CAMPAIGN IM THE DESERT.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 14050, 21 July 1916, Page 3

CAMPAIGN IM THE DESERT.

MOUNTED MEN AT WORK. Trooper L. W. Gregory, with the Australian Light Horse, writing/ from Bir Etmaler, Romani, Sihai Peninsula, on May 9, says that he is on outpost duty. 'Even when we are off duty at night," he says, "we have to sleep on a sandy bed with horses saddled and the reins m our hands. Of course, you? will not see the name of this place on the map. We- are right m the desert, it seems. The monotony of the sand is relieved by small groves. We are, df course, m enemy country, and get oiir supplies by camel trains. We get lots of riding both day and night. To-day, May 9, we.lobbed m just after dark, and had just finished a 60 miles ride. Our horses have not been' unsaddled for 30 hours. We cannot 'off-saddle' 1 for fear of a surprise, and during a four hours' rest each man slept with his bridle reins m his hand. The Turks have , not been waiting -for us at all, and when we make a cut for one of their positions, we find that they have gone for their dear liv^s on racing camels. I think they have a good deal of respect for the Australians after the Peninsula campaign, y A prisoner we took a 'couple of days ago says he was fighting m Gallipoli. There is a vast difference between this business and the trench warfare; Ours is all open work."