IN EGYPT.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 May 1916, Page 3

IN EGYPT.

NEW ZEALANDERS VISITED. ' IMPRESSIONS OF A TRIP. (From Our Own Correspondent.) Wellington, May 11. In the course of an interview with your correspondent last evening Mr. fi. McCallum, M.P. for Wniran, described some of the impressions he gathered and observations he made during his recent visit to Egypt. Mr. McCallum went to Egypt with introductions supplied tohim by the New Zealand Minister for Defence, and was abb to see a great deal of the troops. lie was given official facilities by the military authorities and was 1 ' able to see for himself the conditions under which, the New Zealanders were working. "I would like to speak of the great contentment and cheerfulness of our soldiers in Egypt," he said. "With very few exceptions I found them most enthusiastic and determined to do their ■best in New Zealand's interests. They are all anxious to return home at the earliest possible moment, but not before doing all that is required of them, so long as that duty includes the complete and crushing defeat of the enemy. I noticed that little bitterness exists in the minds of those fortunate enough to return from Gallipoli against the Turks, who they regarded as honorable foes as compared with the Germans. I know one of Dur brigadier-generals who would like nothing better than to take part in an expedition to Palestine and drive the Turks out of the Holy Land for ever. I made special inquiry as to the suitability and quality of the training our men received in New Zealand before embarking, and can give you my assurance that it was regarded as most satisfactory and as reflecting the greatest credit on New Zealand Defence stall', from the Minister downwards. "Some complaints were made to me, as was to be expected, but generally the New Zealanders I met expressed satisfaction at their treatment and confidence in their leaders. A complaint that reached me came from some officers -who seemed to think that too much economy was being practised. One major instanced a ease of his men having no trousers fit to wear, and his being compelled to give a man a pair of his own. This seemed to me to reflect rather on the officer than on the Supply Depot, as the duty of taking care that men are properly equipped must rest with the officers. "I was not long in Egypt before I found there was deep resentment against the military order excluding all noncommissioned officers and men from the best hotels in Cairo and Alexandria. I folt impressed with the indignity and injustice of the order. If an embargo were placed upon all officers and men goiii" into hotels or places where intoxicating drinks'were sold, no exception could have been taken, but to discriminate between officers and men in such an order introduced a social distinction that was bound to cause trouble. All the world knows that many of our non-commissioned officers and men occupy better social positions in their own country, and possess greater means than many officers. The rule had the effect of shutting men out of good hotels and forcing them to stay at less desirable places. I saw a notice over the door of an hotel in one of the lowest parts of Cairo as follows:—'This hotel is in hounds for British soldiers.' The fact scarcely needs comment. "There was another matter that was brought under my notice. It was felt in i Egypt that some able-bodied young men had managed to secure safe and easy Wllets, and were keeping equally qualified and m,( re worthy men out of positions. There must be hundreds of partially disabled men from Gallipoli. brave and tried men who have borne the burden and heat of the day, just as competent to fill the soft positions as the young men who came out at first hand, and whose coming in those capacities' was a mere evasion of their plain duty. It was their duty to get into the trenches. I would mention in this connection the fine example of Messrs Seddon and Stewart, who left their seats in Parliament in order to fight. "I desire," said Mr. McCallum, "purely ,on my own account, and because of an experience I had at the Moascar camp, near Ismailia, to enter my emphatic protest against our men 'being supplied with tinned meat from So'uth Amcrifa: Some weeks before the incident I am about to relate I had lunch at the Nelson camp in the Sinai Desert, when the bully beef supplied was of a particular brand. On that occasion I was satisfied portions of the entrails of tiie animal were carelessly included, and the preparation wa3 such as no self-respecting packer or butcher would place on the market. It was at late dinner with Major Buck, at Moa<uir camp, on Marcli 2Sil\ an incident occurred that very nt'.riy brought about a vacancy for the Wniran seat. On that evening the brand of bully beef spoken of was put hefore us after having been stewed and kept for some time. My host was evidently too wise to take much of it, but in my innocence and hunger—l can't suggest T took it for experimental purposes—l had a hearty meal. Before many hours I was suffering from ptomaine poisoning, and it will be long before I forget my sufferings on the following day. For hours the following evening I suffered intensely.

'•'J.liis unfortunate and most depressing experience, the ill effects of which I felt for some ten days afterwards, satisfied me beyond all doubt that it is a shame our men are not supplied with first-class New Zealand or Australian mutton and beef. Surely it is their birthright ? To continue supplying theiii with such stuff as I saw whilst in camp and some of which wrought such ill effects on one of very strong physique and stomach is a shame and a disgrace to the authorities. "There is a pretty general feeling amongst a number of our junior officers in Egypt," he continued, "against sending out with future reinforcements any new men with a higher rank than that of junior lieutenant. Those who have served at Gallipoli, if otherwise qualified, should surely rank before those who are only now offering their services, valuable and all as they may be. While on this subject I might mention an interview I had with a major who had recently arrived in Egypt, and who had been a major for some time before leaving New Zealand. He informed me that his reduction to the rank of captain was being seriously considered and lie resented the injustice of it very much. "On April 3rd I was taken to inspect the Armenian camp at Port Said. It contains over 4000 refugees 'from Armenia, whilst the one at Alexandria contains over 2000 refugee Jews from Palestine. It is understood that at the present time husbands and brothers of some of the women in camp are unwillingly bearing arms against the Al-

lies. It costs about '£2ooo per month to keep both camps going with bare necessities. The camps are under the management of Mr. Hornblower, a senior inspector of the Department of Internal Affairs, in Egypt, who is anxious to obtain contributions for extras. So far the British Exchequer has borne the. expense. "It is, I believe, claimed that we pay our officers and men more than do the Imperial and Australian Governments. I was assured this was not so, and our officers are rather sore over not only the loss of the money, but the feeling that they are of secondary importance to the officers drawing higher pay. "I visited all hospitals and convalescent homes in and near Cairo and in Alexandria, at which New Zealanders were patients. No complaint of any kind was heard and many soldiers spoken to expressed themselves in eulogistic terms of the nurses and treatment they were receiving. The Aotea Home were specially visited and every home were specially visited and every patient interviewed, and all expressed themselves as well satisfied with hospitality and comforts of those institutions." Mr. McCallum saw a review and inspection of the Pioneers under Colonel King. He described them as a fine body of men, well trained and disciplined, and with Colonel King and Major Buck lead* ing them vvould, he was satisfied, uphold the honor if New Zealand.