EGYPT PREPARES

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 269, 11 December 1939, Page 4

EGYPT PREPARES

army, and air force PRO-BRITISH SENTIMENT . ■. > , ■: , :.v , ■ TEIXSE' FidE!l!.lN& : ' l i:N' 3018 ' RESPONSE! -TO CRISIS 1 A distinct increase in, the pro-Brit-ish. sentiment among the Egyptian people was spoken of last-month by Mr A lan Tucker, of (tenera I .Mission,. who is in Gisborne. ; Mr. 'Dicker is on furlough from bis. mission duties, and left bis station in July, but .correspondence he Inis received from lEfeypt since be lias been in New Zealand makes the attitude of The Egyptians unmistakable. Mr. Tucker wiys last, stationed at Zagnzig, On the Delth, which in size is approximately as large as tho area in a, triangle drawn between Wellington, Napier and Wanganui. While this New Zealand area had-perhaps a population of 250.000 people, . the Delta population was about 10,000,000 and was regarded as the mo,st thickly populated part of the earth’s surface. Tim mass of the •people were of the working class and lived in a primitive way in mud houses madie of suudried bricks. Tim remainder of tlm popple, totalling from 4,000,000 to 5.000,000, were the educated classes in the cities who did not have ally common interest with the working class. Last Year’s Crisis •Ever since the British army occupation about 60 years ago, strong pip'-Briti.sh feeling had developed, even though there had boon, occasion risings. .This was heightened during Ihe September crisis of last year, when the people realised their vulnerability to attack from either side and when they realised metre than ever before what Biitain’s protection meant to them. Portions *of the British licet were m A lexandlria from time to time, and there was fear of Italy joining (dormany if war broke out, particularly as tlie Libyan border was only 160 miles distant, leaving Cairo and Alexandria within easy bombing range of aircraft from Italian soil.

In correspondence lie had received, Mr. Tucker added, it was evident that the Egyptian people were looking more and more to the protection <>f the British navy, army and air force. The British garrison, totalling about 10,000 troops in normal times, hndl been augmented since the outbreak ol war. Indian troops being among the now arrivals. Army Ini the Making The Egyptian army and air lore; was only in the hulking, and the people realised that it must ho years 'be!ore Egypt’s own defence fo roe would be adequate, while the country’s navy was almost nil.

During Italy’s invasion, of Abyssinia, some fear ex is ted regarding the waters mf Lake Tsana, which is in the conquered territory and on which the Delta people roly so much, so a peaceful Italy meant much to them.