Australia

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 241, 20 March 1915, Page 5

Australia

WITH THE TROOPS IN EGYPT. DISCIPLINE EXQELLENT. GENERAL BIRDWQOD WELL PLEASED. > . Received March 19, 9.35 p.m. Sjidney, TTarcii It). Cilptam Bean cables tiiat the spring season has commenced in Egypt, with fierce, hot winds and clouds of dust. The hardest part of the training is over. The men now get a whole holiday every ■week, besides a half-day on Sundays. Willingness is the chief virtue ot the Australasian troops. British and l'rcnch officers never fail to remark on this. He mentions the local newspaper reporting thai seven soldiers hatt laHen from the Pyramids and been killed. The ■truth is that one territorial had a fatal fall, and an Australian injured his spine. The third Australian, contingent lias reached camp, men and liorscs in splendid condition. Frcniaiftle, starch 19. Archdeacon Samwell, Anglican chaplain of the second expeditionary force In Egypt, ■bas returned. lie declares that the reported breaches of discipline have been grossly exaggerated. The conditions have greatly improved, as the men are now fully aware of the consequences of indiscretions. The whole trouble was (file to criminal adulteration of liquor bv Egyptian cafe proprietors. Archdeacon Samwell brings a message J™ 111 General Birdwood, stating that he is intensely pleased with the progress anil clVieieiicv attained by the Australian and New Zealand troops. The men are. eager and willing, and have risen to the occasion. When the Archdeacon left the men were itching with excitement. (A deletion bv the censor follows.)