BACK FROM EGYPT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 248, 29 March 1915, Page 5

BACK FROM EGYPT.

HON. T. MACKENZIE'S .RETURN. "''/ I TROOPS WORKING HARD. ' U

London, January 22. the High Commissioner, the Hon £ '•' Mackenzie, returned to London'on January 21 from his visit to the Now Ze ft - • land troops in Egypt, having travelled overland irom Marseilles after leaving the Malwa at that port. In the coum of an interview on the condition of the troops, Mr Mackenzie said:—

The conditions in Egypt are perfect for the purpose for which the troopa have been landed there. Not only Jg the ground admirable for training and camping, but is a land', of sunshine, and the men constantly have the ' ■whole day and evey day for training, ' whicli"is of a progressive nature. They, are going in for heavy work, and look' very well. Their spirit, too, fs excellent, . and they are only eager to get to the' seat of war."

Replying to questions, Mr Mackenzie ■:> said there was, as a matter of fact, some, '•':!• idea prevalent that the Australian and' ; -i New Zealand troops would not get tp Wy the front in Europe, but his was abte, V. to assure them, from a conversation he' ■ ■""; had with Lord Kitchener before he left, ,'\ that they would get there as soon as : .' they were thoroughly fit. "They are' ' still a little disappointed," added Mr X | Mackenzie, "at not coming straight to ' the Old Country, but when the contin-/ ,'■ gent which had been enrolled in Eng-'; ./\ land and trained by Captain Lampen '*'s arrived and jiixed with the others, they. l ';" discovered something of what the condi- ' ' y t, tions were at Salisbury Plain, and they '-■-■ were only too glad that their lot had \~] fallen in such a ploasant place as Zei- ""i toun, where they are now wejl content. •',.' Their treatment -they are quite pleas* \ ed with," ;■

The High Commissioner Baid that a number of people in N.ew Zealand had asked liim to keep a special look-out for their boys, and he was glad to say that he had been able to see all theso personally. He had also, while there, ar- ' ranged that at certain times during the day any other who -wished to see him might call, and many did so, bringing letters of introduction. As a result of what he saw, he could say confidently that thoy were well and happy, and looking forward with great hopes of playing their part in the great fight, to which they were committed. The officers were all desirous of doing everything ■possible to make the conditions as pleasant as could be.

Mr Mackenzie had many intereatinj' conversations with the new Sultan, who, as a keen student of agriculture, dißctiseed many aspects of the question, with the High Commissioner. As to the temper' of the Egyptian population, which is ono of the main reasons for the maintenance of a strong and well disciplined British army in the country at the moment. Mr Mackenzie says that the. position is that, so long as the people are protected and governed moderately, they will accept the present. regime. Naturally, some of the Turkwa section of the population have strong sympathies with the Turks, yet thoy wouldn't like to be governed by t'lera i One of the great,agreeable surprises is that the British troops which occupy their country in force do not treat, them as the old Turkish masters used to,' seizing what they wanted without pay-' ment. Then again,. the groat bulk cf the'population of Egypt is native, consisting of Mahommedaiis and Copts, vhd have no wish to be governed by Turkey. ,'