THE DESERT CAMP

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2688, 7 February 1916, Page 6

THE DESERT CAMP

N.Z. RIFLE BRIGADE IN , EUYPT Rifleman H. G. Bell, of the N.Z. Rifle Brigade (states x'lie "Ashburton Guardian"), writes to his friends in As'hburton from the camp in the Sahara Desert, under date of December, 1015, as follows: — So far, I've only had the one big parcel from home, and letters up till October 27; not a 6iug'o paper 1 of any description as yet. Two or. three small parcels and ■ letters have happened along from various sources in haphazard manner. Chance seoins to rule the mail .services. Parcels of the same date come at different times and later letters race earlier ones. Still, we seem more fortunate with our mails than the Gallipoli men, and if one gets iuto hospital details it seems to be the end of the penny section for any mail at nil. Of course, you at home can scarcely understand the difficulties the postal officials have to -grapplo with —with battalions, or companies, or, as in our case, platoons, scattered all over the place. Naturally, when you leave the platoon you are dialled onco and for all. Our tent has been very lucky, however. We have received at least 20 per cent, of our parcels in "not unreasonable time... Puddings, cakes, sweets, chocolate, cigarettes, pipes, . tobacco, sardines, salmon, - condensed milk, chlorodyne, insect powder, writing and toilet paper—all of these we have had in small lots. It is our experience that small parcels arrived fairly prompt, but big parcels (there have been three in the tent) are very slow to cone. We had a parcel of 10110 cigarettes from the old (Canterbury) College Olub the other .day to divide among seven of us. Things, in the camp go on. much as usual, although this is a daily growing base of some importance We are a unit of the Western Frontier Force, • and we expect fighting any day, some . day, never. There has been fighting and casualties some little distance from hero, but how much I don't know. I fancy we shall soon have to content ourselves with those "I am well" cards. Since I came to Egypt I have been poking round trying to learn from people resident here the feeling of the Egyptian population towards us. I have spoken to Greek, Italian, French, Hebrew, and' one .or two English officers. Tho consensus of opinion seemed to be that t'hc Egyptians were ready to rebel as soon'as the Turks at tho Canal and our own Senussi started. That would probably account- for tho very large number of English troops at present in Egypt. AVo saw them from Suez to Cairo,-and from Cairo to Alexandria—everywhere. Tho railway line 'from Zag-a-Zig to the Canal is being rapidly doubled 'by thousands of coolies. Zag-a-Zig is a large town, and is said to be next to Cairo in native population. The Egyptian army itself is not trusted. It is expected! to jump with the cat. The Government puts implicit trust in two elements in. tho army only—tho Sudanese and the Christian Copts. The Sudanese seem very fine soldiers,_ and their camel corps is very efficient. 'llie news of Kitchener's visit to the ] Near East was everywhere in Alexandria before the papers announced it, and we, of' course, thought it another case of "enter rumour painted full of tongues." The Gypos (Egyptians) seem heartily to respect the name of the great War Lord, and the Sudanese...arc said to think the world of him. It is Eaid that:if his presence wero not so urgently needed elsewhero ho would by his personal ascendancy save much garrison duty for a great many soldiers. The censorship in Egypt is tlio strictest in the world, and tho newspapers are painfully bare of any news. Dozens of important items we can still cull fresh from" tho .New Zealand weeklies, and when we see the London "Times" weekly edition wo are amazed: at what wo *ro missing.