COL. HEATON RHODES

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15486, 13 January 1916, Page 6

COL. HEATON RHODES

AT GALLIPOLi; 1 THE-GIFTS TOR THE MEN. ■ The Editor of "The Press" taring written to Colonel Rhodes, bespeaking his good offices in connexion- with the Christmas Gifts sent by "The Press" readers with the kind co-operation of the Lady Liverpool Fund Committees, : received a reply by, yesterday's mail. In the course of his letter, which is dated Cairo, December 3rd,' Colon r Rhodes says:—. "Your'letter of the 29th September ia to hand. I have just returned frorii Gallipoli, where I' have had a most interesting time going, through moat" of the. trenches from. Suvla to our extreme right, and, in addition, I was ableto spare a day or two for Helles. . Tho reason for my delay .at tho fnpnt is that I waited the return of'our mbxr who had as been resting at Mudros, arid who were 1 expected at Anzac from . day to _ day. Eventually I was able to see our infantry in tho trenches, at what is known ; £ as the Apex, on the top of the Rhododendron Spur, and • the mounted men. busy preparing quarters on Bauchop's Hill. All were very much bettor for j their rest at Mudros. The weather was . mild and pleasant, but after we returned to Mudros we had three days of'bitr . terly cold wind. If that is any indication of what the men are likely to experi en ce during the winter monws, they will, I am sure, greatly appreciate the sheepskin waistcoats, some of which >; must have already- been despatched. . ; "On my return to Alexandria' I' found a number of copies of '"Tho Press,' ■ which I regret to say I have not yet had time to read. I was, therefore, :. not aware until I opened your letter that £1000 had been collected for • Christmas presents for the Canterbury men. - . . ... ,

"You will I© interested to know>|: there vrer& yesterday 1800 cases in tha •/.' Ordnance Store at Alexandria ing gifts for distribution to our iwgfe and as at least 900 of these would haw£- : to be opened and repacked yod understand that the • staff hands full. In addition to these &Kb£i: there arrived yesterday 450 cases of parcels to our Advanced Base Post ; Office, Alexandria. "Wo have deciacd i': to send a reliable officer to Ansae in charge of the ffift goods, and- have every hope that they will have a safe transit. "As regards the Post Office, we hare j now a larger and more experienced staff housed in a suitable, building i® '.v the centre of Alexandria, instead of in a shed at the docks. I trust, there-' ■; fore, that there will now he fewer complaints from the men about non-receipt of letters and parcels.?, ;;