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WARMING UP

ON EGYPT'S TORRID SANDS CONDUCT OF NEW ZEALANDERS EXEMPLARY FORCE IN GREAT FETTLE Writing from Egypt an officer attached to the New Zealand troops gives a very interesting summary of general news, without infringing those domains which are so carefully guarded by the .censor. "The weather here," writes this officer privately, "is sin-plv wonderful. Ever since we have been here, now nearly three months and a half, we have experienced perfect sunshine daily. Now it is commencing to get very hot— phew I—and it is a blessing when the sun sets, after which it. is mm and cool. It is too hot to be out in the daytime now. Many of the Australian troops are wearing khaki helmets, but so far (March 9) our men have not had helmets issued to them. Thsy are very cool to wear, and we are all hoping that they will soon be issued. Even the native population finds it hot, and I have seen many lately carrying umbrellas or Bunshades. The climate is doing the troops a world of good. They never looked 60 healthy and browned before. They are getting plenty of braining, but most of it is now confined to night manoeuvres. I was at Heliopolis the other night, and saw the whole of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps marching out for night practice on the desert. It was a most impressive sight to see the whole division, with all its transport, marching out fully equipped as though actually going into action. It took some considerable time for the division to pa6S a given point, and whilst the Artillery were rumbling past, General Godley and his staff officers whizzed by in a bigpowered car off to witness the night operations out in the desert. The troops are being given a good deal of this work, but their physical fitness is unimpaired. They look • bright, healthy, and are burnt as brown as Maoris.

Behaviour of the Troops. "Tho New Zealanders are generally praised for their splendid behaviour. There are, it is true, one or two 'bad eggs,' but generally speaking the New Zealanders have upheld the honour of their country splendidly, under circumstances, too, which daily invited them to give way to temptation. One has only to 6peak to a French citizen to learn, the general impression which has been created by the uniform good conduct of our men. New Zealand can feel proud of her contingent from that particular viewpoint. "I was talking to an old French citizen of Cairo the other day, and he was telling me about the battle of Heliopolis, which was fought between the Turks and Napoleon's army in 1780, and he ■poirttad out how curiously coincidental it was that British troops from countries not then inhabited by white men should now be encamped on the old battleground fighting France's ancient foe. We have ' just learned that the Maori Contingent is en route to Egypt, and are interested to see how they will be employed. What giants they will seem beside the skinny, dirty Egyptian! French is the principal language spoken in the city, and how I regret I am not able to speak the lingo —5 would be of great assistance to me here, and also when we get on the Continent, no matter whore it might be. ATabio too is largely spoken, and I have already learned enough to make myself understood on Biniple points.

The Reids and Maokenzles,

"The hawkers and shoe-blacks here ate very funny at times. Since the High Commissioners were here the members of the respective contingents are called by the names of the two gentlemen. The shoeblack will say a-u a New Zealauder passes along, 'Black boots, jSCster Mackenzie —no good, no moneyl' I don't exactly know what the latter means with them, and I think they have been taught to say this m the same "manner that a baby in arms is taught to say 'Backsheesh!' The natives can recognise tho soldiers by their uniforms. A New Zealander is picked out by the puggaree on his hat and the bright red piping on his tunic. The Australian is known by his all khaki uniform, non-brass buttons, arid by his freer.mamiers. _ The English Tommy is also known by his helmet and collar badge. There is plenty of life and colour everywhere—a continual panorama, but still we hope to move on soon."

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DOM19150421.2.62

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2441, 21 April 1915, Page 8

Word count
Tapeke kupu
734

WARMING UP Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2441, 21 April 1915, Page 8

WARMING UP Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2441, 21 April 1915, Page 8

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