NEW ZEALANDERS IN ENGLAND

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3052, 13 April 1917, Page 4

NEW ZEALANDERS IN ENGLAND

SCENES AT SLING CAMP A GOOD "GOING CONCERN" (From Malcolm Ross, War Correspondent with tho N.Z. Forces in the Field.) February 14. A /close examination, of the training and other institutions in connection with the .New Zealand Forces in England leads to the gratifying conclusion that'capable organisation and strenuous effort have done all that could reasonably be desired to put the training and' the. comfort of the forco on a thoroughly satisfactory footing. Owing to the exigencies of the situation, the various camps, hospitals, etc., are scattered over a rather wide area, and it takes some time to get round them, all from the Headquarters in London. My journeyings were done at a time when England was held in the grip of an iron frost and 'tho country was white with snow. It-was the severest winter that England had experienced for about twenty-live years, yet, notwithstanding the severity of the -weather, I found the men in excellent health and spirits, and the new men especially keen to get over to the firing-lino in France.

The main camps are on the Salisbury Plain, that at Sling being devoted to the further training of the Reinforcement drafts that have come regularly from the little islands so far across the seas. A day or two before my visit a Heinforcement had come in. I saw them marching through the camp, and one could not wish for a finer lot. They certainly looked the right stuff,, and I have not the least doubt that thoy will do the country that sent'them great credit in the next great "push" in the coming spring and summer." They were eleveu weeks on the way, having been detained by circumstances over which they lad no control. When they 'arrived in camp they found a hot meal awaiting them, there were fires in tho stoves in the huts, and blankets also were ready for them. It is inadvisable to give figures, but when I state that the camp is about the size of the Featherston Camp Now Zealanders will be able to form some idea of its size and numbers. In the Camp Commandant I found an officer well known in New Zealand politics and in Canterbury soldiering. There have, however, been several changes in the command, and there will probably be others still. One of the most recent commandants was a brigadier who had been on the staff in New Zealand, and who has been with the Slain Expeditionary Force since it sailed in 1914. H'c is now returning to his duties in France, and one of the other brigadiers is likely to take his. place.

_. A great improvement lias been made in the comfort, conveniences, and tidiness of the camp since the New Zealanders took charge of it. Tliero are even neatly dug plots in which sprint; bulbs and flowers have been planted, and it is the intention of those in authority to aid the food supply by planting several acres with potatoes. Since the New Zealanders went into camp in April last a great deal has been done in making it the model camp it now is. For this, an Otago officer who was with us on Gallipoli and was badly wounded there is in great measure responsible. During my visit the ground was frozen hard, and owing to the absence of mud tho camp was seen to best advantage, but it beprs the reputation of being one of tho cleanest and healthiest' camps in England, and the various' British Generals who liavo inspected it have expressed their satisfaction with the conditions that obtain.

War Training. Tho. system of training is arranged •on that of the base camp in France. Needless to say it is therefore both constant and strenuous, but the men seem to thrive on it, and look the picture of good health. They are also well dressed and smart in appearance. There is the usual "bull ring,"- with specialist instructors who_ have bad the oxperienco of actual watfaro in tudition to courses of special instruction. Amongst them are a number of English instructors. Bayonet exercises, tombing, wiring,- machine-gun instruction, and all the many things a modern soldier has to learn, continue from linin till night. _ Old stables, built fur. another division, and now no longar needed, have been converted into that the drilling can go on in comfort, even on wet days. The command from time to timo sends jfficers and ii.c.o.'s to Aldershot so that they can keep up with ilie training there. Evit occasionally the New Zealanders have been a little more up to date than their comrades in the Motherland. Tho mc-n. are quick to learn and keen oil their work. In the bayonet training there aro three or four Aldershot nion assist'"g. At the bombing school I found a i. aru ca P' a,n i" charge—a man whom I had frequently seen on Gallipoli.' Tho accidents have been very few. Several thousands of'men liavo been put through with only one serious accident, when Lieutenant Carey was killed in heroically saving the lives of several men.

Tho sanitary arrangements of tho camp are_ first class, and. tho percentage of sickness is very low indeed, there have been only three oases of meningitis m seven months, and two of these cases recovered. The iirst two occurred m the first month. The medical examination of the new arii•vals. is very thorough. A thousand men are put through in ono dav, and the unfit are rejected. A number of the reinforcements have failed to pass the _eyesight test, and have to be supplied with glasses to suit e..ch ci-ae. Ihero is a small hospital in which tho sick get every attention and 111.ce3s.1rv treatment. There are. uo\r three dental sections, and these have been round to bo very necessary. The kitchens are roomy and clean and well arranged. _ Tho cooks have a fairly strenuous time. They can supply soveral thousand men. There are smaller cookhouses for the 'officers' mrsses Liie men have their dinner at night W . They got fiozen beef, mostly from Australia and the Argentine. What mutton Uiev got is from New Zealand, are hot'end cold shower baths, which are oven better than the Featherston baths. There is a. . supply depot, .the supplies being drawn at frequent intervals from' London. The hie dining halls seat 450 men. I went through them when the men were nt dinner, and every man I spoke to was quite satisfied, not only with the quautity, but also with the quality of the food. The meat looked excellent.. J.here was plenty of vegetables, cheese, ! "'im thn lutter from Nelson. I ho host oMn|> J lmve over boon in " was the verdict of more than one ho l ' warrior.

The mon are well catered for in tlie way of amusements. Everywhere one meets the representatives of the Y.M.0.A., and hears of the splendid work they aro doing, not. only in England, but also at the front'.. At, Sling I had the pleasure of meeting Messrs! Varney, Jamieson, and Sraeaton, whom only a lew weeks before I had seen busy with the welfare of our men in France. Mr. Varney is shortly returning to New Zealand. At Sling, as elsewhere,. this splendid organisation has built recreation halls for the soldiers. There was n concert room, a, recreation room, an officers' toa room, andl billiard tables whioh were always in reauest by the men. Carpenters

and others were at work on another concert room to seat about eight hundred. A library was well stocked with books, and the English and New Zealand newspapers were iu evidence on the tables. In charge of the Y.M.O.A. was an English lad[v, the wife of an officer whoso husband was killed in the war. She has with her eight voluntary women workers who have their own cubicles in the camp. In an article written in August last I gave "details of the round our men make from England to the tiring line, back again to England sick or wounded. and thence through the hospitals and camps back to France again. In this round! the New Zealand Command Depot at Codt'ord, also on Salisbury Plain.- plays an important part. There is littfo to be added to what was then .statedj except to say that the round now goes on, if anything, more satisfactorily than it did in August. Tho gradual process of hardening up is scientifically carried on until the men are quite fit again. By that time most of them are rather keen, to get backto the front. As soon as they are able to march about ten miles a. day without undue fatigue, they go into a reserve group, where they get more training until they are fully, fit. From illis reserve group drafts are taken to fill up ganjs at the front. The present very satisfactory condition of the New Zealand administration in England is the result of a gradual process of evolution which has not been achieved without much thought and a great deal of hard work. In a. few months it has -improved out of all knowledge. It has been attained largely owing _ to the initiative and tireless organisation of a gunner, now a brigadier-general, whose very successful career will have been followed with interest by many 'of his old friendis in New Zealand. He has been loyally supported by an able and enthusiastic staff.