OUR MEN IN FRANCE.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15700, 20 September 1916, Page 6

OUR MEN IN FRANCE.

| REPORT FROM MAJOR- | GENERAL RUSSELL. (SPECIAL TO '"THE PRBPS.") WELLINGTON, September 19. Tho -Minister of Defence has received a letter from General Godley, con-vej-ing a little news of our troops, chiefly in a report (enelcsedy from Major-Geue-ral Russell. General Godltj 1 tells cf the visit of the New Zealand Parliamentarians. These visitors, ho writes, appeared to enjoy themseives. Some of tnein went lorward into tiio trencnes, and were actuony snot- over a little. General Kusaeil 6tat<?s tnot- when the division went to i'lance, the imnntry, as part of their training, were put turougii a gas cloud, witn heluiets on, in oraer tnat they nugtit bo accustomea to gas attacks. They were also given experience of the elfect of tear-produc-ing elicit. •'By day,'' he writes, "our artillery is constantly active, shelling movements observed on the roads in the renr off the enemy lines, suspected enemy headquarters, communication trenches, and other tender spots; also in retaliating upon the enemy trenches for any shelling of our own trenches. By -nightour artillery activity continues. . Our infantry are engaged in constantly patrolling No Man'g Land between our trenches and the enemy's lines, the extent of which varies from 200 to 300 yards to 500 Of GOO yards in one or two* places. "The Ambulnnco Corps haVc had m.inv duties. their purely ambulance work, they have had to do all manner of sanitary duty. They have workeci n-? inspectors, roacl sweepers, destructor hands, and at tho divisional '•aths and laundries. They linve greatly assisted the civilian population by evacuating civilian sick and wounded of tho towns to the hospitft!« in tho rear, as directed by the French authorities. The sanitary section has taken over all sanitary municioal .services. prater supply, 'drainage," street cleaning, dehtructio n of refuse, evacuation of cases of infectious disease inspection of dairies and food ehons, disinfection -jf premises and clothing, and provision of hot baths. The section also supervises the wnshint of all the undernlothmc for th r division at the divisional "baths. Tho number of bothers fo»* th 6 month 0 f June was 56.48H, an average of 1300 per day. The number of garments washed was 229.191. "The division has h'nd good health, but- an enidetnif of German measly ftnu mumps has reduced the numbor of effectives. All disease*, of the Mediter* vnnean ftro «Aw "rnclieally non-existent oiir men.'' Tho casualties for May ard June were Other OBWfs. Killed ... 8 m Wounded ... 31 703 Mtesiflg ... 1 —