Force  in  Egypt ;  and,  when  not  in  Egypt,  to  the
D.M.S.,  M.E.F.,  or  his  representative  on  the
L.  of  C,  with  power  of  reference  to  the  P.D.M.S.,
Surgeon- General  Babtie,  if  required.  This  expla-
nation is  necessary,  because  it  illustrates  our
perplexities  in  making  reports  at  this  time ;  and,
further,  it  caused  considerable  trouble  in  the
office  of  the  Command  Paymaster  as  to  the  scale
of  our  allowances.  In  my  case,  it  was  four  months
before    this    question    was    decided ;    finally,    it


DOWN   INTO   EGYPT  71

was  settled  thus.  I  was  asked  to  say  if  I
regarded  myself  as  belonging  to  M.E.F.  or  to  the
Force  in  Egypt.
I  replied,  "  Whichever  will  give  you  the  least
trouble ;  if  the  M.E.F.,  then  let  it  be  M.E.F."
And  it  was  so.
