Prisoners’ Aid.—­The only plea which has been addressed to us by means of the Ottoman interpreter, who speaks French and English extremely well, comes from a certain number of destitute prisoners.  They wish to have, in addition to the complete outfit with woollen overcoat supplied by the English Government, a change of warm garments, which they have not the means to buy.  Many find it difficult to wear the kind of foot-gear in ordinary use—­the heelless leather Turkish slippers—­and wish for laced shoes such as they wear at home.  We asked the interpreter to make out a list of names of the needy; and after submitting it to the commandant of the camps for verification, we decided to send him from the Ottoman Red Cross Fund the sum of 2,000 francs, to provide these prisoners with the extra garments which they require, and with shoes and tobacco.

7.  Sidi Bishr Camp.

(Visited on January 6, 1917.)

The camp of Sidi Bishr is situated 15 kilometres (9-1/2 miles) to the north-east of Alexandria in a healthy spot on the sea shore, where the sand dunes form little hillocks intersected by miniature valleys.  Palms are scattered over it, and it lies open to the fresh breezes.  The view from the highest points of the camp is very extensive.  A recently constructed road for vehicular traffic leads into the camp, all the appointments of which give the impression that everything has been done to make the prisoners as comfortable as possible.  A kitchen garden has just been laid out in a sheltered place, and a flat piece of ground surrounded by palm trees prepared for games, tennis, football, etc.

Strength.—­The camp at Sidi Bishr contains 430 officers, 60 of whom have been here since February, 1915; 410 orderlies captured with their officers, on whom they attend, each officer having 1 orderly; 10 imaums (priests); 20 civilians, who were captured by the Sherif of Mecca and at once handed over to the English.

The commandant of the camp is Lieut.-Colonel Coates.

The American charge d’affaires in Egypt has twice visited the camp.

Accommodation.—­The equipment of the camp at Sidi Bishr not having been entirely completed before our visit we found some of the buildings still in course of erection.  But the officers’ quarters were ready, and lacked nothing except some furniture, which was daily expected.  The barracks, 25 metres (81 feet) long and 8 metres (20 feet) wide, consisted of a solid wooden framework, with partitions either of timber or cement, constructed in the camp by native workmen.  A corridor about 1 metre 75 (6 feet) wide runs all along the front of the building, and gives access to the chambers.  These measure about 3 metres 50 (14 feet) by 4 metres (17 feet), and 4 metres (17 feet) from the wooden floor to the ceiling.  All the interior walls are lime-washed.  Each room has two windows, glazed and also covered with wire gauze to exclude insects, and a latched door.  Chimneys rise above the roof, which is of timber covered with tarred felt.