MILITARY FORCES IN EGYPT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 138, 4 November 1914, Page 5

MILITARY FORCES IN EGYPT.

JIKiTLSH GARRISON AND THE native Aiarv.

| The British garrison, or army of occupation in Egypt, consists in times of ' peace bf a cavalry regiment, a horse artillery battery, n mountain battery, n 'company of engineers,.and four battaI lions (one company in Cyprus) stationed . in the Xile delta, and of a battalion of infantry and detachment of garrison ! artillery stationed in the Anglo-Egyptian ! Sudan. The establishment, including doI partmfintal services, (iol>7 of all ranks. I The Egyptian Government contributes I £150,000 towards the cost of these troops. The British garrison in Egypt lias fio doubt been considerably strength- | ened since the outbreak of war. | On September 19, 1882 (the year of ] British occupation), the existing j Egyptian army was disbanded. The organisation of a new army was entrusted to a British general officer, who was given the title of Sirdar. This post is at present filled by (lencral Sir Reginald i Wingate. Service in the Egyptian naj tivc army is compulsory, but owing to \ the small contingent required, only a I fraction of the i»en who are liable actually serve. Service is for three years. ; In the Sudanese battalions Bcrvice is ' voluntary and extended. The army consists of five squadrons of cavalry, a I camel corp3, five batteries, 18 battalions . of infantry (of which six arc Sudanese, ' and ono is a special "Equatorial" battalion), a railway battalion, and various ■ departments, Most of the higher posts , arc held by British officers. The strength | of the army is about 17,000. i Egypt has a pophition of 11,300,000, and, in addition, there arc 3,000,000 people in the .Sudan.