THE TROOPS IN EGYPT

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2393, 24 February 1915, Page 7

THE TROOPS IN EGYPT

NEW ZEALAND FORCE'S TRAINING s •»; ..,V •. - review by high commissioner $HE DOMINION'S SACRIFICE (Melbourne-"Age'^Oorrespondent.) Hellspolis, January 11. , 'Weird oaDs issued from a tent round was growing two feet of' green .toorn in the sand.. Strange as they .Bounded, they were not native chants. Suddenly a khaki soldier came out laughing, and greeted me by rousing &he remainder of the tent and giving Is. haka, which reminded me that the noise I had heard might have been fcragmanta of this welcome. One might ,'desorfbe it as the New Zealander's batJtlo' cry. When first they used it here the people turned in the streets, the ! coffee drinkers hesitated with their inlasses water to their Bps, and fßai very still and quiet. The smiling lte<2dier fihen took ma round the camp, !*wbioh, like thecaanps of the other Dojanmion troops, is pitched m the desert,, wjfft yet a different desert from the others. It is remarkable how different •they can be. The sand is firmer and jmuSh coarser here at Zeitun than either lac Mena or Maadi, though it is not Siard enough to have prevented the ihorses from discing great holes. The water problem, too—how to drain away the shower waiter and washing water 'from; thev cooks' lines-ris 'one that is acute. Large pits were tried unsuccessJfully, for beneath the three feet__ of Band-is a layer of clay, : through which the water will not pass. Resort has

3been.. made "to building cement wells "arid pumping the water out and taking it away in tanks. Wfe went through the i?amp pitched on the hattle fields that Smarted Egypt's early tribulations, but [into the desert, which stretched between the long line of white peaked iesrts , that stopped beneath the walls of the suburban homes of' Zeitun, and another similar line of British ■ .tents, ,where the troops were busy making pro-, "paiation for some big manoeuvres down towards the canal, and came on trenches •—trenches newly made and traces of trenches that the wind was rapidly Obliterating by filling with sand. • • "They are giving us plenty to. 'do, las you can see," remarked my guide. (I'cast my eye along the line that had [once heen the front of a few thousand pnen, and oould just see in £he distance, - Eke a wave, the place' where |the desert had been thrown up. Looknng at;,the soldier before me, I'could mot'see any reasons for. believing that

(the hard work was doing him any Iharm; He laughed at such aid idea. He J was- typical of the other men who form (t&at/'sman Dominion's splendid human ] sacrifice.' This khaki is su<3i a. great ! leroDer'. that one could not point the •finder ■ and pay "That ig a New - Zeaftender." He might have been a jockey jot a singer at a< music hall besides, hut "•(flier®- was nothing to show it. Except, for. Jheir Trigh peaked hat, the New' Zealander is ■ of the same: sturdy phyfSi'qne as his brother jn arms from his nearest; por£ of call.. "They may like .with the pride of a young nation to believe t&at fhoy ; liold themselves straighter, or that they pull their belts but they are khaki men with pxczcb knapsacks on their hacks; they are doing the same drilling as .are; Ah© khaki troops in England, in 'France, and amy back in their home (land, where reinforcements are being tjreparea.

:._A S j* regiments of other conntoes there is a goodly sprinkling of (men who. have won their baptism of as the jibbons across rth®r breasts chow. - I was surprised fair the mimbers who wore the South [Afrxan ■ dark yellow and blue colours. the men who are bringing lie ..age of the battalions and squadrons up ito the: average, for, the majority of. the | troops are young, eager men, on whose feheeks the mvigorating climate has brought .a touch of red under tho tan. ; There are numbers of men whose skins j-aie darker, who bear the Maori strain; [there 1 are full-blooded Maoris in the jjanra.,..- ..

| Tf» Ceylon Planters' Regiment. 1 1. On fie outskirts of the camp we cama <ontto-Ceylon planters'-regiment, men who black straps on their shoulders imdikhaki sun helmets. They are mostly. Engljshmen, who, isolated from >the seat of Empire at the commencement of tihe war, • tndeid together, leaving their- plantations with little more jthaa a moment's thought,, and, phoosr .ing: their . leaders, from men whose j.war record is long, at once threw them" Iselves ;intp traiijing. So enthusiastic, iso. keen Iwve been these ' men, that 'now over J.OQ of them have obtained icommissions in the English Army, and jaraleaying fpr the front to min g )o their .enthusiasm with that of the new Kit;chener army. < • ;■ I came across some of them at the dry. canteen which . the' Maorilanders 'navg established for themselves. 'It is jan excellent institution this canteen, jvmere caji get the tinned fish, ,and canned fruits and biscuits and butter pnd delicacaee which their own country produces. "First time I had corn# across jthos cheese," began a planter, as he stuffed a, large pot into the pocket ;of his British warm-a fine jacket, fsimilar to that which the Indian troops W .b^giv^-'Jom they can brmg it right along to the front; we get ai imuch as we can of it." I .' ,] f av - 0 a drop, Dick." Another -planter waj offering him a portion of • of a stone ginger beer

I thought I detected a gleam of mistcfiief in the eye of the soldier who-had made the offer, and I discovered it was ;the head of. a plantation to whom the , offer had been made by his friend, whom acknowledged lew months ago as ;'B°6s ": They walked. off together -.into the glaring sun, and pointed a finger at the green shooting wheat that grew round the head quarter tents and • the geraniums th&t were sprouting in the desert. One lws >nst to throw water on this grfiii tl, and it wifl grow Mything, and the tioops have hw-u quick to take of it. Frur an adjacent quarry they have carried /limestone looks, which encircle -their tents , and mark out the streets ai>d lanes.

