INDIAN TROOPS

Evening Star, Issue 23496, 9 February 1940, Page 10

INDIAN TROOPS

ON BORDERS OF NILE Arthur Merton, * Daily Telegraph ’ correspondent in Egypt, writes: — Cairo residents returning from leave aro amazed to find when they drive out to the west across the river that the desert beyond has become a vast camp, with new macadamised roadg radiating in all directions. Ridge after ridge, together with the intervening depressions, are covered as far as the eye can reach with tents, mostly of the special pattern which proclaims that here are stationed the troops from our Indian Empire whose safe arrival was officially announced a little while ago. The force now encamped on the west bank of the Nile beyond Giza is drawn in great part from many of the fighting races of India—including Punjabis, Rajputs, Sikhs, Gurkhas, Gharwalis, Hazarawahs, to name a few. It _is brigaded with a Highland and a British infantry battalion and two _ regiments of Field Artillery, and is training hard to get the men inured to desert conditions, to which they are not accustomed. A few of the older Indian officers and n.c.o.s were here during the Great War. But to most Egypt is a strange country. The majority had never seen the sea until they reached Bombay. Such a boundless expanse of water seemed incredible to them. Many were surprised to find it salty. They asked to whom it belonged. The transports were a jov to them; Bombay to Suez was an endless voyage of adventure. ' Every minute_ of the day and night revealed something they had never experienced before. _ Likewise the motion of the new ships was new —nnpleasantlv new for many, who soon began to suffer the pangs of seasickness. But they resigned themselves to it when they ®’aw that their officers were similarly afflicted. CURIOSITY STIRRED. Egypt’s desert is a complete mystery to them. Desert areas exist in India, but nowhere such a limitless, barren, sandy expanse as here. They have discovered that in places a few feet below the surface there exists a bluish clay. They are now busy digging this out, for it makes admirable flooring for tents, kitchens, or messes. Misty mornings remind many of their homes. Generally speaking, the climate suits them wonderfully well, and they are settling down quite happily to what to most of them is an entirely new life. The Pyramids, near which they are encamped, have not impressed them. A Punjabi sergeant remarked to me in perfect English what I found afterwards most of the rest had been thinking about them. Ho said that when they first saw these ■lB-centuries old monuments they took them to bo gigantic haystacks, for in shape they resembled the haystacks which are a familiar sight in their homeland. Some considered them to be a poor sort of fort with no loopholes through which to shoot. When inquiry revealed their true nature they dismissed them with the remark that “ there are finer monuments in our own country.” _ . They are, however, loud in their admiration or the Mohamed Ali Mosque at the Citadel, and the Tombs of the Caliphs (“ The City of the Dead ”) seem to ’ have a great fascination for them. Everywhere there is bustle and movement. The troops are occupied in getting their camps shipshape. Some are treading sand with water to make_ it into cement for more permanent buildings. Some are digging pits for the better preservation of stores. Still more are carrying out repairs to vehicles and weapons. Others are “ running in ” the new mechanised transport which has met them here from England. Towards “ tiffin ” time you see files coming oyer the hills returning from machine-gun and rifle practice. All work most cheerfully. As their officers impress on you, the sepoy is the keenest of soldiers. He is never so happy as when he is doing a job, preferably a military job, and “ sentry go ” is a proud duty. Another thing which the officers stress is the remarkably quick way in which the sepoy has taken to mechanised vehicles and new weapons and devices. Many were driving mule carts but a short time ago. To-day they are able to handle some of the most delicate instruments.

While I was in one of the messes a young Sikh who had come comparatively recently to his unit from tending his father’s herds was repairing a radio set with a deftness and an assuredness which were amazing. Later I watched with interest and admiration another just as young manipulating a field wireless station. , , The Indian soldier’s day is a long one. Up with the dawn; hard work throughout the morning; volley-ball, football, < r hockey in the afternoon either among themselves or at Gezira against British or Egyptian teams, who find them sturdy and skilful opponents; then early to bed, after some - card games, sometimes a sing-song, or a few stories in the telling of which they are adept. They will soon have a cinema to help pass the winter evenings. VISITS TO CAIRO. Their great pleasure ie to be allowed to go into Cairo. The European shops interest them deeply. They were delighted when they saw the familiar names over the stores of the Indian dealers. But it is the Musky (bazaar region) which is the great attraction. They are thoroughly at home there. A familiar scene nowadays is half-a-dozen beturbaned Sikhs or P.unjabis, in grey shirts and khaki shorts, standing watching the electric trams or wanderurn single file in and out of the streets; followed by a crowd of admiring town “ wallahs.” . They have no commm language beyond some words in Urdu which are similar in Arabic. But from the mutual smiles and pats on the back it is evident that Indians and Egyptians get on very well together. Incidentally the Egyptians have been much struck with the Sikhs, their fine physique and their beards, particularly the curious way gome of them are Many make a point of bringing hack from their first venture into Cairo a tooth brush—apparently quite a new departure. Hitherto they have, been content with “ tooth sticks,” which were never used twice. They traditionally evinced a strong aversion to a tooth brush because of the ‘‘ dirty habit of using it more than once.” But now th:.t they cannot get their “ sticks ” from the wayside trees they are becoming reconciled to the brush. They like the cafes, and their behaviour when in town is most exemplary. But all complain that the “anna” goes nowhere near as far_ in Egypt as in India; Its purchasing power is, in fact, less than half. When you spend, as I have done, two or three days in the midst of such a force you are able to obtain a very fair idea of the temper and character of the men. Discipline is remarkable. Their respect for and obedience to their

officers, the senior of whom aro all British, ,is a pleasure to watch. Their industry as well as their smart appearance, even when, they come back from a three-hour tramp across the sand ridges, are astonishing. And they get on exceedingly well with the men of the British units with which they are brigaded. , , Withal it is a happy band of men that is encamped out here, training for an enemy of whose identity they hare yet no knowledge. They would be still happier could they enjoy some of the Indian “ comforts ” to which they are accustomed and which they miss very much.