COL. HEATON RHODES'S WORK.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16309, 5 September 1918, Page 3

COL. HEATON RHODES'S WORK.

-—■— A VISIT TO FRANCE. (TROil OUR OWN COBBESVONDENT.) LONDON, July 9. Colonel the Hon. It. Heaton Rhodes, M.P., has just boon on a short visit to France in company with Urig.-General G. S. Richardson. His tour was directed chiefly to investigating Red Cross matters i'or the bonetit of tho work of the New Zealand Rod Cross in London. Colonel Rhodes spoilt two nights at General Godley's headquarters, from which ho got a very goou view, of that sector of the front. Another two nights were spoilt at tho New Zealand Stationary Hospital as the guest of Lieut.-Colonel Newton, O.C. Tins hospital, although a unit of tho N.Z.E.F., is situated in such, a way that tor some time past the great bulk of the patients have been members or the British and American armies with a very small proportion of New Zealandors This, however, does not affoct in the least its efficiency in the prosecution of the war, ana Colonel Rhodes was Tery inucli impressed by the manner in which it is run,'and by the arrangements of the hospital itself. , From Wisquos, Colonel Rhodes went to Genoral Russell's headquarters. Two brigades wero at the time m the line, and although the sector was quiet from tho point of view of tho man who hab ! spent a long time at tho front, Colonel Rhodes saw a great deal of activity, m which, of courso, he was deeply interested. Incidentally, ho saw a fleet Of thß nowest type of tanks. Returning towards the Channel ports, Colonel Rhodes visited Arras. Amiens, Rouen. Abbeville, and Etaples. In this area there is generally a considerable number of New Zealand patients, and he was much exercised as to tho best means of furnishing them with Bed Cross comforts. Most of the work a present is dono through the padres, but a good deal is also dono by Mrs Northcoto (nee Miss Thorpe, of Canterbuiy;, whose husband is chaplain at Boulogne. Colonel Rhodes is v endeavouring, through the British Red r Cross, to obtain facilities for lier as fuL as possibleColonel Rhodes had intended if possible, to visit, on behalf of the New Zealand Government, the Hopital Ngo Zealandais, at Etosnbricres, near tho Swiss frontier, but the facilities foi netting there from the British fron were vcrv difficult to arrange, and ho hopes to Visit it on a subsequent occasion. This hospital is for the accommodation of French people repatriated from occupied territory through Go - many and Switzerland, and comprises three hundred beds. It is one of the objects of the France s Day collections in London this week.