"CHARGES ARE HOT STUFF"

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16519, 20 October 1915, Page 10

"CHARGES ARE HOT STUFF"

HEAVY NEW ZEALAND LOSSES. Writing from St. George's Hospital, ono of the New Zealand soldiers eaye, under date September 5: —"I suppose' you will havo heard of the fight we had there last month. We had a of a time, and lost a lot of men. Of our regiment there wore only about 60 left, and when we went there first we were about 500 strong.' Of course they are not all dead—wounded, sick, etc. If it keeps on much longer there will be no New Zealanders leit. . I got >my arm hurt during a charge. Tho Turks set a land mine off, and I was almost on top of it. I was thrown about a mile, and I can't remember much of jwhat happened after that. However, I stumbled on and got there. These charges are hot stuff, lean tell you—scrambling up hill and down dale, through scrub, etc., and bullets flying all the time. I hava seen all I want to, I can tell you. We had a charge on the night of August 6, and wo drove them back close on a mile. A dark night it was, and of al' tho picnics ever I was at it easily took the cake. Malta is not a bad place, though, of course, I haven't seen much of it yet. Fruit is very cheap, especially grapes; we can get a hatful for 3d. Cigarettes are also cheap. I heard to-day that they.are going to form a regiment of all that remain out of the Auckland, Wellington. Canterbury, and Otago mounted men. That means that three out qf four regiments have gone. I don't know what they are going to do with tho infantry, but there can't be many left of them. The Maoris got cut up also, but they don't mind. They are. happy-go-lucky, beggars, and fight well."