THE TROOPS IN EGYPT

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2368, 26 January 1915, Page 5

THE TROOPS IN EGYPT

UNDESIRABLES BEING WEEDED OUT Sydney, January 26. Discussing the statements regarding the behaviour of the Australasian troops in Egypt, Senator Pearoe (Minister of Defence) stated that a weed-ing-out process was inevitable and the undesirables would be sent home. He added that one of the reasons why the troops had been • sent to Egypt was to undergo a period of training to allow of the trying-out and elimination of the undesirable element before the troops arrived on the battlefield. It was regrettable that a few unruly spirits had got into the force. Every precaution was being taken against a repetition. He was confident that the bulk of the force would do Australasia credit. Regarding the suggestion that the men are receiving superfluous cash, Mr. Pearce stated that the Defence Department is paying the same rate as to British soldiers, Vhe remainder being deferred or allocated to the men's families. [In a reprint article _ (from the Ohristchurch "Sun")', which appeared in The Dominion yesterday, the statement was made by the writer (a member of the Expeditionary Force at present, in Egypt), that the conduct of the Australians had not been good. So far as we are aware the conduct of the New Zealanders has not been adversely commented on. The use of the word "Australasians" in the above message is probably an inadventenoe.] THE NEW ZEALANDERSi (Rec. January 25, 5.50 p.m.) London, Januarv 24. The New Zealand High Commissioner (the Hon. T. Mackenzie) crossed France (en route from Cairo to London), within the sound of the thunderous roar of the guns behind Soissons. He declared that the New Zealanders were bitterly disappointed when they first learned that they were to stay in Egypt, as they_ were impatient to show their qualities in Europe. They bucked up when they 'learned that they would soon be sent to France. The New Zealand contingent was in excellent fettle. -("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) A TRAGIC OCCURRENCE. (By Telegraph .—Press Aesooiotieu.) Chrlstchureh, January 28. Brief reference is made in a letter from a Chriatchurch member of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force now in Egypt to a tragic occurrence a-s the result of which apparently a member of the Australian portion of the Force met his death. * Extracts from a letter doaling with tho matter are as follow:—"Some of jour fellows have been most indiscreet, and one of them tore the veil off a Turkish woman's face, and paid the penalty. Ho was found in the streots of Cairo with his throat cut." In a subsequent letter written to another person, reforring to tho sanio incident, the samo writer says: "His body now lies in tlio Australian cainp." From this reference it is assumed that tho victim of his own foolishness was a member of tho Australian section of the Expeditionary Force. The same writer says that tho military authorities are very strict in the matter of tho men obtaining intoxicants. Cases have occurred of men who have indulged too freely in liquor being decoyed into side streets. Anyono found un&tf tho InfluflMea of tetoaicwita is very severely, dealt with,