THE EGYPTIAN CAMPAIGN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16459, 8 February 1917, Page 8

THE EGYPTIAN CAMPAIGN.

1> SPIRIT OF CAMARADERIE i QUALITIES OF THE ANZACS. Describing the capture of Maghdala, j Mr. W. T. Massey says that the feeling lof camaraderie previously existing beItween the Anzacs and the Camel Corps was strongly cemented by this' action. j v They had fought together before, but not in such close touch. Each observed the 'determined work of the other, and "the admiration is mutual. In fact, the whole I force is a band of brothers. It is difficult not to use superlatives when -writing of this force. The Anzac Mounted Division have never had a failure; their resourcefulness, courage, and endurance are all known by ; this , time, and no one understands the military qualities of the Anzacs better than " the enemy. ' They are invaluable in Egypt. Their endurance has, neyer been put to a severer' test than during this swift desert 'advance. All the' men are not only willing but anxious to make another move to keep "the old Turk on the run." Nothing would give them greater satisfaction than ,to move, in the, company of the gunners and camelry, and, if possible, of the infantry 'of the game column, the latter of whom they regard as having had cruel luck. J The territorial division has indeed had •bad luck. They fought well in Gallipoli, they have done much spade work here, 1 and they proved their gallantry by their heroic defenco of Bir-el-Dueidar against odds of eight to one. They were, how- . ever, denied an opportunity of "getting at the Turks during their retreat from j Romani, because the nature of the ground and the Turks' long start made it ' ira- ! possible for infantry, to catch them, and i the evacuation of El Arish prevented them from making the main attack on ; the town. The way in which brigades !of these hardy Scots tramped through soft sand on foot to this place shows that they are extremely fit. For three months this division has had no tents, but has lived in the open,' suffering all the discomforts arising from wide variations of temperature, the days being very hot and the nights, especially during the last week, exceedingly cold. Other old comrades working at El Arish are the Australian Naval Bridging Train.