SOLDIERS' MAILS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 121, 22 May 1917, Page 4

SOLDIERS' MAILS.

A MOTHER'S COMPLAINT. A mother who lost one son at the front, and has another in the tishtingline. called at the "Auckland Star" OtnVe this laoniing, and. judging by her own experience, there is much to be desired in the matter of delivery of mails to men at the front. One son made the supreme sacrifice of his life for tiie Empire last September, and the mother has since had returned to her no leas than eight letters she had written, which he r boy ahould have received before that month. This explains the fact that she had several field cards from her son stating that no letters had come to hand from home. As the inothe? points out. if letters arc not .delivered at the front it gives the soldier the feelin" that ho is forgotten by his relative*". The mother wrote to the Hon. J. Allen (Minister for Defence), referring to her experience, as a rebuttal of that gentleman's recently published statement that letters for soldiers were regularly delivered. To this she has received the following reply: —

"1 wish to assure you that everything possible is being done to ensure the regular and prompt delivery of correspondence to our men. but" with the special circumstances existing at the front it is quite impossible to guarantee the delivery of every letter and parcel that may bo forwarded. The work of delivering meila to men at the front, is very hazardous, and in some instances mails, unfortunately, have been destroyed as the result of the enemy's gunfire." " fe

The letter adds that the Director of Army Postal Services, in a recent report notified that he had arranged for the address of each letter to be noted on its arrival in London, and any change due to operations at the front"is aleo registered, so that the letters may reach the men w.th.n a few days after" arrival in hnglnnd.