he 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.

According to regulation, the number of occup