NEW ZEALAND WOUNDED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15931, 31 May 1915, Page 9

NEW ZEALAND WOUNDED

REPORTS FROM EGYPT.

COMFORT IN HOSPITALS. PRISONERS WELL TREATED. [BY telegraph.— ASSOCIATION.] , • " Wellington, Sunday. A cablegram received by the Hon. James Allen, Minister for Defence, to-day, from the officer commanding the New Zealand base at Alexandria, answered many questions that are being asked by the relatives and friends of men at the front. The Minister cabled to the officer in question on May 24, asking him if letters and telegrams addressed to the New Zea-1 land base would be forwarded to men who might be in hospital at Malta or elsewhere. Mr. Allen stated in the same message that the Defence authorities here would assume the sick and wounded in Egypt to be progressing favourably, unless reports to the contrary were sent regarding individual cases. He requested the officer at Alexandria to transmit information; concerning men who might be going bade to the front after recovering from sickness, or wounds, and further asked what arrangements were being made to return! to New Zealand the personal possessions of men who had been killed. The message received in reply states that letters and telegrams addressed care of the New Zealand base at Alexandria will be forwarded to the addressees wherever they may be. The officer commanding the base undertakes to report periodically regarding men who recover and return to the front.

"The Royal Army Medical Corps," adds the cablegram, " does not advise the name of the hospital in which a man lies, but it does atfvise his condition if it is unsatisfactory, and also notifies discharge from hospital. Our visiting officer ascertains the location of the wounded and informs this office, and a- full record, is kept. But changes are of almost daily occurrence, men being transferred from hospital to hospital, and from town to town, as they progress. This is what makes it difficult to send a report of the progress of men in hospital, unless in cases where the progress is unsatisfactory. The effects of deceased New Zealanders will be returned by the Willochra and regularly thereafter." "I sent another telegram on May 27, to the officer commanding the New Zealand base at Alexandria," said the Minister for Defence. " I asked him to telegraph at once the names of, New Zealand officers and men in hospital in Egypt; the names of those returning ~tb the front, and the names of new arrivals; also the condition of any man, should it alter for the worse. I told him I should assume that no information meant ' progressing favourably,' and mentioned, that there were numerous complaints about non-de-livary of telegrams, letters, and parcels to the New Zealand troops. . v i "I have to-day received a reply, from Colonel E6»n, who has returned from the front to Alexandria on 'special duty. His cablegram runs: .'I am requested to point out that the list asked for is practically valueless, owing to the numerous daily transfers and discharges, also that it is not desirable to interfere with the hardpressed hospital staff. The wounded are distributed in nine hospitals in /Alexandria, eight in Cairo, and,seven in different Egyptian towns, as well as in hospitals overseas. Our base- has already arranged to report the names of men discharged and returning to' duty. If the list is absolutely essential will arrange to increase the staff,'"" but - all the available •men are wanted elsewhere. The hospital accommodation is excellent. ' The staff and the residents are most attentive, and the wounded are very ! comfortable. • f Chaplains are distributing the , comforts, and the New Zealand' wise post office at Alexandria receives and distributes | our mail, made, up in bags for the different uiiits. Communication has been difficult and uncertain, but it is improving. The troop 6 at times are widely dispersed, and often personal matters have ; to be subordinated to, tactical requirements. , Lexers for the wounded are picked out here suit' sent to the hospitals.' It ; is stated by, Turkish prisoners that our wounded . and nrisoners of war are being well treated. They are sent to Constantinople. It is just possible that some of'the missing are safe.'," ". The Minister added that the reports he i had received ought to be comforting' to i the relatives and friends of the wounded. They indicated that 1 although, the conditions were difficult in' some ..respects the i wounded were receiving excellent attention, ■ and that the ■ staff lin Egypt was doing its utmost to make matters .run smoothly. ;j-,v u '■ I lu,

CARE OF THE WOUNDED. - ~~ £ > " HOSPITAL SHIP APPEAL. > . • '' V PART OF THE GOVERNMENT. ' ''-V ; V : "Things are going on very well indeed in regard to the hospital ship," declared the Prime Minister yesterday, when questioned on the subject.y " With the 'object of Correcting an impression that seems to prevail in some quarters, I may say," Mr. Massey added, "that the government was prepared to find the whole of the money necessary for the . charter and equipment) of the hpspital ship.- As a matter of fact, we are paying the whole sum required for the charter of the ship, wages and cost of fitting the vessel out. Hundreds of goner-, ous and patriotic people all over New Zealand have insisted that they should /'he given an opportunity to contribute to the equipment, and. they are doing so through; His Excellency the Governor, who • has taken a very active part in this matter. I believe that the anticipations expressed by the Governor in Auckland a few days ago will b) realised, and that when the Maheno is properly fitted out and equipped, slid will be the best hospital , ship in the 1 world." • , - PARADE AND SERVICE. ' GARRISON OFFICERS' WORK. For some time past the executive of the Garrison Officers' Club has had under consideration the question of raising a fund to help the wounded and the dependents of those who fall during the war in cases where the ordinary provision made by the Government is not sufficient. One of the schemes considered. will take . concrete shape on Sunday, June 13, when a parade of the entiro garrison will be held, with the permission of the officer commanding the district. In addition to the territorials and senior cadets, the National Reserve and the Power-boat Reserve have been asked to parade, and the largest parade seen in Auckland for some time past is probable. The troops will march through the city headed by their own bands to tho Town Hall, where a short service will bo held. Tho arrangements for the service are in the hands of Bishop Averill. senior Anglican chaplain. In addition to the bishop's address, speeches will be . given by the officer commanding the district, who will probably act as chairman, and by the Mayor, Mr. J. H. Gunson. The service itself will be of a sho> t and simple character, consisting of threi. well-known . and appropriate hymns, and short collects I suited to the occasion. The military bands ! are to be asked to supply the music, and. in addition, to give selections during the collection. The parade-and service will not only give the soldiers an' opportunity of assisting their wounded comrades, but ■ will, it is hoped, bo the means of stimulating further efforts by others in tho same direction. Tho Garrison Officers' Club has already in Land: d considerable sum of money as a nucleus, and all amounts col- i

