DEPARTING REINFORCEMENTS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 48, 20 November 1917, Page 4

DEPARTING REINFORCEMENTS

arrangements for next-of-kin,

When reinforcements are about to leave New Zealand it is the practice now to announce in camp orders that on ft certain day a special train wU leave Lambton Station, Wellington, for Trentham camp, at an hour fixed, and will return to the city later. This train will convey the next-of-kin of the departing soldiers to tho camp, and the issue _ot tickets at concession rates by the Hallway Department will be made only on the production by tho next-of-kin. of a letter or telegram from the soldier concerned. The camp order adds: Troops embarking are alone responsible that their next-of-kin are notified as to date and time of above special train. • TKe explicit instructions of the irn•nerial authorities make it impossible that tho date of departure of transports should be announced publicly. TTie Mew Zealand Government has found it neccssarv, for the safety of shipping, to exclude all but specially authorised persons from wharves. It is not possible, under these conditions, to arrange lot the next-of-kin to say farewell to their soldiers on tho wharves, or at the waterfront, on the actual day of departure. But the arrangement outlined in camp orders makes it possible for the next-oi-kin to spend several hours with the soldiers in camp 011 tho day preceding the date of-embarkation, providing that they are informed by tho soldiers of the time of departure of the special train and are able to reach Wellington in time to catch it The Defenco authorities cannot nx the dates of embarkation far in advance, but they 'Will try to ?ive several _days notice to the soldiers in nil cast*, in order that the next-of-kin may be informed by letter or telegram. /