REVIEW IN EGYPT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 281, 6 May 1915, Page 2

REVIEW IN EGYPT.

TWELVE MILES OF MEN. t REVIEW OF AUSTRALASIANS. A MOVINO, SPECTACLE. (By a Special Correspondent of tlie Argus.) I Cairo, March 23. El Matarieh is a mud village some- ' tiling over 5000 years old. It is bisect- J cd by that lino which so effectively divides Nile mud and desert sand in Egypt enc part of it having a setting of glorious green, while the other is barren and dessicated as the ocean beach above high-water mark. It is a typical Arab centre, the home of the fellaheen who till the fields and tend the scraggy cattle. Even the venerable Sheikh does not know much of the village's history, beyond the fact that the Virgin and her Child are said to have taken refuge there during the flight into Egypt, and he will show a sycamore planted in 1672 which marks the spot. The plain- has, however, seen at least two bloody struggles. In 1517 Selim and the Turks became masters of the Nile country as the result of a decisive battle at EI Matarieh, which ended with the storming of Cairo, and on March 20, 1800, General Kelber (who was afterwards assassinated close to the steps of Shepheard's Hotel), with 10,000 French troops, succeeded in defeating 60,000 Egyptians there. Such is the nature of the sand of the Libyan desert that most of the bones of friend and foe who were buried head to heel in tho trenches over 100 years ago are still intact. Quite a different military scene was set in the tragic spot this morning, when over 17,000 troops from the youngest of the British dominions played the principal part. Of all the stirring incidents that El Matarieh Ims seen since the dawn of history, it has never gazed on anything more impressive than that display by the children of the Empire, equipped ready for war.

A HUMAN MOSAIC ! Every man, horse and vehicle of the New Zealand and Australian division had been summoned to parade, and only the sick failed to answer the call. The assembly was a spectacle in itself. Columns of troops almost simultaneously came up out of the horizon, south, east and west, each moving in a welldefined zone so as not to become involved with its neighbour. At one period the whole of that purt of the desert seemed suddenly to have been imbuod with life. Soldiers camo from everywhere, all khaki clad, and toning with Nature's manoeuvre ground. It was quite impossible to pick out' individual units from the mass. The infantry sent up a volume of dust as they pounded the desert With their feet; each light horseman seemed to havo a special cloud to himself, and the eight-horse field guns, howitzers) and-; «able waggons had to be taken on trust*, because '. they were < ail,shrouded, jjehind a curtain of yellow. Just at the moment' when it appeared inevitable that all branches of the' fßrcc3 must certainly tangle in- an inextricable confusion, an order was given and everyone seemed to find his right place. I The bands brought their tramping followers into position with' a swing. The mounted troops, with horses champing at the bits, were the last to arrive, coming over the country widely extended, and at a steady walk. What looked to be a disjointed mass in the early stages slowly but surely took shape, and when the commanding officer (Major-General Sir A. J. Godley) was ready to take up his own position, a kind of human mosaic had laid itself out in front of him. The front covered eight miles, and wis half as deep, forming a pretty material picture over the forgotten graves of men who, in more gorgeous uniforms, had fought to the death in bygone years.

FOUR HOURS TO PASS. As goon as word was passed along that all was ready, Major-General Godley and his staff commenced their inspection, riding iip and down the lines with the avowed intention of picking faults, but they were hard to And. Long residenee in camp had taken tho newness from uniforms and boots, and the sheen from horses coats, but battles are not won by good looks, and It was the thing that lay inside that attracted more attention. The inspection took over two hours, and it was almost lunch time when the troops prepared to march past. At the saluting base was the comman-der-in-chief (Lieutenant-General J. D. Maxwell) and the Australasian Army Corps commandant (Major-Genera] Birdwood), in addition to the divisional stair, but there were also many unofficial spectators on camels' back, on donkeys and on buffaloes, while half-a-dozen Bedouin horsemen reined in their shaggy chargers to admire the new generation of a force that had taught their own fathers many a good lesson. The entire native population of El Matarieh appeared to have taken a holiday* The green fields were deserted, and yashmasked women in black robes, with baskets of oranges on their heads, brought their babies to hear the bands. It took the column four hours to pass twelve miles of armed strength being drawn across the shadow which the Union Jack at the staff officer's lancehead threw upon the.ground.

AUSTRALIANS "JUST A LITTLE BETTER." All the New Zealand infantrymen wore knee-breeches and putties, shoeing their sun-browned knees, but a garment more suitable for a cold climate is to be issued immediately when needed. Their marching was splendid, and to say that the Australians showed themselves to just a little better advantage is to pay them the highest compliment. As usual the mounted troops made a fine display, and as the 4000 horses passed the saluting base they seemed to hold themselves to attention, as if they instinctively knew that .something special was expected of them. There was, however, no attempt at show in any particular ; the display was utilitarian. In the severe, business-like appearance of the men and their fighting equipment lay the imprcssiveness of the review. Previous to the combined parade each brigadier had made a close inspection of his own unit, and as a result such severe calls had been made upon the quartermaster-general's depart } ment that at to-day's gathering there were very few deficiencies to be criticised.

BEADY, AYE READY. Since their arrival in Egypt this is the first ceremonial parade in which the troops of the Second Expeditionary Force have taken part. It was originally intended that there should be a march through the streets of Cairo, but the training programme left so little time at the disposal of the chiefs that the idea had to be abandoned. To-day's review showed that as far as equipment is concerned both the Australians and New Zcalandera are ready for battle, and, as far as possible without ball cartridge, their work afield has proved that they know how to fight. Nothing) but the supreme test of action against I a determined onemy can now disclose I anything else, and all ranks are anxious I for that trial by Are to come as soon as I possible. Officers and men are beginning to chafe under continuous training and playing «t thej jvajat $3 fight.