PROCEEDINGS OF A COURT OF INQUIRY ASSEMBLED AT SOLDIER'S CLUB ESBEKIEH GARDENS, CAIRO, ON 3rd DAY OF AUGUST, 1915, at 10 a.m.

BY ORDER OF THE G.O.C. IN C. EGYPT, FOR THE PURPOSE OF REPORTING UPON THE DISTURBANCES IN CAIRO ON THE NIGHT OF 1st JULY, 1915.

President :

Members :

In attendance :

Colonel R. Linton, Comdg. 6th Inf. Bde. A.I.F.

Lieut. Col. E.E. Mackesy, Comdg. N.Z.M.R. Bde. Details

Captain Y.M. Spencer-Smith, Asst. Provost Marshal

The Court having assembled pursuant to order, proceed to take evidence which is marked "A" attached to the Proceedings.

The court having carefully considered the evidence brought before them, submit their report :

2. The origin of the disturbance appears to have started in a Brothel in No. 9 Maidan Kantaira el Dikka - at about 7.30 p.m. on 31st July, 1915.

3. The cause of the trouble was a row between four to nine Australian soldiers and prostitutes - the reason for this on one side, robbery of the soldiers by women, on the other side refusal to pay the women.

4. After the altercation a number of soldiers came out into the street  and whatever was said to the crowd gathering outside, it seemed to inflame them to aggressive measures.

5. Soldiers in the crowd began by throwing missiles such as sticks and metal at windows which were broken and then followed articles of furniture which were thrown from the windows into the street, collected into a pile and set fire to.

6. The crowd appeared to be divided, the more unruly numbering anything up to 100 - the other portion being mere onlookers.

7. The Picquet here appeared on the scene but was not of sufficient strength to deal with the crowd which now became more aggressive - and fire seemed to have started in No. 9 and adjacent houses. Looting of other houses and shops commenced at this time.

8. The Fire Engine arrived on the scene at about 8.40 p.m. but was prevented from carrying on its work by sympathisers with the rowdy element who broke the lamps and tried to damage the engine, and otherwise incapacitated its working; it retired but was shortly brought up again. The same opposition was met with, and when the hose pipes were laid out they were cut and stabbed and the engine was forced to retire to its station. Four houses were now burning fiercely.

9. At about 9 p.m. a great many Officers began to arrive on the scene and the more soberminded members of the crowd had begun to realise the seriousness of the position and what it involved, viz. heavy destruction of property and possible loss of life.

10. Steps were taken successfully, in several places simultaneously, to get some control over the active portion of the rioters.

11. Officers organised parties of volunteers to protect the fire engine (which returned about 9.30 p.m.) and hosepipes, and to prevent the looting which had taken place and also to check further lighting and growth of fires along the street.

12. From this time onwards, it was a question of how long it would take the firemen to overcome the flames, and things appeared to be in hand.

13. The Picquets both ordinary and spêcial were now quite able to discharge their duties satisfactorily.

14. Inlying Picquets of the Yeomanry also formed cordons at intervals along the street. About 11 p.m. the Yeomanry Picquets were withdrawn. The streets were then cleared and men were posted on the damaged and looted houses in the street - which was closed to the general public.

15. The Picquets under circumstances of great difficulty discharged their duties satisfactorily.

16. Every assistance was rendered by the Civil Police in dealing with the Civil portion of the crowd.

17. When called upon, the Fire Brigade acted with promptness and despatch.

1. That the originators of the disturbance were Australians.

2. The great weight of evidence shows that a very large number of the rioters were also Australians.

3. There may have been isolated cases of looting on the part of soldiers of other countries including the civilian population.

sgd.

JAMES SPENS 

Major General

President

Col.

Lieut.-Col.