MEN OUT OF EGYPT.

Taihape Daily Times, 11 August 1919, Page 5

MEN OUT OF EGYPT.

4. OVER . A THOUSAND ;RETURI\L AFTER CLEANING UP THE» TURKS. Thea -Uliniaroa left‘ -Suez on J une.«3o, and except for the tail end of a heavy nron}s.oofn “in Z the Inkiian. "Ocean, and a heavy swell in the Australian Bight, the weather was fine. Coming down the Red Sea, and until COIO-mbo was reached, it was exceptionally hot: and naturally the men felt the cold pretty much when the ship be'ga'il "to leave the low altitudes. After leaving the Red Sea, many pairs of "eyes seal'ch'ed the sky in the south as ‘soon as the sun et, and, “Thel'e’s the old Southern Cross again” brought :3. crowd to the ship ’s rail. There are fine constellations in the Nol*thel'n ‘Hemisphere, but there is no doubt where the New Zealanders’ affection lies_ ) ' l

Two days were spent at Colombo, where the ship took on water and‘ enough coal to carry her to New Zealand. The men weroiliallovved ashore both days, and earned the thanks of the general for their excellent. behaviour. It may be thought that that: should go without saying, but Colom—l bo’s experience of colonial troops has not. been always too pleasant. Colombo ‘ is a. delightful spot, and._t'lle men satvl quite a. lot of it in the short while‘ at their disposal. The drive along the Gallo Road, close to the palm-fringed shore out. to Mount Lavinia, through several miles of the quaint Chinese villages, was popular. About 500» men made an all—day trip to Kandy, the ancient capital, by train. The excursion was an unqualified success, the; men thoroughly enjoying and approciating the gloi-ioTl‘s scenery and the novel native life. The special train for the 70-mile journey was placed at tlle disposal of the brigade by the Ceylon Government, and the men were given :1 luncheon at the Qri'een’s Hotel, {L noted tourist house. A stay of a day was made at Albany, where more water and fresh Vegetables were taken on, and 150 cases of apples were bought. It was the first. ‘time for four years that some of the men had tasted a real apple.