EGYPTIAN RIOTS

Thames Star, Volume LII, Issue 13934, 12 July 1919, Page 3

EGYPTIAN RIOTS

LETTER FROM CAIRO

Lieutenant P. Treloar, tof the Axistraltain Light Horse, who has been on active sea-vice in F_alestine for three years, writing of the dis-tua-bances in Egypt, in a letter received in Melbourne from Cairo, dated April 'sth, says: "A surprisingly large section of the more unenlightened/ of the Egyptian race believe we have been, conquered by the Hun, >and their ignorance has been exploited by agitators, whose orgainised nianifesitations haive been seized upon by the mob as am oppoi'tuaity for destrik'tip'nj and looting. It is now .unfortunately confirmed that the ioumbeir of British officers miurdwed while travelling oimarmed, on leave, 'by the CairoLuxor express, was nine,, not eevea, as at first reported. . "Iti is still impossible to ascertain the names of the officers killed. At Beni Suef, a crowd invaded the courts, which were 'sitting, drove out/the officers, and tried to get hold of the British judge. Failing in this,: they wrecked various Government offices.

"The British reside-n'ts conconr trated in three houses, and wen-e in icraive danger fromi Bedouin, lootors, till relieved by garrisoia troops, and warned 'to retire. The. demons Orators ' attemped to break the cordon, and the troops them fired, killing four and woundimsr 20, befotre the. cii&wd 1 was dispersed. .

"At Galiub, two passenger- trains, proceeding to Cairo, were attacked by a. mob of aboub 3000 villagers. A British soldier was m,urdeir<?d on the platform^ of the station. The passengers kept. the. mob at bay with revolvers, and got the .train through to Cairo. The mob then sacked and wrecked 1 the station. At Mimea-el-Gamb a mob raided the Mtardaz and, released prisoners. Then they ; attacked the station, and the military picket was obliged to open fire, killing 30 and woumding 19. ■.-■,.' "A similar dis'tiirbancie at Tooxta, where a mob ®i > several thousands attacked the station-, which wa® ««*- ---der militlary protec'tioii-, was o.Tily quelled after the killing of 22 and rioters. . . the wounding .of approxi-miately ;W "The G.O.C. is adoptinig- di-as'fac measures to ..suppress is offidally called 1 'tlie ca.mpa.iofm, of destruction, and loot .instigated by unprincipled agitators.' "