New Zealand

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 25, 30 January 1915, Page 5

New Zealand

THE EGYPTIAN SENSATION DENIAL BY GENERAL CODLEY. Per Press (Association. P Wellington, January 29. The Minister for Defence lias been in communication with Major General Js'osHso commandant of the New Zealand forces relative to the report circulated to the effect that two members of the expeditionary force has been assassinated in Egypt, in consequence af insults offered to Egyptian women by tearing from their faces veils that are worn by Moslem women to conceal their features from public gaze. Mr Allen has received the following reply, dated January 28: "No shadow of foundation for newspaper reports. Onr men are on the best of terms with the Egyptians." CONFIRMED IN ANOTHER QUARTER. Gisborne, January 29. Further light is thrown upon the alleged murder in Egypt by a letter received from a Gisborne boy with the expeditionary forces. He writes: "I see you have to be careful how yon go about here. There was one of the Auckland mounteds done for the other night in the slums, and also another got stabbed in the back, so I am keeping out of it." The writer also says: "Things are going to be pretty hot here when the Turks have mobilised 300 miles away from us. Our old colonel told hs we would see fight in another month, and I will be d glad. as we are getting tired of hanging about here."

NO KNOWLEDGE OF INCIDENTS IN AUSTRALIA. [United Pbesb Ajsooution.] (Received 9.20 a.m.) Melbourne, January 30. Senator Pearce (Minister of Defence) in denying knowledge of the wild rumour concerning the death of a New Zealand trooper in Egypt, stated that all deaths among the Australasian forces were immediately cabled to headquarters, and the authorities had received no information of any such incident, which would certainly have been sent.

I SYDNEY PRESS COMMENT. Sydney, January 29. The Daily Telegraph says that the statement made by the Minister of Defence in disproof of the widely current report that a New Zealand trooper was killed for lifting the veil of an Egyptian woman, will doubtless set at rest the rumour which had left an extremely disagreeable impression. Circumstantial evidence is wholly against the idea' that so gross an offence"was perpetrated, and some other charges regarding the conduct of the troops may prove exaggerated, as it is to be hoped they-will.- 'There is sometimes too much readiness to accept statements derogatory to men sent to distant countries, and if they are soldiers they emphasise the statements with sensational additions. MONTHLY RELIEF FUNDS. Timaru, January 29.

The local committee of the British and Belgian Fund adopted a proposal to make arrangements to collect monthly contributions throughout South Canterbury. The proposer, Mr S. C. Craig, pointed out that 8d per capita would produce £I2OO. A second proposal was adopted to circularise the farmers, urging them to give a percentage of receipts from all sales of stock and produce. The committee allocated £250 to Staff Captain Sharp, representing Commander Hodder, for the Salvation Army war emergency relief fund, which is being administered by General Booth. LADY LIVERPOOL FUND. The following letter from Lady Liverpool has been sent to leading ladies in various towns:

As the Defence authorities Have now entirely taken over the outfitting of the troops, I think there will be no further need for the Lady Liverpool Fund to give the men clothing, etc., before going into camp at Trentham. But it appears to be that extras such as socks, shirts, mittens, Balaclavas, comforters, etc., .would be very acceptable to the men when they are leaving these shores—more especially socks. I shall be glad to-bear from all who wish to keep their committees together with a view to working for this particular object, and to communicate with them so as to prevent overlapping. As the ships all go from Wellington, it might be best to form a depot there. All the ships that have already left had boxes of socks put on 1 board by the Wellington committee, so that each man had a fresh pair of socks when he arrived. Many other things were also given—pianos, gramophones, boxes of cakes, fruit, chocolate, writing paper, envelopes, pencils, etc. Some of these things were sent by district committees, some were the gifts of private individuals, and some were purchased by the "Lady Liverpool General Fund." This fund, which has been subscribed to by people from all over the Dominion, has still over £3OOO in hand, and this money should be used in future for purchasing such comforts as cannot be made at. homo. T am very anxious that no one should do more or give more than they are able. T fully realise how very hard everyone has been working: but I also realise that people, cannot go on at high pressure indefinitely, and I am anxious that this work should not interfere with people's ordinary duties.

But if there are people who have a little spare time that they would like to spend in making things for the men who have come forward and offered themselves in this time of need, I think that all the things that they can make will be very acceptable and verey useful. For the present, I think we cannot do better than supply comforts to the ships as they go; but later I hope we may be able to send the gifts to the men who have gone, as they need them. As these gifts are entirely separate from the outfitting which the Defence Department has undertaken, it will not be advisable to send any more things to the Defence Store.—Yours sincerely, ANNETTE LIVERPOOL.