CABLE CONCESSIONS

MESSAGES RELATING TO WOUNDED SOLDIERS. Tho Postal Department has issued tho following memorandum setting forth the telegraphic concessions made with regard to telegrams relating to wounded soldiers : — Three free telegrams of enquiry about any member of the Expeditionary Forces reported wounded, seriously wounded, or dangerously wounded, or those officially reported to be suffering from disease, may be sent if addressed to the Secretary of the General Post Office. The enquiry must be briefly worded, and must be confined to asking about the condition of the wounded or sick person. It must contain full information tor tlu identification of that person, including rank, name, regimental number, and name of unit; in the case of the Navy, the Christian name and surname of the person, his rank or rating, his official or divisional number, and the name cf the ship or establishment. All enquiries concerning persons at the seat of war in France, Belgium, or elsewhere are made through the High Commissioner. The foregoing does not refer to soldiers reported slightly wounded. Anyone may send a week-end message on the subject of a wounded soldier addressed to the soldier himself or to a private person, care of the High Commissioner, London. Week-end messages enquiring after the health of wounded soldiers or conveying sympathetic messages for them are free from the requirements of a minimum rate. The actual messages sent are charged for by the word as follows : — To Egypt 11 Ad per word To Malta 9d per word - To Great Britain 9d per word Week-end messages may be sent on any day in the week, but they are not sent forward from the cable stations until the Saturday of each week. No code words or abbreviations are allowed in connection with this class of messages. Persons who wish to avoid the delay incidental to the transmission of a weekend message may, of course, send a message at ordinary Tates, which are as follow : — To Egypt 3/9 per word To Malta 3/- per word To Great Britain .. 2/8 per word But it is essential that full information concerning the addressee be furnished — viz., the rank, name, regimental number, and name of unit, as shown in the sheets of specimen addresses, which are on exhibition at every post office. Messages about slightly wounded soldiers may be sent as week-end messages. They should be addressed to the soldier, care of the High Commissioner for New Zealand, London, care being taken to add regimental particulars to the address.