or the horse, in addition to the two days' forage carried in the
nosebags; furthermore one day's rations and forage were carried on the
wagons. The time taken for the turn-out was actually 2 hours 10 minutes. No
doubt many members who read this will smile at the recollection of the
incident--and well they might! Three days later the Squadron paraded in
exactly _half_ that time, and when, on September 13th, there was a test
Divisional "turn-out," all that was needed was 44 minutes--not a bad
achievement for marching-order with nothing ready!

On September 13th the formation of a fourth Sub-section was approved. It
was just about this time that the "Khamseen" became very troublesome. This
is a strong wind that blows at this season of the year, particularly in the
afternoon. The soil at Amr being a mixture of fine sand and dust, the
result can be better imagined than described; it was so bad that on two
days training was entirely suspended!

"Mounted" training was started on September 22nd, and in the absence, at
that time, of any "set" official-drill (one actually did exist, but was
known only to those who had passed through the Machine-Gun Cavalry training
centre in England of whom there were not half-a-dozen in the Squadron), the
O.C. (Capt. D. Marshall) thought out, and perfected, a drill that was easy
to pick up, and was one which, in all respects, fulfilled requirements.
Everything was proceeding most satisfactorily, the men were keen, and,
towards the end of September, firing practice was started on a 25-yard
range. Everybody fired the course.

In a Machine-Gun Squadron every man is mounted on a horse (some Squadrons,
however, had mules for draught as did the "20th"), except the cooks, who
are allowed bicycles. As the speed of bicycles in the middle of a desert
proved to be quite out of proportion to the labour expended, 13 donkeys
were finally issued in lieu thereof. These splendid little animals were
found to be very useful, besides providing a source of amusement for a
long time to come. In camp they would play about just like dogs, standing
up on their hind legs and romping about with each other. The natives' usual
method of riding a donkey in the East is rather comical. They sit _well_ to
the rear, in fact right over the hind-quarters, and with their feet
forward, these they wave in and out between the animal's legs, and thereby
make him increase his pace. A turn to either flank is accomplished by their
hittin