In Comp in Egypt.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 1 April 1915, Page 4

In Comp in Egypt.

The following account o7 a visit t>aitl xj the soldiers' camp at Zeitoun Egypt appears in the Egyptian Gazette on February 10th: In the distance light after light shines forth, two great lights domineering all. With these two lights as a land-mark we set out on a long walk across the desert; great unfathomable darkness all round us with starry sky above us, our two guiding lights ahead. A NIGHT SCENE. At the end of twenty minutes mysterious shap.es loomed up in the dark, life throbbed on all sides and shadowy forms were all around us. AVe struck a hard road and continued 011 it to our goal. A passing motor revealed the details of camp-equipment, stabling and roads leading to various sections. On our left tents and further back largo brilliantly lit huts, or are they converted aeroplane-slieds? Music issues from various tents. The owners of booths to the right are having a busy time, shaving, ironing, soling, mend-ing-'ajd what not. Not far from our guiding lights is a great; mat tent bearing the familiar ensign, "Y. M. C. A." Music issues forth. A khaki-clad ■figure sits at the piano gaily calling forth melody, men are writing, reading singing, whistling, : perfectly at home and 'happy There is to be a lecture on countries under Turkish rule. The men flock in and soon fill every corner of the great spacious hall. There are men from the Queensland Light Horse, with emu plumes in hat, just transferred from Meadi and Hi ere are units belonging to the new Australian Contingent just .arrived; men in great coats, sweaters, broad-brimmed hats, fieldcaps and sleeping caps; strong steady, resolute men, men whom we feel to he prepared to face difficulties, dangers and death. The lecturer, a refugee from Syria, had a very thrilling story to tell of Turkish misrule, oppression and massacres arid of all that he and many 'others had to suffer since this outbreak of the present hostilities. With rapt attention all those hundreds of men followed the lecturer and, at the end they, asked a great many questions. The singing of the National Anthem and three hearty cheers preceded the dispersal of the gathering. 'I lie lecturer being still besieged by men anxious for information, afforded us an opportunity for gathering vol further information, such as that they sell in tills Tent ten pounds' worth of stamps in half a day. that two hundred thou: »:;<1 letters are written in Uu: various Y. M. C. A. Tents in Camp ete. ! 'With a heart.v "good night" following on a cordial invitation to cmne imam we turned homewards passing through the lit up lines and then Into the pitch darkness beyond out of whic'.i . loomed bicycle lamps and other lights. | The tram-car is in sight-, the 'onj leave" men pass us 011 their way to j camp; with tliein our thoughts go back I to the white tents, the big gatheringplaces and the camp-life of which they lorjn but a part: of their ready willingness to help to protect the homeland and of their cheery making the best of present conditions.