TROOPERS AND PNEUMONIA.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2357, 13 January 1915, Page 3

TROOPERS AND PNEUMONIA.

Sir—lt' would bo interesting to know why so many deaths have been caused among the Exaeditiocary Forces by pneumonia. Is it truo, as alleged by some of the men, that they are compelled to carry out drilling" exercises, etc., for hours at a time in all Borts of woather lying and kneeling on wet ground, which nas been the cause of this illness? There is very little sense in killing off the men before getting them into the firing lino.—l am, etc. TOMMY ATKINS! Wellington, January 9. [Inquiries made by a Dominion representative yesterday go to show that it is not true that "many" deaths from pneumonia have occurred since the permanent camp at Trentham was established. In fact, there has not been one. Furthermore, the men aro not asked to drill in severe weather. When the weather is wet they receive instruction per medium of lectures in .the lecture hall. On the other tand. it is the opinion of more than one of the Imperial officers now in Now Zealand that too much attention is paid to the weather. In England! the Regulars even In peace times are used much more harshly than are the men who have been training here, for under no circumstances are any training operations in England postponed on account, of weather. Unfortunately it appears also to be true thta certain men contracted pneumonia and other illness, not on account of hardship tx> which' they were exposed in the camp, but by their own indiscretions..!