FORWARD AREA

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21199, 23 August 1940, Page 4

FORWARD AREA

MEN IN EGYPT MUST HAVE COMFORTS HONESTY ILLUSTRATED “DIRTY AND TRYING” PLACE (By Telegraph.—Press Association) WELLINGTON, Friday A despatch to the National Patriotic Fund Board by Mr Victor Jones, one of the Y.M.C.A. representatives with the First Echelon in Egypt, emphasises the need of comforts from the Dominion being available. Mention is made of New Zealanders being in the “forward area,” where, according to reports, they are “having it rather tough,” and of the steps taken to supply them with a canteen service. After reference to the first lot of parcels and also a shipment of apples not going to Egypt, and to the Patriotic Board’s forwarding of money to purchase comforts, Mr Jones says it is no easy matter to purchase suitable goods in the Middle East because of a scarcity of goods and suitable articles. Canteen Units Established A report by the Y.M.C.A. on its own behalf says that the apparent need for “an all-inclusive” canteen service has been met, four units having been established over a very wide area. “During the first nine days in this forward area the troops were without pay,” the report states, “and although credit was given to the extent of some £450 and no names or accounts recorded, it will stand as an everlasting memorial to the honesty and appreciation of New Zealand soldiers that all and more of this money was repaid on the first pay day.” “Dirty and Trying” Recognition that the soldiers were not only in a danger area but in a particularly dirty and trying area was made in reducing the prices of essential comforts below cost. The men were told the Patriotic Board was making up the difference, and where men went up to the frontier for duty an immediate free issue was made of a packet of cigarettes, a stick of chocolate and a packet of chewing gum. “This to the casual observer may not represent much, but to those who knew it did represent a considerable sum of money given for the purpose and well spent.” The report mentions that, weekly visits are being made to hospital posts and men evacuated to places many miles away. According to the secretary of the Patriotic Board, the report emphasises the importance of sufficient funds to enable the board to send forward comforts.