d failed to destroy was dealt with in moving coils of barbed wire and
other material equally destructive. A light railway had been commenced
for the purpose of supplying the front line with its needs. Here once
more the Western Australian found his services in demand and he went
along to do work which the native labourers could not be trusted with.
Through it all he "groused," but he applied himself earnestly to the
task in hand and seriously complained only about his spoiled clothes.
One Engineer officer said he had never had men who had worked so hard
and effectively.

At the Headquarters of the Battalion was established an Examining Post.
Through this passed numerous secret service agents employed by Army
Headquarters for the purpose of gaining information within the enemy
lines. Fierce-looking ruffians some of them were, and they responded
none too willingly to the few questions put to them through the Syrian
interpreter--a graduate of an American college at Beyrout--attached to
the Post.

Traffic through the Canal was dependent to some extent also upon
Battalion Headquarters. As has already been mentioned in an earlier
chapter, one ship had been mined. Other mines had been located, and
proof existed that enemy agents, under cover of darkness, were
endeavouring to block the waterway. One method utilised to counter these
measures was to sweep a track along the sand of the eastern bank. By
means of a horse harnessed to logs and other material this was done
daily before nightfall. At dawn patrols would examine the swept area,
and if tracks of man or beast crossed it at any point these would be
closely followed until their origin and purport had been explained.
Reports were then sent to the Adjutant, and by 8 a.m. an "all clear"
message went forward to Army Headquarters, which, in turn, informed the
Canal officials that traffic could proceed without risk. Should, by any
chance, this report be delayed the effect at Army Headquarters was
remarkable, and the life of the responsible people at Ferry Post very
unenviable for the next few hours.

The Canal at Ferry Post was some 70 yards wide, and the depth believed
to be something over 30 feet. Just below the ferry the water ran into
Lake Timsah, which was irregular in form and measured about three miles
from side to side. In this lake a few vessels were anchored, some of
them being men-of-war--French and British--as auxiliary to the defence.
On the bank opposite Ferry Pos