OUR TROOPS IN EGYPT

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2604, 28 October 1915, Page 6

OUR TROOPS IN EGYPT

DISTRIBUTING COMFORTS

THE Y.M.C.A. WILL ASSIST

In reference to a soldier's mother's letter referred to in our leading columns yesterday morning, we had a chat with Mr. Variioy, genera! Y.M.C.A. secretary in Wellington, who has been most active in his interest in connection with the we!faro of our soldiers, especially in Egypt. Ho informed us that tho Y.M.C.A. was quite prepared to undertake any service 011 behalf of our soldiers in tlio East. Tho association had twenty-three secretaries placed in hospital ancl camp from Suez to Gallipoli, one a New Zealander, Mr. J. L. Hay, with another, Mr. W. A. Hislop, en route. As soon as funds would permit a third man would be sent, whose duty it ivould bo to work almost exclusively in connection with the hospitals and convalescent homes. The Y.M.C.A. was thus placed in an excellent position for organising tho distribution of comforts to our sicls and wounded in Egypt. They had the men at hand, tlio organisation perfected, and were quite ready to undertake tho work. In fact the Australian military authorities had asked the Y.M:C.A. to supervise the purchase of comforts for their wounded. Previous to this being dono soldiers liad not been paid while in hospital. Now they were allowed to buy up to ss. a week. .To secure competent supervision two Y.M.C.A. secretaries with orderlies at their command were detailed to purchase, distribute, etc., tho comforts needed.

Have not the New Zealand authorities given you the same privileges? "Not as yet, but as soon as I had intimation from Egypt that such, was tho case I referred the .matter toi the Defence Minister, who. lias always been ready to give us every assistance in our work. He has forwarded a copy of my communication to the Officer Commanding tho New Zealand Advance Base Depot, Alexandria, requesting whether it is possible to use the services of our representatives in this respect." _Does this work conflict in any way with the Red Cross work?

'■'Oil, no, wo are working in complete harmony and 111 connection with the British and Australian Red Cross in hospitals and convalescent homos, caring for the libraries, distributing papers, magazines, games, writing materials, and arranging concerts, cinema shows,, lectures, etc. Tho British Red Cross Society gavo us £250 towards our Alexandria work, and the Australasian. Red Cross Society £500 towards the same work. They have absolute faith in our movement there."

Do you think, then, that you could make arrangements for the purchase and distribution of comforts as suggested in cur correspondent's letter?

"Yes, most certainly, and let me again emphasise that wo aro already doing as much as our funds will allow us in this matter. I personally agree with your correspondent that part of the fluids and arrango for the purchase of diors should be spent in providing comforts where they aro most needed—in Egypt, in Leninos, in Malta, in Mudros, otc. We are represented at all- theso centres, and aro quite ready to remit funds and arrange for the purchase of comforts for New Zealand's bravo soldier's, broken in the'wars. As an association in this groat Empire struggle we have offered our buildings and our resources to the authorities to make whatever use they can of our organisation. In camp, in hospital, and on troopship we aro working for the men, and are only awaiting further avenues of:service for our work."

You have no special funds, I suppose, for this purpose? "No, although we have already secured the consent of His Worship the Mayor to hold a 'Rose Day' on November 13, part of the proceeds to bo devoted to the purchase of comforts in Egypt for New Zealand soldiers. I would suggest that everybody link up with us in this effort and help us to provide a fuud for such comforts as aro urgently needed. Patriotic _ Societies and other bodies might also aid us, and I would suggest that a Dominion Fund he opened specifically for this purpose. Other papers would, I am sure, aid us in the same way."