post. "With us were two companies of the 2nd Gurkha Rifles" ho continues. " They are splendid fellows, and as smart as they make tliein. We were soon great friends with them. All their commands are given in English, which was a surprise to me. " Beyond an occasional exchange of shots at night, we did not see much fun, although out on patrol or outpost at night, expecting anything and not knowing what might be coming. We saw a bit of an action one day, in which Hyderabad Lancers and the Camel Corps took part. Another day the sailed past, and wo had just given them our haka, when they let fly with a sixpounder ; we ' were only a few yards away watching them. They fired six rounds at Turkish trenches about four miles out, and. of course, the shells all 'went over our heads."