Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1921.djvu/317

 DEFENCE 265

were made, and the Unified debt thus increased to 60,958, 2401. ; certain unconsolidated liabilities were added to the Preference debt, which thus rose to 22,743,800Z. ; and the Daira Sania debt was increased to 9,512,900J., the interest being reduced to 4 per cent. In 1885 and subsequent years further loans and conversions were entered into.

The Daira Sania and the Domains loans were paid off on October 15, 1905, and June 1, 1913, respectively. The amount and the charge of the various debts in April, 1920, were as follows : —

_ Debt Charge

£ £E

Guaranteed Loan, 3 per cent 6,093,400 307.1-'5

Privileged Debt. 3J per cent 31,127,7S0 1,062,235

Unified Debt, 4 per cent. ..... 55,971,900 2,1S2,906

Total 93,195.140 3,552,5«6

On April 1, 1920, the debt stood at £stg.93,198,140, inclusive of the amount of £stn.6,466,860 held by the Government and the Caisse de la' Dette Publiquer In 1919-20 the debt was reduced by £190,500.

The charges on account of debts of all kinds (including tribute), as shown in the estimates for 1920-21, amount to £E4, 612,372.

In 1888 and 1390, reserve funds were established, the balances of which, in virtue of the Anglo-French Convention of April 4, 1904, were placed at the disposal of the Egyptian Government in 1905, less certain sums remaining in the hands of the Caisse de la Dette Publique for the service of the debt. The amount received by the Egyptian Government was carried to a General Reserve Fund. In this Fund on April 1, 1920, there was a balance of £E17,117,866, including £E1,541,031 realised from the minting of new coinage.

Defence.

Egyptian Army.

On September 19, 1882, the existing Egyptian army was disbanded. The organisation of a new army was entrusted to a British general officer, who was given the title of Sirdar. Service is compulsory, but, owing to the small contingent required, only a fraction (4 per cent.) of the men who are liable actually serve. Service is for three years. In the Sudanese battalions service is voluntary and extended. The army consists of 5 squadrons of cavalry, a camel corps, 5 batteries, 18 battalions of infantry (of which 6 are Sudanese and 1 is a special "Equatorial" battalion), a railway battalion, and various departments. Most of the higher posts are held by British officers. The strength of the army is about 17,000.

Army of Occupation.

Before the outbreak of war in August, 1914, the British garrison, or army of occupation, consisted of a cavalry regiment, a horse artillery battery, a mountain battery, a company of engineers, and 4 battalions (one company in Cyprus) stationed in the Nile Delta, and of a battalion of infantry and detachment of garrison artillery stationed in the Anglo- Egyptian Sudan. The establishment, including departmental services, was 6,067 of all ranks.

In 1920 the British garrison consisted of 1 regiment of cavalry, 1 battery R.H.A., 7 battalions of infantry, with detachments of engineers and garrison artillery, making a total of 11,605. In addition there were Indian troops to