d by now returned to duty) had
been emphatic in regard to the dress of the troops. As a consequence
company commanders were instructed to take especial pains to see that
their men were correctly "turned out." When the unit was assembled the
C.O. also inspected them and apparently found nothing to complain of.
However, when the distinguished visitor arrived at the front of the
28th, there, standing in the centre of the front rank, could be seen a
soldier wearing on his head nothing less than a yellow cap comforter.
After the parade was over the Divisional Commander said what he had to
say to the Colonel and, in accordance with the custom of the service,
the Colonel passed the good words on.

[Illustration: ON THE BATTLEFIELD OF TEL-EL-KEBIR,
January, 1916.
Captain Rowan-Hamilton, Lt.-Col. J. Walker, Brig.-General J. Paton,
Lt.-Cols. W. Dollman, G. A. Ferguson, and H. B. Collett.]

At Tel-el-Kebir camp visits were exchanged between the various W.A.
units. Members of the newly-arrived 32nd Battalion also called in on
their way to Cairo. Brig.-General, J. J. T. Hobbs, from the 1st
Division, found time to look in on his fellow-countrymen.

Leave to visit Cairo was now granted to a percentage of all ranks. As
the majority of the pay accounts were substantially in credit this
privilege was made use of freely, and a very pleasant and well-earned
holiday of two or three days' duration spent in the city. Some men could
not wait for their turn. They evaded the police for the time being, only
to return later on, perhaps under escort, and face "Orderly room." There
they usually pleaded guilty to the charge against them--convinced that
in this instance the game had been worth the candle.

For some months past many complaints had been made at the front, and in
Australia, in regard to the parcel post. Parcels intended for soldiers
or their relatives had failed to reach their destinations. Where the
leakage was occurring it was impossible to say. However, about the
beginning of 1916 a change and reorganisation took place in the Army
Postal Service and a tremendous improvement resulted. That this change
was not viewed altogether without apprehension may be gathered from the
remark attributed to some individual--"Everybody but the rightful owners
has now been supplied with woollen underclothing, socks, pipes, tobacco,
and cigarettes for the next twelve months, as well as with cigarette
holders and wristlet watches. Why should we again