66
CAIRO TO DAMASCUS
at least early in the morning, followed by prayers in early afternoon, late afternoon, at sundown, and again an hour after sunset, in each instance accompanied by appropriate obeisances,
or rak'aa.
The pictures I took turned out well, and eventually I photographed nearly every Green Shirt of importance. As I walked
in and out of headquarters, almost daily, I was trusted more
and more. I discovered the Green Shirts had adequate finances
—from political leaders, sheikhs, and others. A wealthy Cairo
landowner had sponsored Hussein's trip to the United States.
The Green Shirts were largely financed by Jew-hating individuals and organizations formed to combat Zionism and the
formation of the new Jewish state. According to the April 19,
1948 issue of Misr el Fattat, former Prime Minister All Maher
Pasha, who was interned during the war for "reasons relating
to the safety and security of the State," contributed £200.
ST. PATRICK'S DAY WITH THE GREEN SHIRTS
A FEW days later, without explanation, Hussein said: "Be
sure you are with us tomorrow. Bring your camera."
Tomorrow was St. Patrick's Day and kismet had willed that
just that day I was to witness a Green Shirt parade through
Cairo's streets the like of which no Irishman ever dreamed.
Early the next afternoon we drove off in Hussein's Ford,
across one of the bridges spanning the languid Nile, to a large
open field. Youths in the Green Shirt "Boy Scout" uniforms
were already lined up with banners and trumpets, waiting for
their fuehrer. Two plainclothesmen who suddenly appeared at
my elbow began to glare at me. I appealed to Hussein.
"Do not worry, I will explain that you are our official photographer," he said. "They will be with you all afternoon." To
be sure I would have no trouble, he produced a green beret
carrying the Misr el Fattat insigne, and I wore it.