The Review, , Sir John Maxwell, General Birdwood ' and Sir George Reid motored out to tho camp on Sunday morning, just a day before the High Commissioners: of the Dominions were to leave, to seo the.New Zealand troops pass in review. The grey mists etill -Ming about the camp, and drew the horizon cutely Tound the Jines. Artillery, mount-d infantry, and infantry had been gathered ■ into one huge hollow square to permit' of Mr. Mackenzie, their High Commissioner, addressing them. Amongst the regiments before him he had nis own-son who is serving in the ranks, as. keen a soldier as could be wished. None of the troops carried - arms r.or equipment, and when I saw 'hem march past I Tegnetted this after. Soldier-like as they looked, fin>) as was:the swing. 'their body, it sremad a review of.men rather than if T.roop» But fine right-lighting Huff"— as*j staff: officers muttered standing close to rny elbow; and he went on,. ''Didn't know that the men were like this. Look at that company of young giants," In the review were the company of 140 New Zealanders who had enlisted in England,. and who. arrived a few days. ago on a transport. They were the men who had marched in the Lord Mayor's Shojr wjti (he Canadians. They still bora t]ie red l»awj ficross their arm, wi£h. the white,

The morning was so nalm that Mr. Mackenzie was easily able to reach the outermost ranks with his voice. In the oourse of his speech he said "May I address you in a native word, Tenakoara,' which means, as no doubt you are aware, a loving salutation to all of you. I had expected to say welcome home to you in the Old Country. I use the word home in. its widest senso, for do wo riot hail from the Old Country, and are we not still sons of Britain's island breed ? Wo had prepared for your reception, and devoted New Zealanders had endeavoured to make it fit and appropriate. Circumstances, however, arose, which induced Lord Kitchener "to select Egypt for your training' ground. "Egypt,. that, mystio land, nas been the brightest jewel in the crown, of many a conqueror. The place where lam now addressing you is full of historic associations. It was here that Moses, the lawgiver, and Joseph, the great ruler, dwelt for a considerable time. Battjes, too, have been fought at Heliopolis, which have largely influenced the fat eof nations, if not of Empires. You are in training to do your part in one of the greatest and most awful wars the world has over known. Your presence here has also another purpose. Lord Kitchener, the. man who leaves nothing to chance—and it is said that he. who so acts gaini the victory—knows the value to our Empire of the Suez Canal. The keeping open of/ that canal, which shortens the journey to India by 5000. miles, gives us a, powerful influence in two -hemispheres. The Suez Canal is called by some'the weakest link .in our Imperial chain, and your presence here will have a considerable effect in protecting or preserving that important highway. ' _ "You are in. training, as I have said, to take your part in the great war. What was " the Germans' view of the_ position .when they forced the world into this awful conflict ? For forty years they had organised with a view . to conquering France,-and, if possible, extending their influence far beyond that country, and if mere machinery oould effect their purpose, without the elements of human, equation or wise diplomacy, thei Teutons would win. It never entered into the German calculations that they dould fail in their object. Their confidence in : their invincible armies was unbounded. We know, however, that many a nation has gone down by. reason of over-con- [ fidence, but never from over-oaution. The German felt that his way to Paris was clear, that Belgium would never [ dare to intervene. Great Britain, itoo, he felt sure, would stand aside,' and, even if she did venture inf otho conflict, he held her in infinite contempt and described her as a decadent nation.. He igaorantly asserted that if, however, Britain: did come in, she was on the verge of civil war in Ireland v which would assuredly break her. He little realised the character of our Irish fellow subjects; they can perceive the difference between a domestic misunderstanding and a national calamity. Egypt, too, thought the German would throw Eng- . land out; the Boers would retake South j Africa, and there would be a mutiny in India; as if the Indians could not appreciate the benefits which British rule, | with all its asserted shortcomings, had conferred on them since Great Britain took over the control of Indian affairs. But the greatest blunder in all the German miscalculations was. the belief that the Dominions and overseas possessions would fair from the Imperial tree like overripe fruit.

