NEWS FROM EGYPT

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3042, 31 March 1917, Page 7

NEWS FROM EGYPT

aotea home. The following interesting letter from the Matron of the Aotea Home, lias been received b.y' one of the members of the Committee of the St. John Ambulance Brigade and Red Cross Society, Star boating Club Building:— "Some timo my brother wrote me that through your interest in this homo the Red Cross were sending us a 'case of 'comforts' in the way of eatables. They were a good while in : coming -to,hand. Transport is di"rlicult in Egypt now that there are" no troopships .from. New Zealand to this.part of the w:oi'ld,:: However, the case came along in very good condition, aild overything in it was most acceptable and very useful. Many a boy up '° 11 leave 1 from the brigade for a few days I have taken into our stdre-room and given some of the 'comforts' sent in that case. The boys out at the brigade cook for themselves in little parties of four, aud they are always glad oi somctning 'extra/ , 'Hie ciuoi uilneulty is in getting anything out to tliem, so when any of liiein come up on I leave or duty we always try and send something back wicuuiem, out- as they have to carry all tney take with tliem over niiles\of heavy desert, ;.you can imagine they caunoi take very heavyloads. ... .'■ "The cocoa sent in the case was very acceptable, as we cannot procure good cocoa 'in Cairo, and we always give the boys cocoa for their 8.30 p.m. supper. .' . ■. Aotea is more or less like a big home where we can always take 'one more.' Any of the patients always feel free to liave tlieir soldier friends to a meal or stay the night.' Of course as the 'brigade' is so far away trom Cairo there are never very many up here at a time unless they are sick. \\'e started "with 65 patients, but ; our numbers have now increased to 120 to 125. We have had to overflow into tents. •■••'■ , "The folk in New Zealand seem to have an idea that the New. Zealand boys in Egypt lire more or jess having a picnic hero, If-they only Shew of the awfiil discomforts of the desert, and of the daily continual • hardships the mounted men have to' endure! Also ' they know what fighting is, though the papers just speak of them as 'scraps.' - There is' not the same awful, continual,

slaughter^in Egypt as . there, is in France, but still the work tne mounted men are doing hero seems to be a nee-, essit.y, so they make the best of their disappointment in being left here. We are very proud of our Now Zealand : men,-they are just splendid, and every mother in Neiv Zealand can be proud of her boy. Of course, since the splendid work our own Now Zealand mounted men difl-at Itafa we are all more than ever delighted with them. "Since the last fight the New Zealand Mounted Brigade has been 'resting' for a ( week or two, and numbers of boys have come to Cairo on leaved They are looking 'so well and fit. The colder weather and,the fact that tiiej have been able to get a little more water both for men and horses, • have improved things considerably. The nights are very cold, but the days are beau- 1 tiftil. In a month or two the fearful heat will all be back again, but the men have had a chance to get fit during the winter. They all come up to see us at Aotea, and .wo are so proud to see them'come in—tliey ilook such splendid'specimens of manhood. Any-' one in "Egypt can always tell a New ■ Zealander."