The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-03-12
PORT SAID CONVERTED.
Once a Sinful City, 1t Is Now Called a
Model.

Port Said, Egypt, March l2.--Wher
the war broke out Port Said held the
reputation, as indeed it had held from
time immemorial, of being the wickedest
city from moral standpoint of any
place on the face of the globe, Into this
port the fotsam and jetsam OF the under
world drifted from all parts OF the uni
verse Here every type OF vice imagin-
able was represented. But to-day, after
! 80 months of military rule, the sink
hole of the East" is well nigh model
city, the iron hand of the army having
cleaned it up as no other power could
have done. Something of the transfer
nation which has been wrought was told
to correspondent of the Associated
Press who has been touring the East.
When the military first took hold OF
affairs in Port Said gambling, drinking
and vice OF all sorts was rampant. Let
tiers which were intercepted by the censor
showed that traffic in women was thriv-
ing.
Now most OF this has been stopped,
military law enabling the authorities to
deal with situations over which the civil
courts had no control That street of
international notoriety, Rue Babel, so
named because of the many languages
spoken by its inhabitants, has ceased to
thrive as the leader in the worlds I'M
guilty. Many of its vice leaders have
been sent away from the country, certain
forms of vice which could not be elm
mated have been restricted, and one can
walk the streets without being beset by
the denizens of the under world. Even
drinking has been limited and it is i'm
possible now to procure Intoxicating liq-
uors excepting between the hours OF !
and in the afternoon and and 9 in the
evening.
The cleaning up has been largely in the
hands of Lieut.. Col. p. G. Elgood, acting
under instructions from the commander
in chief, Gen. Sir Archibald Murray.
Flogging is one of the most effective
used TO meet the situation
in Port Said, and it is no nursery chas-
tisement that is meted out by the mill
tafy authorities What less vigorous
punishment would the average father,
mother, brother or sister of the world
suggest, asks Col. Elgood
As result Of the measures instituted
crime has decreased 80 per cent and dis
ease has dropped at least 40 per cent, ar.
cording to the latest figures available.
One of the most effective regulations put
into force has been that relating to drink. |
BY virtually eliminating drunkenness A
great stride was made toward the sup.
preston of crime and vice, much of which |
was the direct result of intoxieation |
here was time carly in the war when |
he authorities hesitated to let soldier
AXE their leave in Port Said, as much |
a ou5,e resulted. Now, however. hun
lrcds OF Tommies are about the city ON |
holiday all the time and are giving the
officials no cause fer worry.
One of the striking changes is in the |
lighting of the city, which is now in to
al darkness at night. The restrictions
n lighting were put into effect because
II the submarine menace, the lights o.
he port having furnished bea son for
be under water boats, but the lack OF
ights has greatly assisted in the sup
,ression of vice as comparatively few
'eople venture out into the dalkened
treets
Other cities in Egypt have been cleaned
p in the same manner az Port Said--one
+ the good results of the war, so far as
his country is concerned.