THE EGYPTIAN RIOTS

Taranaki Daily News, 23 August 1919, Page 10

THE EGYPTIAN RIOTS

AN INCIPIENT MASSACRE. WORK OP MOUNTED TROOPS. The troops who returned from Egypt by the Ulimaroa on Friday state that the riots which broke put in the Delta region in March last were for a time of a very serious character, and but for the speedy arrival of troops would have developed into a wholesale massacre of Europeans- The misguided fellaheen, among whom false and outrageous statements had been circulated, did not'confine their hatred to British people, Their hand was against all Europeans, Greeks, Armenians and Italians, of whom there kre hundreds of thousands in the country, suffering from the rioters. Some unit) of the New Zealand Mountod Rifles had actually handed in all their equipment preparatory to embarking for home, when the outbreak of the riots occurred, and in certain cases the men had to redraw horses and equipment and were entrained for the scenes of the trouble within a few hours. The long campaign had trained the men thoroughly in such rapid movements, but their tempers were not improved by the orders on this occasion. Seeing that they had expected to see their homes to soon. The whole of the Anzac mounted division was split up into patrols of two squadrons each, and these columns moved about the delta until the trouble was subdued. Tliore was no loss of life among the troops during this work, the natives being cowed by the demonstration of force. The airmen co-operated in the operations, and one of them has described the wholesome effect which "zooming" had upon angry crowds which gathered. The chief loss of life occurred during the first few days of the riqts, when officers and men on leave and unsuspecting civilians were caught while travelling. It is stated that the number of deaths among Europeans is not definitely known, but the men are emphatic in stating that the number of deaths among the rioters was greater. One brave party, including Colonel C. E. R. Mackesy, of Whangarei, and Misses M". and E. McDonald, of Wanganui, who were on the staff of the Ootea Convalescent Home in Hcliopolis, and who returned by the Ulimaroa, had a narrow escape. They were at Assouan when the riots started. By night they escaped on a launch, and travelled to the dam, where they caught a steamer for Wadi Haifa. The trouble had not extended to the Soudan, although they did not know what to expect, and they were able to travel by the Soudan railway to Berber, whence they travelled by train to Port Soudan. There they caught a steamer, which eventually reached Sues, after calling at various ports on the Arabian coast. Lieutenant-Colonel D. Chaytor and his wife also had a most dangerous experience- They had been down the Nile and were returning by train on the first day of the riots. They decided to leave the train at Assuit, and it was fortunate for them that they did so, because at the next station the train was attacked, and some eight, or ten officers and men of Imperial units were killed, their bodies being so mutilated that they were beyond recognition. Colonel and Mrs. Chaytor joined a party of Europeans and Indians in Assuit, where they were beseiged. They were practically without arms, but an aeroplane dropped them a machine-gun and ammunition, which improved their position very considerably, and they were able to keep off the enraged rioters until relief camo. At this time parts of Cairo were in a state of lawlessness, and soldiers were forbidden to go about alone. Armoured cars soon restored order, however. One of these cars was patrolling a dangerous quarter, when those on board noticed a single Australian trooper leaning against a lamp-post. They immediately pulled up and told the Australian that it was not safe to be alone. "That's all right," drawled the Australian, "I'm the bait, and my mates are waiting round the corner."