BEER FOR TROOPS IN EGYPT

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 112, 5 February 1941, Page 10

BEER FOR TROOPS IN EGYPT

Record Consignment Made New Zealand troops iu the Middle East will shortly receive an antidote for the burning heat of Egypt, The fact is that the largest individual consignment of beer ever shipped from this country has recently been executed by a brewery company. An order for 22,000 dozen quarts—representing 44,000 gallons—of ale was filled and dispatched for New Zealand troops serving overseas. The magnitude of such an order may be better realized from the fact that to send the order from Auckland to Wellington by rail required an entire goods train consisting of SO trucks. The ale, which was packed in cartons and boxes, amounted to a total weight of 440 tons. The brewing of the 22,000 dozen quarts required over 2000 bushels of malt and 11001 b. of hops. This record shipment was bottled, packed and dispatched within 48 hours. Statisticians Busy. Meanwhile statisticians have been working out all the odds and ends attendant on such au item of news. Some said that if all the empty bottles—after the boys have finished with them -—were placed end to end they w’ould reach from Cairo to Bardia. Some even went so far as to guess that they would stretch a mile behind the Italian lines and clank against the Chianti. One man became reminiscent about tlie metal bottle tops. He calculated that, if dropped in one solid mass, they would sink au Italian battleship, or, at least, give it a nasty tilt. He added that if the tops were spread out and welded together they would provide armour-plate for the most modern battleship. Another fellow simply gave it up. He said he couldn’t imagine 22,(MH) dozen quarts . . . and as for 44,000 gallons! There just couldn’t be so much in the world, lie added wistfully, confessing that be bad never seen anything lugger than a hogshead in his life. Anyway, calculations or no <-:tlculations, the soldiers tire going to have a happy time. Think of 704.000 "half handles.” It sounds better that way.