LOTTERY FOR LEAVE

Grey River Argus, 1 December 1944, Page 4

LOTTERY FOR LEAVE

BRITISH SOLDIERS WATCH NUMBERS DRAWN. I (Rec. 10.15). LONDON, November 30. | The British Army’s lottery for the [ greatest war-time, prize—a month’s leave —began at Cairo in the glare of ■ floodlight? before a large assembly of soldiers of all ranks, their faces tense with the hope of a long-delayed trip home. The Daily Mail’s Cairo correspondent says: No Irish Sweep could have whipped up such excitement as, with movie camera? whirring, five A.T.S. “Lottery Lovelies’ picked out the numbers which, will shape the lives of thousands of servicemen in the coming months. Inside a revolving, drum/ specially made by Royal Engineers, were the military number? of servicemen and women eligible for- the first contingent of one thousand to go home. The Commander-in-Chief in the M'ddM East (Sir Bernard Paget), who presided, said that the draw did not end the problem. “Too many of you have been here too long, and should be posted home immediately,” he said. “But to relieve men with three vears’ overseas service would need 15.000 replacement? in 1944 and 170-000 in 1945. But these men are needed at the front and there Js at present no other way to solve the problem.” The correspondent says that it will take about three, days before the winners are told, because they are scattered all over the Middle' East. The firot contingent should leave before Christmas. • .