MESSINES BATTLE

Grey River Argus, 1 September 1917, Page 3

MESSINES BATTLE

HOW THE WOTJJKTDED WEBB CARED FOR. SPLENDID ORGANISATION AND 1 UNWEARYING EFFORT. (Frof Malcolm Ross, Correspondent with the N. Z. Forces at the Front.) For days' before the battle of Messines our medical services were busy with arrangements' for the prompt treatment and evacuation of the wounded. One watched the preparations with interest, and wondered if they ould be completed in time. All ■concerned worked with tireless energy. "When the morning of the battle dawned everything wa_ ready. The A.D.M.S. of the New Zealand Division was made responsible not only for the evacuation of- the wounded from his own division, but also for the evacuation of the wounded from * another division after the latter had established itself beyond Messines. The .plan of the operation made. this advisable. I should like to be able to write ef the work of this department in detail, but it is not advisable to do so, as it would mean making public information, that would be of value, to the enemy. I must therefore confine myself to generalities. k In fairness, it should, however, be stated that the personnel o£ the division. linked • with _s~be__me avaflabla — — to the A.D.M.S. ef the New Zealand Division as soon as they began their advance across a forward line of German trenches. In. the very early dawn, looking over the parapet of the trench from which with another war correspondent I watched the battle, we saw the* first wounded — walking cases^-comingback across the open. From that hour onward the evacuations proceeded steadily, and there was at no time any accumulation on the field, at the aid posts, or . at the dressing stations. Wounded Germans were taken in and treated just as were our own men. • One of the most surprising things in the battle was the sight of our motor ambulance cars Tunning up to the original regimental aid posts six hours after the first' shot in' the battle proper had been fired. This great success was attributable no doubt to the clock work regularity and rapidity of the advance, and the excellent work of the road-menders. Owing largely to the precautions taken, and the; fact that the Germans were so decisively beaten the casualties in the New Zealand Medical Corps were remarkably light. , We lost no doctors, and only one other rank was killed. Twelve men were wounded, and ten . other men more IkjhtlyWJ'Ounded remained on duty. work was done in keeping *_p communications. One telephone line was several times broken by shell fire but it was always promptly repaired. Despatch riders on motor cycles were of considerable assistance. One of the builings of an advanced dressing station was hit by an enemy shell, which set fire to the roof, with the result that it ' was burt down. Some of the areas occupied by advanced dressing stations were often bombarded with gas shells, but the work went on in spite of this, the doctors at one station- working with their noses plugged up with cotton wool, whila the mouth-pieces of their gas helmets \jere kept in the mouth so that they could breathe in saf ety. It- was not easy to work with the mask and goggles on, so this; alternative method was adopted. At different points drinks and light refreshments were provided for the ' wounded walking cases, the YrM.C.A, as usual doing excellent work in this I direction. „