OUR BOYS IN EGYPT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 156, 8 December 1914, Page 4

OUR BOYS IN EGYPT.

The landing of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in Egypt is a step that does much credit to the Home authorities, and it may be assumed that it is chiefly due to the initiative of Lord Kitchener. When the force was being raised we strongly urged that the. Dominion's men should be ultilised in the first instance to. relieve the Imperial forces I from duty i„ Egypt and India, as a double object would be attained. In the'! first place Britain required as manv seasoned regular troops as possible to ukc the field, and the forces raised in New Zealand required practical training under active service conditions. Lord

there. He has also visited the Dominion and acquainted himself with the stamp of men that are available for military service, and presumably considers that t.*y are good soldiers in the making, and that the process of fitting them for doing credit to themselves and reflecting honor on the Empire can best be carried out in Egypt. It is said that the decision arrived at was in a large measure on account of climatic conditions, as it would have entailed great hardships on New Zealanders to be subjected to the intense cold and wet of mid-winter in Europe after having been brought up in a country were ice and snow are but little known, except in the mountainous regions. Moveover, in the voyage to France or England they would have to pass through tropical regions and would thus be rendered very liable to pulmonary disease if taken to the trenches straight away. It is gratifying to know that the Home authorities are actuated by this desire to spare our boys unnecessary hardships, and that they have adopted a course which should prove in the best interests of the contingenters and the army. Egypt is like a half-way house, and has exceptional advantages for training troops. From present appearances there seems little probability of any great move made at the front till the European spring sets in, and this will give ample time iu which to train all the men that New Zealand and Australia can send forward. If a system of regular monthly sailings of additional men from Australasia were adopted from now onwards, there would, by April, be an appreciable addition to the Allies' forces. The great struggle l'as yet to come—the invasion of Germany—and for that every citizen of the Empire who is available should render service. It is probable that now the manhood of New Zealand understands how greatly their services are needed and , how highly they are appreciated, as well J as how carefully and considerately the arrangements for service. and training j have been made, that they will more | readily come forward and enroll. The .principle of fitting the men for work : at the front by gradual steps—firstly by | means of training camps in their own '. country, then by actual service condi- ; tions in Egypt should prove of the 1 greatest service. New Zealand is proud ■ ] of the men who have responded to the • : Empire's call, and there is nothing to ■ . fear that they will, under Lord Kitchener's supervision, become worthy upholders of the most glorious traditions ; of the British Army.