EGYPTIAN DAYS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 November 1940, Page 6

EGYPTIAN DAYS

NEW ZEALANDERS FIT AND HAPPY WANGANUI SOLDIER RETURNS. COUNTRY FULL OF INTEREST. An enlightening account of life in Egypt was given in an interview in Wanganui by Mr W. L. J. Pleasants, a former well-known Wanganui footballer, who was injured while serving with the New Zealand Army Service Corps, and has now returned to 'the Dominion. “The First Echelon boys,” said Mr Pleasants, “all seemed fit and happy in their new life, and there certainly was little to complain of over there.” Mr Pleasants left Egypt in August, and at that time some of the troops had begun to move up to the front-line stations in the desert. They did not appear to mind the life in the desert, for they were almost as well looked after as when they were at the base camp. There was little difference in the food, for big mobile kitchens kept them well supplied. Mr Pleasants served at an important British base a great distance from Cairo, and found conditions there as good as at the main camp. Life in Egypt was full of interest—it was a fascinating country, he stated. But there was no country like New Zealand. Because of the low concession rates the soldiers had had an excellent opportunity of seeing the country. As an example of the way they were catered for, he stated that one week-end he travelled to Luxor, a 24-hour train journey. The total cost of the weekend, including travel and accommodation, was only £2 10s. 138 DEGREES IN SHADE. The main complaint in Egypt was, of course, the heat. The hottest day he had experienced was when the temperature went up to 138 degrees in the shade. The hottest period of the day was not at noon, but usually between 2 and 4 p.m. Then, at about 10 o'clock at night, the temperature would suddenly drop to freezing point. This was due to the fact that the sand does not hold lhe heat. For instance, one day when the troops were in the desert the water in their bottles became hot enough to shave with. However, by placing the water-bottles only a few inches in the sand it was posible to make the water cold enough for drinking in about 15 minutes.

One of the features of Egypt which most impressed Mr Pleasants was the fertility of the Nile Delta. Whereas only one crop a year could be grown in New Zealand, there four crops —mainly cotton, corn and rice—were grown annually. Mr Pleasants saw little of the Italians while in the Middle East, but a camp where he was stationed was visited once by Italian planes. They dropped their bombs, but did no damage because they were flying at a safe altitude of 25,000 feet, which was hardly conducive to accuracy. The Italian planes, tri-motor aircraft, had a peculiar drone, and could be heard long before they arrived over the camp.

ed water, and for that reason they parThe Italian army, he said, badly needticularly wanted possession of the British base at Mersa Matruh. Pipelines from Libya were laid by the Italians as they advanced, but as fast as they were put down thity were blown up by the R.A.F.