lected jrill :bo paid into the general fond for the Auckland district. -The chib has other schemes' under r consideration. Amongst others it is proposed to ask the various religions bodies at a later date to arrange for a special Sunday afternoon service on a fixed day all over the district. The • territorials, senior cadets, and members of rifle clubs will be asked to parade at their own churches, together with the general public, and the collections at such services are to be given to the fund.

DONATIONS TO THE FUND. SECOND LAUNCH OFFERED ' I A letter has been received by the' Mayor, Mr. J. H. Gunson, from Mr. Wolsey Allen, of Kaipara, offering to give a second motor launch for the hospital ship. Mount Albert ladies, who have agreed to find 250 cushions, contributed £70 at a meeting held at the residence of .Mrs. Murdoch McLean. The equity of three sections, valued at between £60 and £70, has been presented by Mr. TV. Y. Glasgow, of Wairainarama. Birkenhead ladies have agreed to present [50 sheets, 50 waistcoats, face cloths, and [as much money as can be collected. The sum of £34 5s was contributed to the fund for the equipment of the hospital ship by territorials who have been attending the casual camp at the Domain. The gift of 150 deck-chairs credited to the Tonson Garlick Company, Ltd., was from the employees of that company, and not, an stated, from the company itself. POSTAL CARNIVAL. Arrangements in connection with the Post, Telegraph, and Telephone Carnival to be held on June 11 and 12, in aid of the Hospital Ship Fund, are well in hand. The Glee Club formed, with Mrs. McAndrew as musical director, shows promise of proving a great attraction. Donations of _ money and gifts for the carnival are coming to hand from all parts of the Auckland Province, and indications point to the carnival being a great success. PROVINCIAL ASSISTANCE. At the last neeting of the Huntly Town Board it was resolved to donate £10 10s to the Hospi'.il Ship Fund, and to open subscription lists at the Town Board office, where sums_ of any size would be received! The following committee has been set up to further the interests of the fund Messrs. .Evans, Kasoo.f, Leather, Morris, O'Brien, and ' Sheeran, with Mr. J, McUre as secretary. A meeting of Taumarunui ladies, called by Mr. Steadman, the Mayor, to assist in equipping the hospital ship, was largely attended. Our correspondent states that a. committee was set up, arrangements being made for, the co-operation of the two sewing societies already in existence. A sum of £10 was subscribed in the room. v- , SUM OP £11,500 IN HAND. [BY telegraph.—press association.] Wellington, Sunday. . The Ijepartment of Internal Affairs has now received £11,541 on behalf of the Hospital Ship Fund. The sum of £164, including £100 from the frirae Minister, the Right Hon. W. F. Massey, for the War Relief Fund, has also been received by the Department.

NAPIER CONTRIBUTIONS. TOTAL : TO DATE, £1600. s tBT TILEC3APH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION'. 1 . ■ i.' ;• \rv_-A ' Napier, Sunday. • • As the result of a street collection taken up yesterday, close upon £700 . was raised for "the - hospital ship.' With previous v donations, ; the amount : : collected. for this object to: date in Napier., is about 31600. •■V • \ -• - • ; _ FINANCIAL SHIRKERS. , * TAXATION PROPOSED, j'- '•} [BY TELEOBAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION-.] ,' ' .. • -,r. Cambridge; Saturday. • ~ -At', last, night's meeting' of ■ the Cam- ;. bridge Borough r Council, on the motion of the, Mayor, -Mr.', Wells, f the - following motion was unanimously carried i " That, while ' working -whole-heaidly on the lines suggested by His - Excellency ' the Governor, we are of the opinion thi-t tlio Government should have undertaken the task of equipping the hospital ship out „ of public revenue, instead of: leaving it / to the generosity of the public, whereby contributions were, made .absolutely at , variance ; with, the , democratic . principles of the people. We feel ; that a tax ■ over the whole community, according to each •. individual's . resources, -is the : only fauv and ? equitable i- basis at present. v. Many weil-•to-do people fail to contribute , a'/ single farthing," and the present procedure merely, encourages - financial* shakers.''