NEW ZEALAND & THE WAR.

Mataura Ensign, 11 December 1917, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND & THE WAR.

HOW CASUALTIES ARE REPORTED] INFORMATION EOR RELATIVES. | Minister for Defence, Hon. Sir J. Allen, gave to a 'Post' reporter the other day particulars of thft method adopted by the Defence' Department with respect to the reporting of casualties and communicating the informa I ion from rime to time io the next of-kin. He said that relatives and tne,nds were naturally anxious with, respect to this matter, and it would therefore, he. of general (Interest 'tq make known the. steps taken. "Within iM hours of the admission o: a soldier to any hospital, it is the duty of ihe. hospital authorities to advise the New Zealand Expeditionary Eoree Record Office in France or l.ou don full particulars as to the identity of the soldier and the nature and condition of his wtounds or illness. The military authorities overseas have instructions thai this information in all cases of wounds and in all ill nesses, except minor complaints, is tc be immediately cabled to the Raise Records Office here. This information is immediately telegraphed from the Rase jfleeords Offioe >in Wellington. and, irrespective of the time it takes, the messages, provided they iarrW before H o'clock at night, are continuously worked at without any stoppage until all the telegrams to the next-of-kin have been despatched. "Some 10 to £0 days after the casualty occurs, the official report, after having- been carefully checked with the records of the regiment, is despatched by cable to New Zealand, and if the information in any way differs from that previously sent out, a further telegram is despatched to the next-of-kin. "All wounded soldiers are graded: (a) dangerous, (b) serious, (c) wounded (slight wounds.only, for which further reports are generally unnecessary; and in, cases of (a) and (b) a, report has to lie despatched every fortnight, stating what their condition is, unless the condition shall change, when the change is to he cabled immediately. In the same manner, transfers to a base or convalescent home, and frequently to another hospital, are cabled out, with a result that the next-of kin are kept most fully advised gjf the condition, location, and nature of wounds of every soldier. Similar information is forwarded with reference to cases of illness coming under Hie categories dangerous or serious. .''Arfrangemenis were made by Colonel H. R. Rhodes, M.P., when in Egypt and Gallipoli to have forwarded the photographs of the graves of soldiers," added the Minister, "and he has now been asked, whilst in London, to conrer with General Richardson and as certain if the arrangements are still being satisfactorily carried out, and if not to see that this is done as soon as possible."

MATAURA PATRIOTIC WORK. The secretary of the Mataura branch of the Red Cross Society acknowledges the following subscriptions :—Previously acknowledged, £4B 9s 6d; Miss Douglas (Te Tipua), 9s'(i|d; total, £4B 19s Okl. King's special appeal.—Miss VV. Johnstone (Ferndale), parcel; Mrs i 1 inlay (Kerndale), jiarcel; Mrs M. 'Dickie (Ferndale), 5 soap-bags; Mrs Mortimer (Tuturau), 76 bandages; Miss Johnstone (Tuturau), 6 face-cloths. Home relief.—Mrs \V. Johnston, par ■eel; Mrs Brown, parcel. Returned work.—Mrs T. Dickie, £ pairs sox; Mrs A. Todd, 3 pairs sox; Mrs .McLean, 2 pairs sox; Mrs J. Sean nel, pair sox; Mrs D. Hastie, i; scarves; Mrs R. Martin, 2 scarves; Miss Hastie, balaclava; Mrs .lardine, .'{ pairs sox;Mrs F. Hesselin, pair sox; Miss Hastie, .'5 pairs sox; Mrs R. Martin, pair sox; Mrs G. fiigwood, scarf; Airs Brown, scarf; Airs J. Seannel, pair cull's. .Donations to monlhlv parcels.—Mrs M. Dickie, 2s; Mrs R. Martin, tin cigarettes; Mrs Brown, 2 tins in ilk; Mrs Batchelor, 2 tins milk: Mrs Adam, '.is; Mrs Lowden, 2 tins sugar, tin milk; M.L.G., 2s (id; Miss Guy, as: schoolchildren (per Miss Sawers), (; pairs sox, ll pairs mittens, 14 hahdkerchicfs, scarf; .Air Coulthard, 3s; Mrs VV. Hayles, 3 tins tobacco; Mr Sherwood, 2 tins tobacco. The Countess of Liverpool League met for the last time this year and packed lour dozen monthly parcels for the boys at the front. These were forwarded to Invcrcnrgill. A splendid lot of knitted garments came to hand. Many ladies have been working hard at knitting for some time.