South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-07-28
EGYPT PROSPERS
IN SPITE OF WAR
Natives Sell Supplies to Brit
iSh Army and All Are
Benefited.


true. The scourge Of wal has never
touched "A country SO lightly. and
here in Egypt YOU have the paradox
or an enemy actually inside the
frontier--in a barren desolate dis
trict il may be. but still within the
geographical boundary-and yet the
people are not only untaxed for war
but are reaping the profits accruing
frcs1 the presence of a large army
defending them
The profits arise from "A growth
Of the agricultural industry due 90
the demands of the British army.
and the development Is on such
sound lines that il must be Of last
ing good 10 the community.
The British army is practically
living on the country From the
point OF economy alone that lis an
extremely satisfactory state OF
things for not only does it mean an
immense saving in tonnage. but The
army lives cheaper than would be
possible IL IL had 90 be fed from
overseas by the British taxpayer. tt
is a big advantage 20 the local pro-
ducer. who receives sum for his
goods according 10 tariff fixed by
the government. which i'm almost
every case is above the normal rates
ruling in times OF peace.
In Egypt today there is not a
man out of employment who is will
ing and able 10 work. Surplus
labor finds ready employment at
high rates.
Less Cotton.
Last year. when cotton promised
TO be low in price, the government
restricted the area Of cotton lands.
and instead of 1.75O.OO acres being
under cotton, IL was only 100000.
rice being grown ON a good deal of
the land thus rendered available.
This year when there is a pros
pect OF better prices. the area under
cotton has been increased 10 $780,
600 acres. but the land given over 20
the production Of fOodstuffs for the
army is increased in other ways. and
is fully sufficient
In one respect Egypt has been a
loser There is now no winter
tourist traffic. But the place of the
traveller is taken by the large num-
bers OF officers who spend their
leave in Cairo or Alexandria, and
the vendors of costly curios find
them fairly good customers. Also
the new military season lasts all the
year round, while the tourist season
al best was a matter Of two or three
months.
Torrid heat and the discomforts
OF desert storms Ina the Suez canal
zone may be troublesome but per-
sOnal inconvenience is not taken in
20 account when the British SIM
pire's work has 20 be done The
task completed yesterday leads up
20 a new task today, and from day
break to dark the good work goes
on. Defense preparations. which
long ago seemed complete and
wholly adequate 10 protect the link
connecting the seas of east and
west. proceed increasingly.
Stand Heat Wen.
I'm a temperature which at hcme
would render men limp and inact-
i've, forces of mo- mean size thrust
their way forward and occupy posi-
tons which might prove valuable
TO an enterpusing enemy. Strong
patrols go out for several days at
time 10 sweep the country Of any
foe while the flying corps wakes TO
make daily reconnaissance for signs
~ enemy movements and very fire.
quently they bomb and damage
works which have taken the Turks
many months % labor 20 prepare.
a thermometer. which is perma-
Ftr
any breath OF wind would reach il.
has shown Us that on IA days out Of
the last days the temperature has
exceeded 100 degrees. on one day
the official reading was 1I7 de-
Erees. and ON several other days
more than 10 degrees were regis
tered
out there in the east. where The
pink hammocks dance under the
piuless RAYS OF sun never screened
by the smallest cloud the heat is
much greater To is there that some
Of the hardest work Is beins accom-
plished. New plans are constantly
prepared la complete and strength
an the old works, but the latter re-
quire frequent attention. and when
a belated kamseen blows and fills in
trenches with sand that Is driven
on the troops in hot clouds the dig
gng and redistribution OF the stun
means labor without end.
There are changes i'm the troops
occupying the front line. SO that all
may get an experience Of desert
warfare and be prepared for what
ever fate has IN store for them. but
the trials are always faced with
cheerfulness. and an Egyptian sum-
mer ir places where the eve is not
refreshed by the shadow and green
Of one solitary palm has no terrors
fOT a British Tommy.
He is blistered and tanned but
happy. The spirit of the troops may
be gagged by a remark made 20 me
by a young British officer, who
pleaded that there was at least one
compensation for the kamseen
The hot wind" he said. may
dry your lips and parch YOUR throat
al the same time as YOU perspire al
every pore. but the flies do not like
it,"
Flies and the heat have put medic
al and sanitary arrangements TO the
Tnnr. rrr.. $1,000.