ANZACS IN EGYPT

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21223, 20 September 1940, Page 5

ANZACS IN EGYPT

CONTROL OF PIVOT POINT MEN IN GOOD SPIRITS ITALY’S TOUGH PROPOSITION (United Press Asn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) SYDNEY, Sept. 10 The pivot point in Egypt’s Western Desert defences is under the command of an Australian—a Duntroon graduate and an original Anzac, now holding a high rank in the British Army. This is reported by the special war correspondent of the Sydney Morning Herald with the Australian Imperial Force. “ When the British High Command decides that the Italians have penetrated far enough to render their lines of communication even more difficult and more vulnerable than they are at present,” the correspondent continues, “ the enemy will find himself up against an Australian whose reputation guarantees that he will prove a tough proposition. “ New tactics are being practised by Australian mechanised cavalry, artillery, and infantry, who marched out of the camp on Tuesday morning for an all-day exercise in the desert as the preliminary to large-scale three-day manoeuvres at the end of the week. “ I have never seen our men in better spirits, in spite of the discomforts inseparable from a desert camp. The Worst Feature “ The worst feature is the wind, which usually gets up after lunch, driving flurrying sand clouds through the camp so that U is impossible to see from one end to the other. “ The camp’s saving grace is provided by the excellent shower baths, hot in the morning and cold in the I evening. The rations also are good ' and plentiful. They include a quan- | tity of fresh vegetables—beans, cabbage, tomatoes, and onions. The canteens once again are fully stocked with Australian beer, a factor which means a great deal in this hot, dusty, thirsty life. “ The men’s biggest grumble is the fact that they get 8d less for the Ausi tralian £1 in Egypt, where the cost | of living is very high, than their comi rades in England and Palestine. This means that, to draw £1 in Egyptian currency, a man is debited in his pay- ! book 25s 8d in Australian currency.” British in Prepared Positions I British troops are reported to have | occupied prepared positions at Mersa Matruh. The All-India Congress executive passed a resolution appealing to members to cease civil disobedience pending Gandhi's interview with the Viceroy.