THE DESERT COLUMN

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9621, 29 March 1917, Page 6

THE DESERT COLUMN

INTERESTING NARRATIVE A BRUSH WITH THE TURKS. In a letter headed "On the desert with tho Desert Column,” and dated January 12th, a New Zealand soldier relates in interesting fashion events in the campaign following on the battle of Maghdaba. Marching orders were received at 12 a.m. on January Bth. After passing El Arish, which was a Turkish possession, the column crossed a big valley down which fresh water was running. “The first running water we had seen since wo left the Nile, states the writer- “Heavy rains had caused a fresh. Me halted for a white, and then off for an awlul night march; only overcoat, oiisheet, and twenty-four hours’ rations for man and horse, bitterly cold, and 1 know of nothing worse than these marches. Orders issued were: ’No more water until to-morrow night for men and horses; no undue noise through the night; no matches to bo struck, and, of course, no smoking until daylight (the hardest of all).’ At 10 at night we halted and fed our horses, saddles and all on, and no equipment to be taken off. It was too cold to lie down, and we baited tor three hours. Then on again, mile after mile; columns on your right and on your left. Now and again you pass artillery resting, and perhaps the hospital carts, dreary, desolate sandy country mile after mile and no change in the monotony. Towards daylight we came on a few acres of cultivated ground, and we knew wo were close to our objective. As daylight approaches every man removes his overcoat, sees that his saddle is firmly on his horse, everything secure, and then the order ‘Mount and off.’ “It is a great sight. From off a slight rise for miles around mounted men taking up their positions, artillery moving up, and away in the background flags flying denoting the field hospitals. Behind again strings of camels and sand carts, stretchers on camels, transports, and in fact a great sight indeed. •We look up our position behind a hill, dismounted, and the officers all went to the crest, and with their glasses pick out the positions. We, of course, had a good view, and presently the artillery opened up. The Turks were well dug in on a hill with. splendid trenches. On our artillery getting the range they could be seen in crowds running .to man the trenches. The order for' a general advance was given, and away the boys went. Our regiment was in reserve, so we got nothing of it. The New Zealand hoys were sent around a large Bedouin! village, and they surrounded it and captured all the men, camels, sheep, and goats. Then the New Zealand boys pushed on for the trenches. Our batteries were by this time right on the spot with their shells and the Turks were getting fits. Then the prisoners started to come in, and we were put on guard over them. They were very tired and weary and took their capture quite calmly. A German lieutenant, bareheaded and quite in a turmoil, seemed to take it very badly. He spoke splendid English and had been in South Africa and tho States. He had completed twelve months in Turkey on every front, and in a week was off to' join Mackensen’s force in Eoumania. The next batch of prisoners included half a dozen Germans, one a sergeant-major. They all wore a grey uniform, with peak cap with a band of red around it. While we were guarding them a Taube came over and dropped some bombs. One landed near a Bedouin- whare quite close, but did no damage except giving them a great fright. As darkness approached the position was taken by assault, and the whole force was captured. They had about six hundred killed and wounded, while of unwounded we brought in about 1600. We have all their artillery. “At dusk word came through that a strong force of Turkish reinforcements were within four miles, approaching rapidly. Picture a battle ground; everywhere wounded. Darkness coming on made it difficult to find them, and on enemy force was advancing on us. Men and horses had had no spell since midday the day before, and one bottle of water. Anyway we had to gallop to the New Zealand field hospital to escort it off. When we got there they were burying the dead, and everybody was doing his best. They do a lot of splendid work, the A.M.C. At last everything was ready and away went the wounded on camels, in a sort of stretchers and in covered-in sand carts. Some of them were in great pain, the convoy halting every now and then to attend the wounded. Try and think of that journey in for about thirty miles before their wounds could be properly dressed. “On arrival at M Arish they have a rough train ride of over 100 miles into the big hospitals. Those are the men who bear all this without complaining, while their comrades at home don’t come. At 2 that morning we handed over the hospital convoy to a large dressing station, and there were some awful sights there. ... At last we got water and rations, biscuits and bully, and laid down for a rest. At daybreak away again, and joining another squadron wo formed an escort to take the prisoners in. The prisoners, poor devils, marched in over The sand, carried tho 'few belongings they possessed, ami stuck it out in a manner typical of the hardy Turk. One cannot help but admire tho Turk, a game fighter and a very hardy individual indeed. All day and at sundown their rations were issued to them, and as usual with the Briton their rations were better than ours —splendid biscuits, Australian plum jam, milk cheese, onions (a luxury folds), bully beef, sugar and tea. Do you know wo stood around the cordon (envious). We don't get those luxuries. However, never mind, that is soon forgotten. At the finish we got back to our base, and we are now having a much-needed rest.”