OVER THE NILE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIX, Issue 21866, 20 January 1941, Page 4

OVER THE NILE

South Island Infantry Engineers Add Touch Of Realism (From the Official War Correspondent with the N.Z.E.F. in the Middle East) Cairo, January 17. The most historic waterway in the world was crossed by South Island infantrymen “under their own power” yesterday, when novel manoeuvres took them from one bank of the Nile to the other. The full battalion advanced in waves from the fringe of the desert over green fields to the edge of the irrigation canal running parallel to the river. The troops pushed light footbridges across this and took cover on the banks of the Nile. Rushing collapsible assault boats, reminiscent of duck shooting punts, to the muddy shore, they were rowed in relays to a sandy island in the midde of the river. They moved stealthily over this and again took to the boats to cross the main fork of the river passing between picturesque native sailing craft and scrambling in open formation up the far bank to supposed enemy objectives. The engineers, who have been trained to a high level of efficiency in the transportation of troops and material across stretches of water, co-operated With the battalion and gave the exercise added realism by firing charges on both land and water to simulate an enemy barrage. The engineers also demonstrated the use of heavier craft, including those Capable of carrying vehicles. Other units are carrying out similar exercises in turn as part of the intensive training programme which the New Zealand Expeditionary Force has now commenced.