SOLDIERS' CLUB AT ISMAILIA

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3085, 16 May 1917, Page 3

SOLDIERS' CLUB AT ISMAILIA

VOLUNTEER SISTERHOOD AT WORK

MISS ROUT'S LETTER

Miss E. A. Wont, lion, secretary of the N.Z.V.S., writes to Tim Dominion from Alexandria, Egypt, on March 15, as follows:—"It has now been arranged that Miss Higgens should teach some of the Syrian refugee bakers to make cakes suitable for our desert canteens. This will be a great help, and it is very good of her to add this work to the strenuous service she is already doing— and continuing—at the British School of Cookery here.

"I am starting for El Arish on Sunday next, and before doing so have seen most of the N.Z.V.S. members still in Egypt. Miss Long is still at the Montaza Red Cross Convalescent Home, and earning good opinions from all; Mrs. Allison Brown at No. 10 Red Cross Hospital: Mrs Knudson, Mrs. Leggatt, Mrs. Phillips, Miss Neilson, Mrs. Henning, with Sister Sale, are at Giza Red Cross Hospital, and Mrs. Martin at Anzao Hostel, Cairo (Y.M.0.A.).

"Recently Colonel Samuel, commanding N.Z.T.W. and D. in Egypt, made a fine offer of help. We accepted this, and have estahlished a club and home for the New Zealanders at Ismailia, as shown in the following letter written by Lieut.-Colonel Samuel from Moascar, Ismailia (Egvpt), on March 14, to me: "Herewith I hand you cheque for £500 of the canteen funds of the N.Z. Training Units and Depots in Egypt. This amount is given'to you in trust, as •hon. secretary of the N.Z. Volunteer Sisterhood, to expend in establishing and maintaining tho New Zealand Soldiers' Club at Ismailia, or, in the event of movement of troops rendering it desirable, at some other place or places. The club is to be run for the benefit of members of the' N.Z.E.F. in Egypt. . Should the refreshment canteen connect-ed-with it prove sufficiently profitable you may bo able to return the whole or portions of .this money, in which case I wish it divided between all the units of the N.Z.M.8.. Brigade and the Aotea Convalescent Home, in the proportion of three-fifths to the units and twofifths to the home, all of such repayments to be expended for the benefit of the N.Z.E.F. in Egypt. 'In tho event of my not being in Egypt, you are to return these moneys to the G. 0.0. of the N.Z.E.F., and to tho matron of the Aotea Home in the proportions stated •above. Copies,of this letter (ire being sent to tbo G.O.C. and the matron, as well as to the Commandant of the N.Z.E.F. in Egypt. I feel sure the idea of establishing a New Zealand 'home from home,'' conducted by New Zealand ladies, is a very excellont one indeed, and will be the ineans of ensuring the men that tonch of home-life which is now missing. This is so eminently desirable, and will, I know, be so much appreciated by tho men themselves and by the people of New Zealand, that I do not hesitate to guarantee you all the help which it is in my power to give for tbis purpose. Best wishes for the success of the new club." In reply Miss Rout writes:—"l lave to thank' you very much indeed for the cheque for £500 handed to me m terms ■of your letter of yesterday, s "date. I am exceedingly obliged to you personally as well as officially for tho trust you have reposed in mo, and I can only say that I shall do my very best to fulfil it honourably for the 'benefit of tho members of the N.Z.E.F. in Egypt. The ladies I am putting in charge of tho homo at Ismailia are: — Miss Florence Jones, of Christchurch; Miss Jane M'Clure, of Dannevirke; Miss Georgina'Jopp, of Dunedin. 1 am sure tbey will conduct it in a manner that will add to the pride New Zealand feels in the service of her men and women abroad. I. am banking this monoy in the name of tbo New Zealand Volunteer Sisterhood, Ettio A. Rout, hon. secretary, No. 2 a/c, with the Anglo-Egyptian Bank, Cairo. It .will bo kept entirely separate, and m case of my death any credit, balance is to be divided as you have directed in your lotter of March 14, 1917." 'Continuing' her lettev to The Dominion, Miss Rout goes on lo say:— "It is very -unfortunate that' Colonel Samuel has beon so ill lately. The medical officers report that his heart is completely out of order, and out of place, and that unless ho ceases work immediately bo will collapse. I was immensely shocked to.see the chango in him during the last few monthshe has lost nearly 3st. in weight. Still, if he will only do what the doctor orders, viz., tako a complete rest for some months, ho may be able to resume work after the summer here—or tho winter with you. I have signed on myself with the Australian canteens, on condition that the work is for tho benefit of all troops, and that I am at liberty to work at other desert oantrens should the need arise. Our great difficulty now is getting canteen supplies in these far-out places. It may bo found necessary to organise a bakery at El Arish. bringing out raw materials from Port Said. But El Arish itself may become a back number: things hav* been developing so rapidily during tho last few -peeks." •