WITH OUR TROOPS IN EGYPT

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2683, 1 February 1916, Page 6

WITH OUR TROOPS IN EGYPT

FRON&

HINTSWqiPT.SENDING

[From Mr. Malcolm Ross, Official War Correspondent with the New Zealand Forces.) : The following special dispatch has >eon received froin the New, .Zealand Jfßcial. War Correspondent (Mr. Mal:olm Ross): — .. " Though apparently there was no imir.ediato likelihood of serious" or. pro-, onged : fighting 'to-day;.; the Mounted Brigade was marched 'to the camp. The ioeno ' was quite inspiring, as rto 'tlio nrisic of tlie' band' the long' column rode Jilt, horses in iine condition, wbilb ■ ;ho-' men• impressed one as hardy speoinens of the-'bone and musclo of' a jroat and ' prosperous Dominion.- Tho! Jow;. leaven seemed, worthy of' tli e; regiment- that has earned undying fame in :he night attack across the foot-hills of phunuk ; Bair and in tho more desperito and bloody encounters on Hill 60. ' The n'ew general looked proud of his jommand, as well he might. . Colonel Rhodes, himself a cavalryman, witnessid their departure, and received many iriondly greetings from officers and men. So .was. able to convey the. news, to .a panterbury , sergeant-major' . that .- his jroth'er, a'doctor ih London,had received: the - knighthood.' • : Colonel Rhodes' spent a; fortnight'.Jit; Malta, * visiting twenty-four hospitals »nd convalescent depots, whore he saw aany New Zealanders. , He arranged, h conjunction with . the Bed Cross jrganisation, various matters that will idd to tho comfort and contentment of :lio men, .-.especially in regard to _ the listribution of J?e\v Zealand gifts, •vhiohi "owing to regulations, there was some difficulty about. Lord Methuen iakes.a special : nterestiii the sick and Ivoiinded, and on January ?, sent, the 'ollowing inessage, to the Australian and Vew Zealand convalescent's who were returning to their homes: — ' ! "I cannot say how sorry I feel at Jeing unable to come to wish yon Godipeed. It has been a great; pleasure lo me to have had you in Malta, and, (vith-the Bed Cross, to.-make your stay is happy .is' possible under,, the circumstances: • Yon return to your, colonies saving earned the admiration arid- gratitude of the Empire for your splendid ivork at Anzac and Helles." - .Christmas gifts, owing to'the exigences of the evacuation, and the difficulties. of transport during that .time of stress, are only now ■ reaching; the troops. Careful- inquiries lead to the inclusion that the best results are obtainable onlv by establishing a central executive in New Zealand to deal with the whole matter upon dir-oader. Hues. At present there is considerable overlapping, some men" getting' superabundance, while others are almost neglected. Cases should be oblong, and suitable for mule transport, and hooped and screwed to prevent looting. Duplicate inventories, one hv post, and one inside the cases, would , save great labour and delay. It is not necessary to.; send cigarettes now,' as these can jn purchased here at a penny per pocket. Xho'. weather is .fine, and cold,, and the health of the troops ;■ has . much improved.