N.Z. WOUNDED SOLDIERS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXVII, Issue LXXVII, 3 August 1918, Page 4

N.Z. WOUNDED SOLDIERS.

EXCELLENT TREATMENT AT PANAMA CANAL TOWNS.

In view of the number of our men. who have come back on hospital ships through the Panama Canal, it will be. interesting to quote some extracts from, the Panama Star and Herald of May 17 showing the generous preparations made at Colon and other places to entertain them. The newspaper publishes requests for contributions of any kind md for help in the entertainment of the men. There is also a notice of th e formation of a strong men's committee •ormed in Colon to give the boys a. zeal royal time. The president of the committee was Don Ramon Vallarlno Governor of the town, and the general chairman Captain Fels, Captain of the Port of Cristobal.

"The committee" (says the Star) "is a permanent committee for the entertainment of invalid British soldiers on board the hospital ships expected to pa«s through the Canal Zone, and its sole purpose is to standardise the entertainment and reception of the invalid Allied soldiers. This committee will in no way interfere with the excellent work being performed for this cause by the ladies of Colon or Cristobal, but is an additional systematised effort on the part of the men of the city.

The soldiers Mill come ashore to-day about on o'clock, and will be taken to the Gilbert House, where tea, cake and ice cream will be served them, the orchestra from Coco Solo and Fort Sherman providing music for dancing. After this- they will be taken around the city in automobiles, of which a number have been promised. Gerald Bliss, the chairman of this committee, is looking after the government autos and trucks, and Captain Scott Wood islooking after the service autos, while A. Ennis and Frank Scott are findingthe cars from the civilians." The committee was most thoroughly organised, and bad sub-committees" for finance, entertainment, transportation (water, rail, automobiles and air) patrol guard and reception. Altol gether it is quite plain that the kindly people of the Canal towns set themselves right out to treat ourljoy-s in if- ibe' st possible Avay, a procedure which gives the greatest satisfaction toAew Zealanders. We are indebted to I nvate Roy Johnson for a nerusal of the paper named.