LIFE TO-DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 226, 23 September 1940, Page 7

LIFE TO-DAY.

MANY CHANGES. New Zealand Force Stands Ready For Action. (X.Z.E.F. Official News Service.) CAIRO, Sept. 20. Somewhere in the sun-baked Western Desert the First Echelon to-day stands ready for action as a complete and distinct fighting formation, which will play its part side by side with the recently-strengthened British land forces in the Middle East Command. Life in modern military camps now seems a thing of the past. The headquarters field camp, whence this message is dispatched, nestles in rolling desert country overlooking the eternally blue waters of the Mediterranean. Our only neighlwurs are comrades in arms from Britain and the Empire, with whom the New Zealanders fraternise nightly. The camp is typical of those found in the field and is so reduced to essentials that it could be completely packed and moved at brief notice. Tents and vehicles are widely scattered. The only building is a portable cookhouse erected in sections.

In spite of the curtailment of permanent camp amenities, the troops have lost little in comfort. A smoothly running supply system ensures the delivery of ample fresh foodstuffs and water, and the cooks are doing a splendid job under more difficult conditions.

A daily swim in the clear, warm sea is an unending delight and our bodies arc becoming bronzed from head to foot. The temperate climate is free from the oppressive heat encountered inland and seems conducive to good health.

Fifty cigarettes weekly are issued to all troops, who are also no longer required to pay surface letter postage.

The Echelon is now approaching the end of its first year in khaki and one week's leave continues to be granted in rotation to small numbers. Arrangements have been made for cheap city lodgings, while eight days may be spent in Palestine for only £3 10/.

All ranks are hard and fit and in good spirits. Mails are arriving regularly.

WAR IN AIR. Italians Admit Raids By British. THE AFRICAN CAMPAIGN. (Reed. 1 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 22. A Rome communique states: "Our bombing of military objectives in Mersa Matruh caused large fires. Enemy 'planes at night raided Sidi Barrani, Tobruk and Derna. Some casualties and small damage was caused. "Our 'planes bombed Alexandria naval base, hitting a ship and also bombed an enemy convoy in the Red Sea, seriously damaging two transports. An Italian patrol raided Isiolo, Kenya. The enemy carried out various attacks on Somaliland." A military communique issued at Cairo states: '"There is no change in the situation in Egypt. Anti-aircraft guns at Mersa Matruh brought down a raider." A Royal Air Force communique states: "We raided grounded aircraft at Menistir, in the Western Desert, and caused considerable damage. An enemy aeroplane flew into a bursting bomb and is believed to have been destroyed. "We damaged a concentration of motor transport at Sidi Barrani. The enemy raided Mersa Matruh, causing slight damage. "We successfully bombed Diredawa and Berbera twice, attacked the Gura aerodrome and cat fire to workshops. We also bombed the military post -at Mersataclai, on the coast of Eritrea, inflicting severe damage."

A message from Alexandria states that Italian aeroplanes ineffectuallyattempted to bomb the British Fleet early on Saturday morning, unloading explosives against the port area. All the bombs fell harmlessly in the sea and the aeroplanes were forced back after a 45-minute alarm.