COLONEL RHODES' MISSION.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 67, 18 March 1916, Page 6

COLONEL RHODES' MISSION.

WORK IN i EGYPT AND MALTA. SEW ZEALANDERS WELL OARED FOR. (From MALCOLM ROSS, Official War Correspondent with the N.Z. Forces.) On returning to Egypt from the war zone—where he was able to experience tlie thrill of Ttrrkieh high explosives dropping very near, as well as all the delighte and difficulties of transport in the Aegean—Colonel Rhodes proceeded to inspect the many line military hospitals, including the Now Zealand one, that have been established m and about Ciairo. Soon after hie arrival ho was interviewed by two members of Zealand VountcoTß Sisterhood, regarding the position of the twelve members who had arrived with the object of obtaining work in the hospitals or in other institutions in the interests of the eick and tfhc wounded. It may be stated at the outset that there are already more than sufficient trained nurses and women workers in Egypt, and that the authorities have found it necessary to put an embargo upon the further immigration of women for the time being. Many would-be voluntary women workers had already been stopped from leaving England, and the Sisterhood referred to had difficulty, on arrival, in finding any employment. Work was eventually found for two. who are qualified nurses, in the Egyptian Government Hospital at Cairo. A third ia employed giving cooking Icesone to soldiers, who will later serve as cooks in Che camp. Another sister obtained a position in the VVaWa Palace Hospital for convalescent soldiers at Helouan. near Cairo, and the remaining eight are employed in tin? refreshment rooms established by the V.M.C.A. for soldiers in the Ezbekieh Gardens, Cairo. These nKrais are becoming increasingly popular among soldiers from al! parts of the Empire, and are serving a moot ■useful purpose. Later, on receipt of a cablegram from two other members of the Sisterhood, then on their ■way to Kgypt, Colonel Rhodes interviewed the Cairo authorities in regard to a permit for them to land, and it is understood that permission has been granted. Colonel Rhodes has seen many officers and officials connected with the hospitals, convalescent home*, record offices, poet offices, etc.. and discussed with them matters concerning the welfare of the New Zealand troops. The director of Medical Services, who wae amom; those intenie-wed, said that 'he did not think there -would he further complaints about New Zealand patients having been kept in hospital for weeks after they had been "boarded"' for New Zealand, as it had been arranged that the Mahcno and the Marama were to run between Suez and Now Zealand, carrying New Zealand as well as Australian patients when space was available for the. latter. The Marama lias, under instructions from the War Office, been sent to London, but it ia understood that only one New Zealand officer and a few of our men are on board. At Malta Colonel Rhodes visited .4 hospitaU and convalescent camps, including one on the neighbouring island of ilozo. Some of the hospitals had accommodation for over 1000 patients. Certain grievances in regard to letters arid parcels were inquired into. In most cases, the men complaining had 'not been long in the hospitals and camps, and had failed tq, appreciate the extraordinary difficulties m the way of communication. Colonel Rhodes undertook, on his return to Egypt, to endeavour to facilitate the delivery of correspondence to our men at Malta. Concerning the suggestion that New Zealand should send a rted Cross representative to Malta, Col. Rhodes interviewed the representative of the Australian Red Cross Association, who told him that all he himself could do was to work in with the British Society, and that it would be useless for New Zealand to send a representative. New Zealand's representative on the island. a captain-chaplain, was doing excellent work, and all that was necessary: in fact, everything that a representative of the Red Cross Society would be permitted to do. An occasional visit to the island from a representative of the New Zealand Government would, however, be welcomed by the authorities.

The military prison on the island was visited by Col. Rhodes, who -was glad to find that this institution was seldom patronised by New Zealanders, the general conduct of our men oh the island being excellent.

Colonel Rhodes, who. with his secretary. Mr. W. Crow, has spared no pains to further the interests of our officers and men. hopes Rhortly to finish his ■work in Egypt. This week ho is making a final visit to Alexandria, whnre sic is again conferring with the officer in chargp of the New Zealand Records Office, with the paymaster, with thp officer m charge of the New Zealand Advanced Base Army Post Office. ancT others. That done, he will return to Cairo for a few days, and then again visit oiir men at the front in their new stations. A large home for convalescents having now been established at Luzor— about 300 miles up the Nile from Cairo—it w possible, if time permits, thnt Colonel Rhodes, before finally leaving Egypt, may also go there to visit New Zealanders in that home.

Generally speaking, the visit has borne good fruit, and in view of further possibilities and contingencies, it ■would perhaps be well if the New Zealand authorities could arrange for Colone.l Rhodes to continue the excellent work he is doing. Later on there may possibly be still greater need for his services.