RETURNING SOLDIERS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 91, 11 January 1919, Page 6

RETURNING SOLDIERS

WHFiN" THE N(VMES ARE AVAILABLE

Close, to the shores of-New Zealand, or to-be-on the --water' by February-10', are 10,500 New Zealand- soldiers • returning from England.;' There arc alSo three ships en route: from Egypt with New Zealanders,- - carrying - about; 1-100 men,- and" due about the end-of this month..

•' PuliHrjition.- of-t)tes'e l facts usually," results in the Base .Records' Departments ing deluged with-inqniries from the'relatives of soldiers;;as to whether'their-, particjilar ldnsmtm is/on board: one • of. the chips.- This-is :a vain awl fruitless task, disappointing to ,the'. relatives , and: also to a Department anxious to oblige Ihem witlr news,- - for ' the', information is -lot available until; a:.short time beforo tiio -•arrrral. of -the transport,- and immcdiatolv it comes- it is 'sent: out' to thfe'-'liexfcof-■'kiiii ' -It; is-talways possible -'to' : fntw.ird tlib. embarkation T-tateof A transport ahead of : the ship, -and the , itifn'rmation\'»r rives in - ample -time'- to; -enable ' to make arrangements'' for. the rtfe'enifon of their soldier- .friends.....But, • until " Base Iferords' receives? the - embarkation' State lit'is in lib better! position than the rela-'tives-'lo -say.-,whether,-particular aire on. any ship-..>r •."Fourteen - ' days;; .before -the. - 'prohtiblcvdate of the arrival; nf a" tran'.fiort ■a : notice- is ;seut to the soldier's' next-of-kin- -statins that ho will' arrive, wkhin . therioxt .-fortnight. '.TCeliitives :."should await'the -strrivaMf'this notification,- for earlier- inquiries -.will -produce l no result, ■b)li:-simply.- cause -congestion' of-'work in -a- busy Department,'-..-Finally," from'-ihe • first-, prert of -arrival of the-vessel a.'telecram is sent-to ■ the. next-of-kin Statins tlint -he-will -i;each- his home fcy.'a' parti-oul.ir-:traini .or -'if- immediate hospital treatment -ift jidviaable, : the*telesrani' it-ill . give the relaUves7:this:Aiflf6rmation, , \