THE TROOPS IN EGYPT

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2368, 26 January 1915, Page 6

THE TROOPS IN EGYPT

FIRST IMPRESSIONS EXTRACTS FROM LETTERS HOME. Interesting details regarding the New Zealauders in Egypt have been received m private letters from members of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, written a few days after tlieir arrival 111 jEgypt. Mr. J. Ironside, son of Mr. A. W. Ironside, governor of the Mount Eden prison, Auckland, in. writing from the Zoiton camp, under date December 10, says:—"Wo arrived in Alexandria last Thursday in tie morning, and in tb© evening had general leave to see the place. We could not see much of the surroundings tlxat night, but the town is very large. Fruit is practically thrown at yon. Oranges are two piastres, _ about 5d., per dozen. Money is all piastres here. For a sovereign you can get 225. in British silver. They rush the gold, but for the' paper money they deduct something whether you buy anything or not.

"We left the ship lost Saturday night at 5 o'clock, and caught a tram at 6 o'clock for Zeiton. We got there at 3.30 a.m. on Sunday, and slept on the bare desert ground, after having a twist of bread, a piece of Dutch cheese, and a cup of cocoa made by Egyptians. When we arose next morning we got the same for breakfast, having no cooking apparatus unpacked. I had dinner in Zeiton; for I was working on the station with Captain Short all the morning. The camp is all desert. Sand gets in your blankets, hair, and everywhere. All the Imperial troops are still m camp. We went to Cairo, which is a wonderful place. Everything is pretty cheap.there. Theatres were open to soldiers free that night, and we" called at a couple. There is also'a soldiers' club. On Saturday we will visit the Pyramids. It is the general opinion here that the war will be over in six months, and we will return home. It is very hot in the daytime on account of the sond, but at nis;ht it is as cold as ice. The contrast is very marked." A Beautiful City. Writing to his son, under date December 7, Sergeant.A. Walker, of Dunedin, says:— "We arrived at Alexandria early in the morning, and had a run through that ancient city for a few hours. We stayed there two days, and I can assure you we were all pleased to leave the boat after 10 weeks of it. We came by train to Cairo two days ago. I think this is the most beautiful city in the world. I was surprised. The buildings are grand, and it is a-most up-to-date place. The trams are the best I have seen, and travelling, in fact everything is very cheap. The money is, rather puzzling. A piastre is worth 2sd. (they won't take English money). We got all our money changed for Egyptian. I wish you could see this place. I think I have seen more strange sights this last few days than I ever Baw in my life before. We are camped just outside the city. The Australians are on the otheT side from us, camped at the Pyramids. The trams nm right to the foot of the Pyramids. I started to go there yesterday (Sunday), but I did not manage to. pass the centre of the citv. The shops and pubs, (every second place seems to be a pub.) were all open. Friday afternoon is the Mohammedan Sunday. There were several hands playing in the parks and squares—it seemed more like.a holiday than Sunday. We are expecting a fight here, as the British are taking u he nlace oven in a few days. I hear <he' Khedive has cleared over to Turkey. If the Arab's come this way they will get a bad reception. There are a few regiments of English Territorials here. Their bands are splendid. We.are all in the best of health. I never felt better. They say we are to stay here for about three months, and then go to France. We 3re camped on the desert—all sand and gravel, no siim of grass—so our beds are very hard. It's winter here, so the weather is nice and cool. This is a big camp, tents as far as you can sea. We have water laid on and electric lights at night. They do things in style here. All the work is done by the natives; they are fine workmen, but inclined to be cheeky. We nre not allowed in town by ourselves. 'We go in parties of two or four, as the Arabs m town are dangerous neople to deal.with. We don't go near the poorer quarters, and don't want to; the look of them is enough. They are nothing but narrow winding lanes, and 1 they do num. The mosaues here are beautiful. I must have a look at the inside of them before we leave. All our boys are expert donkey riders. We hire the don**ys for half a oiastre an hour. Some of ourchapsrode/camels. but they got seasick, so cooie's are 'off' now."