SOMEWHERE IN EGYPT

Marlborough Express, Volume L, Issue 82, 6 April 1916, Page 6

SOMEWHERE IN EGYPT

EXPEDITIONARY FORCE,

PICTURE OF CAMP LIFE

The following sketch of camp life in Egypt has been distributed by Reuters Agency. Imagine* a narrow strip of land not. much more than a mile in width, consisting of » Jong ridge of sand dunes, sloping on one side to the bluo waters of the Mediterranean, and on the other to the edge of a huge salt sealikp lake. Clustering at the"-foot' of the- sand dunes—on the lake side —rows of shimmering white tents at a distance of only a few hundred yards'from the edge of the lake, ana you hay camp "somewhere in Egypt," where, at the present moment, the troops are quartered. There are sand and sand dunes everyi where, and? they recall very vividly —especially when the wind blows— the recent campaign/at the otfcier end of this vast continent, where the sane ;storm fiend runs riot. In this rejspect so far there has been 'little to igrumble here, the only visitation jof such a/.nat-Hr© being on the day jof - arrival. The climate is bracing,, Kyith: perhaps a, rather too variable temperature, due possibly: to the f reIquent'ancl 'sudden changes of wind, which: from some quarters blows yer.y ■cold; indeed; But' this is a minor 1 discomfort, for the land is a land 01 'sunshine,, and that in itself spells 1 comfort and luxury to the cam-

paigner-

CONSTANT TRAINING

While th© troops await their next: "mowe" order—which is being eagerly looked forward to—training is,, 01 course, the order of the day, and "n, time is being wasted in this respect.. The soldier has always something, fresh to learn, and has many things which he must not be allowed too for* get. When the day's work is over, recreation is provided by trips to; the/ town of —- •, an Eastern city, of great interest to the newcomer:. TJi« camp is six or seven miles' from. th« town, and it is consequently somewhat of an undertaking to get there, as although electric trams are avail■able for above five,miles of the journey, the remaining two have- to be covered either on ehanks' mare- or- on a diminutive donkey—the fivTOrite method for the troops—or by pjracuring some ramshackle old gharri or other"vehicle, which may or- may not carry its passengers safely t.o> their destination.

The donkeys,''tiny though* they arc, appear to be capable weighb-earriers, judging by the way they canter gaily along with, six-footer infantrymen in the saddle, whose legs almost trail on the ground. An, amusing; story is going the rounds of the camp of an incident which occurred the othor day A kilted private;vwlio scaled at the least 2001b, riding a donkey, ot which but little could be seen except the- head and tail, which was being violently screwed by its natire ownei. to mako it get a move on, had to pass a company of 'infantry which was standing easy on the roadside. As "tLe eava^v* man"^ rode past, ho was greeted with a derisive cheer. _ Tn no way disconcerted, ho worked his passage past, and on reaching the end-of the line passed the remark. "This is tho worst turned-out parade I have eve;- inspected."

CONCERTS AND BATHING

The camp, is provided with a certain number of large lath and reed1 lulls, which mc.h& comfortable messro'jrns for tho men, and there are similar huts winch are being used: as canteens, wet and dry, and others I'uti as recreation-rooms by a, committee of ladies in the neighboringtown, where coffee and light refreshment is served to the mon at a no-:u-JUil .di;i:»je. Literature & pra"kled,

and men can use these huts when they wish to write- letters. Smoking; concerts are got up in the evenings— there is quite a lot of talent amongst* tn£ men—and several concert parties have been organised by the residents to give performances in camp to help to entertain the troops. Then, too r batbing parades are sandwiched info the daily routine as frequently as possible, and, in fact, everything possible is being- clone to make the stay of thtr troops as pleasant tfnd com f ortablcr as circumstances permit before entering ore the more serious dutieswhich, lie scliead. The troirpH were reviewed shortly a£ter their arrival by the general' o&fier commanding the foreign forces in Egyj>t. nwd it is gratifying to hear of the high compliment ha afterwards paid them, saying that they wer'ij' evidenttv fit to take their places alongside' the best troops, in the Imperial Army.