WATER IN EGYPT.

Camp News (Northern Command), Volume 1, Issue 25, 18 October 1940, Page 4

WATER IN EGYPT.

The humour of training to use as little water as possible is discussed by j an Auckland soldier serving in Egypt 1 with the Expeditionary Force. He writes in a letter that the men were being accustomed, to doing with the minimum amount, and the chief topic of conversation was how to make the water go the longest way. “There P are several systems in operation,” he states. “For example, if you feel you , would like to remain deliciously dirty f for a day and can do without the cus- , tomary shave and avoid the eagle eyes o of all lance-jacks, sergeants, and offiii cers, you fill your water bottle' and j then drink the rest of the liquid. Per- ; t sonally, I don’t agree with this method j and .so I fill my water bottle, take a small tobacco tin full for cleaning ii teeth, and afterwards shave. I fill U p /, the radiator of my truck. Soapy water ,i of course, is no good, as when the engine gets hot, bubbles issue forth L . from the radiator cap, and, besides, , the major doesn’t like it. What is left > of the water, approximately a quart, i is used for washing. Then, if there 1 is time, I proceed to wash some clothes.” The soldier also says he has met many English troops. Their definition of a New Zealander is one who wears a Boy Scout hat, a wristlet watch, and calls everyone an uncomplimentary name. However, he says, the Boy Scout hat has now given way to a topee. .