"Have any of these imaginations been realised? Belgium's heroic devotion and defence is incomparable in the world's history. 1 Great Britain determinedly cast herself between the Prussian tyrant and his intended victim. The Kaiser William has unintentionally consolidated our far-reach-ing Empire and has antagonised the civilised world against his country. By his action he had tapped the mainspring arid set iii' motion our whole Imperial clockwork I What a revolution'it is! . Never the history. of. peoples has there been such a movement!' Men of every clan, colour, and creed have travelled by'land and sea to take their stand in the fight for freedom and against the threatened, enslavement of tie world, for, it was nothing less than this that was involved. It was brute force versus civilisation, and this was all to" be carried out by one who has had the effrontery blasphemously to associate the name of the Almighty with the atrocities which he and his Prussian countrymen are carrying out. I found on arrival here that an impression' prevailed amongst many of you- that ybu might not have an opportunity o'f serving at the front. Yon need have no uneasiness in that respect; as soon as; you are fit your services vill be required. Your able commanders, assisted by your efficient officers, are doing all in their power to make you fit for the work before you, and with this the vast majority of you are able to comply.

"But on this point I regard it to be iny duty to say. a word. New Zealand's honor is in your hands. You volunteered to go to go to- the war, and were selected while others were not for that responsible and' dangerous service. You undertook a solemn obligation, namely, to serve your King and country faithfully. Supplications daily ascend to the Almighty from your homes for your safety and welfare. You are about to take your place with others in the greatest war the world hag ever known.. It will be sufficient to tax the energy of the strongest, and to daunt the courage of the bravest. But for you New Zealanders I have no fear if only you are efficient; and efficient you must be to fulfil tho obligation, of your, trust. Here in this city you are beset by temptations of the most serious and ruinous character. To those of you who may waver I would say, take your courage in both hands and conquer. lam told that allowances must be made for human nature. , That may be so under certain circumstances, but not under the existing conditions. You have voluntarily dedicated yourselves to a certain duty, and you must restrain yourselves until you have fulfilled that duty, and oomI ply with Lord Kitchener's wishes regarding resisting temptation. Think what is at stake!- Not only, are the future of the British Empire and the continuance of the world's civilisation and the rights of small countries to live under their own flags in the balance. but the honour of your women and the sanctity of your homes is at stake. I appeal, therefore, to you, as soldiers, as men, as New Zealanders, to do your duty.

"You are, joined here by a fine band of men, New Zealanders who happened to be in England when the war broke out. They at once offered their services, which were accepted, and for some time"they have, been in training at Salisbury. To Captains Lambton, Wright, and) Simpson, Lieutenant Fitsherbert,. and other officers, is due no small mead of praise for the result. At the Lord Mayor's Show in London, in which a detachment of New Zealanders took part, the London newspapers declared that they were the smartest men in the procession, and on thai great occasion they divided the honours of popular applause with such regiments as the London Scottish, who had just returned from their heroic work in Flanders, and the Naval Brigade, just back from Antwerp. Their conduct ha 6 been such that wherever the name of New Zealand or a New Zealand man is mentioned, it is received with Tespect and esteem. Even in Cairo since I arrived, I heard a lady say at on afternoon tea party that the New Zealand troops were .gentlemen. I mention this with no sense of reflection upon others, but to show you that I know that your oonduot here has been such as to maEo our people proud indeed of the men Now Zealand has sent. _ "This war is not of our seeking. We want no territory, we ask for no concessions. The world was happy, contented, and great prosperity prevaflST ill every land,'one class only excepted,

olass, and by reason of these men the whole world has been thrown into suffering, outrage, tnd ruin. Every effort was put forward by the statesmen of Europe to preserve peace, and well may Six Edward ; Grey say with Lord Dalhoueie: "I wanted peaco, I have struggled for peace, bnt if you aro bent on war then war you shall have with a vengeance." Aid I will add that with the powerful help of our Allies we will not eheath the sword until tEe fearful wrongs inflicted have Eeen as far as possible redressed and imtifTJie tyrant 'listurber of the world's peace sliall have been effectively ana adequately dealt with." The High Commissioner then called for cheers for th© King, which were given in a rousing manner, and the party moved off to the saluting base that had be«n fixed in the middle of the camp by the 6ide of the road, which led between two long lines of peaked tents. . Australians and New Zealanders Join.

In tffe course of the next few weeks tie camp at Zeitun will be considerably increased in size, for it has been decided just a few hours ago t&at the Second Australian Contingent of Light Horse formihg the Third Light Horse Brigade, will occupy the cents and lines at present held by Colonel Chauvel's First Light Horse Brigade. As Major-Gen-eral Godley is to command all the Light Horse units, as well as the New Zealand infantry, it was considered to be better that the whole of his command should be concentrated at Zeitun. A move of the men now at Maadi will consequently be made with all their baggage and wagons and field ambulances. . Maadi is south of Cairo, lying along the banks of the Nile, while Zeitun is exactly on the northern side of the city, not far from the oasis _ city of Hehopolis, 60 that the Australian brigade will have to march right through the city to their new quarters. Such a transfer will help to cement the friendship of New Zealand and Australian mounted armies, as it will give an added piquancy to the healthy rivalries that exist between regiment and regiment.