IN EGYPT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23595, 2 March 1940, Page 13

IN EGYPT

FIRST ECHELON SCENES AT SUEZ I ; bearing impresses VISIT OF MR. EDEN [herald PrF.CIAL correspondent] 'h CAIRO, Feb. 1,1 The brief official announcement regarding the "excellent health and fine spirits" of the men of the first echelon of the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force on their arrival at Suez scarcely does justice to the occasion. The fine physique and bearing of tlio liominion soldiers had become legendarv in this part of the world since tlio last conflict 25 years ago and it is sufficient to say that memories suffered no disappointment. The newcomers appeared to bo ol' the same high standard and tho commander's claim that they would uphold the tradition of their predecessors was evidently no idle boast. / Although the troops had passed through tropical heat,, when sports and training still continued, there were no eerious outbreaks of illness among the men on the voyage. Except that iponic were still feeling the effects of innoculation, all were in the best of lie ilth.

Camp Ideally Situated February in Fgvpt is springtime ami one of tho most pleasant months of the year. It dpes not begin to be really warm until May. At present shade temperatures range from a maximum of 75 degrees Fahrenheit to a minimum of 50 degrees. ] <ocal residents were therefore rather surprised to hear the New Zealanders remark on how warm it was in the brilliant sunshine of early morning. Onee ashore and in camp, Which is ideally situated, they will doubtless find it much cooler. Press representatives who boarded the transports a little in advance of the Secretary of State for the Dominions, Mr. Anthony Eden, learned from the officers and men that they had had a wonderful trip, with the sea like a millpond, except possibly for one day. and warm .appreciation was expressed of the security afforded by the Royal /Navv and the attention to their comfort given by those on board. Old soldiers remarked with a twinkle in their eye, however, that they had experienced more Spartan condition's in ,1914. Then they had slept in hammocks if they were lucky, or on deck; whereas to-day it was a case of cle luxe accommodation.

Old Soldiers Interviewed These old soldiers attracted much h attention, and Egyptian journalists v:ere surprised to find that some, even after nearly a, quarter of a century, had not forgotten a certain amount of Arabic and French and were eager to see just how much Cairo had changed. But underneath their eagerness to i revisit scenes pf bygone days one sensed a feeling that they at least had changed. There was hardly the same spirit of adventure and bellicosity. These old soldiers had no illusions about modern warfare. One of them summed up the feeling of the vast majority when he said that he was not particularly anxious to leave his wife and family and the peaceful life of the farm, "but times had demanded it." Life was i>ot worth living with the perpetual nightmare of Hitlerism at large and the uncertainty as to who would be the next victim. Now Zealanders had, with their democratic government, beep pacific at heart, like the rest of the British Empire, but to-day they had a patriotic duty to perform and they would "see the issue through. One thing in particular that impressed those who met this first contingent. was the enthusiasm and spirit of democratic comradeship among officers and men. It was a matter for astonishment, for instance, to discover a veteran of th:i last war still only a private. In reply to a remark that one would have expected to have found him at least a sergeant to-day, he declared that he had declined stripes because he preferred "to be with the boys."

Pound Notes Autographed Mr. Eden's visit was a great success. As he approached the ship, lying at anchor, with the British Ambassador to Egypt, Sir Miles Lanvpson, the Egyptian Military Governor of the Canal, the Commander-in-Chief of the British forces in the Middle East.

General Sir Archibald Wavell, and other senior officers, there was full- ' throated, cheering, which was echoed again as he stepped on to the gangway. Major-General B. C. Freyberg, V.C., welcomed Mr. Eden on board and introduced him to the officers and nurses, before proceeding to the after deck, where the men had assembled. Deck space was somewhat limited and men climbed the rigging or Kecured similar vantage points. The British Ambassador read the Royal message of welcome, after which Mr. Eden spoke on behalf of the British r Government. General Wavell recalled his earlier associations with the New Zealand forces, and Major-Gencral Freyberg replied. When the'ceremony had terminated with three hearty cheers for the King. Mr. Eden discovered that he had hall an hour to spare. Whereupon he ' chatted with the men, posed for snapshots and signed autographs. The majority had not been prepared for this informality and there was a sudden rush to produce paper and pencil. Paybooks were the most popular, but eonie even presented New Zealand pound notes and bar chits. Disembarkation and Entraining

The disembarkation into lighters which followed was another colourful scene. Many were sorry to be leaving the ship, where they had been made so comfortable.' A New Zealand piper enlivened proceedings with a number of popular airs to shouts of "Swing it. hoy." Finally the first lighters pulled away to the shore to the strains of "Auld Lang Svno" and "For They are Jolly Good Fellows" for the benefit of the crew. Owing to war restrictions few people had gathered on the quayside, where the entrni 11 ing * proceeded to the accompaniment of music supplied by a wellknown British Regiment. Later the men were piped into' camp by a Scottish regimental band.

PARCELS FOR SOLDIERS EXCLUSION OF CIGARETTES [llY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON. Friday A request to the public not to include cigarettes or tobacco in any form in parcels sent .to members of the .New Zealand Expeditionary Force in Egypt, was made this evening by the Post-master-General and Minister ot Defence, the Hon. F. Jones. The Minister said he regretted tjie need for placing any restriction on the contents of pa reels for our soldiers, but the restriction was necessary in the interests of the soldiers _ themselves, who, according to advice just received from Major-General Freyberg in Egypt, were required to pay high rates ot duoy 'On cigarettes and tobacco, even when included in post parcels.