Y.M.C.A. IN EGYPT

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2717, 11 March 1916, Page 7

Y.M.C.A. IN EGYPT

r The following letter from Mr. Jessop, Y.M-.0.A., Cairo, dated January 15, 1916, to Mr. A. Varncy, general secretary, Y.M.C.A.,.Wellington, will be of interest;—" Very many thanks for the special donations of £1000 aud another for £250. '.they were timely, I can assure you, and will onablo us to immediately proceed witli the orcctlon of centres for tho New Zealand troops just returned from Gallipoli. Hislop is now at Ismailia, aud we are getting matcr-ials.for-the erection of one large hut in the Moascar Camp, and a large marquee is on its way there from' Alexandria. We are also planning to put up, a full6ized cinema and a boxing stadium. General Russell is in charge, and is offering us every facility for - opening up our work. The difficulty now is in getting supplies and transport, for some of tho railroads are so congested with the transport of military stores that it- is now taking'weeks to get goods through when in normal times it would only take as many days. "Hay and Sapper Smith are doing a magnificent piece of work in the Esbokiali Gardens. They are now-assisted by the Volunteer Nursing Sisterhood and other- ladies. He has probably told you something about it, and you' have seen somo of tho ; photographs. No better piece of' work for the troops has been done anywhere, and Hay deserves a very large share of the credit. He has been ably, assisted by Sapper Smith, who was loaned to us by tho G-O.G. for this work. I will let Hay tell you of the Comforts Fund Comniittee A and what is being done in this matter. We are hoping to hear something about additional men from NewZealand, and 1 trust you can send several good men."