NEW ZEALAND SOLDIERS IN ENGLAND.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16977, 13 April 1917, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND SOLDIERS IN ENGLAND.

THE OAMT AT SLING. (From. .Malcolm Ross, War Correspondent with tho N.Z. Forces in the Field.) February 14. : A close examination of the training and other institutions iu connection witu tho Now Zealand Forces in England loads to tho gratifying conclusion that capable organisation and strenuous eil'ort havo dono all that could reasonably be desired to put tho training and the comfort of tho forceou a thoroughly satisfactory footing. Owing to tho exigencies of the situation, tho various oamps, hospitals, etc., are scattered over a rather wide area, and it takes eome time to get round them all from, the headquarters in Londoiu My joumcyings were dono at a timo when England was held in the grip of an iron frost and the country was wliito with snow. It was the severest winter that England had experienced for about 25 years, yet, notwithstanding the severity of tho weather, I found tho men in excellent health and spirits, and tho new men especially keen to got over to tho firing line in France. Tho main camps aro on tho Salisbury Plain, that at Sling being devoted to tho further training of tho reinforcements drafts that have como regularly from the little islands eo far across tho eeas. A day or two before my visit a reinforcement had come in. I saw tMrn 'marching through tho camp, and one could not wish for a finer lot. They certainly looked the right stuff, and I havo not the least doubt that they will do tho country that sent them great credit in tho next great " push" in the coming spring and summer. They wore 11 weeks qn tho way, having been detained by circumstances over which they had no control. When they arrived in camp they found a hot meal awaiting them; there were fires in tho stoves in" the huts, and blankets also were ready for them. It is inadvisablo to givo figures, but when I state that the camp is about tho size of the Featherston camp New Zcalanders will be able to form some idea of its sizo and numbers. In tho camp commandant I found an officer well known in New Zealand politics and in Canterbury soldiering. There have, however,' been several changes in the command, and thero will probably be others still. One of the most recent commandants was a brigadier who had been on tho staff in New Zealand, and who has been with , the Mam Expeditionary Force sinco it sailed in 1914. Ho is now returning to his duties in .France, and one of the other brigadiers is likely to take his place. A great improvement has been made in the comfort, conveniences, and tidiness of the camp since the New Zealanders took charge of it. There aro even neatly-dug . plots in which spring bulbs and flowers iiave been planted, and it is tho intention of those in authority to aid tho food supply by planting several acres with potatoes. Sinco the New Zealandere went into camp in April last a great deal has been dono in making it the model camp it now is. For this an Otago officer who was with us on Gailipoli and was badly wounded there is in great measure responsible. During my visit tho ground was frozen hard, and owing to tho absence of mud the camp was seen to best advantage, but it bears the reputation of being one of tho cleanest and healthiest oamps m England, and the various British generals who havo inspected it have expressed their satisfaction with the conditions that obtain. The system of training is arranged on that of the base camp in France. Needlees to say, it is therefore both constant and strenuous, but tho men seem to thrive on it, and look the picture of good health. They are also well dressed and smart in appearance. Thero is the usual "bull ring," with specialist instructors who have had the experience of actual warfare 'n addition to courses of special instruction. Amongst them are a number of English instructors. Bayonet exercises, bombing, wiring, machine-gun instruction, and all the many things a modern soldier has to leaxn continue from morn till nisht. Old stables, built for another division, and now no longer needed, have been converted Into ■ sheds so that tho drilling can go on in comfort, even qn wet days. The command from time to time sends officers and N.C.O.'s to Aldershot so. that they can keep up with the training there. But occasionally the New Zealandera have been a little more up to date than their comrades in the Motherland. The men are quick to learn and v keen on their work. In the bayonet training thero are three or four ..dershot men assisting , . At the bombing school I found a Timaru captain in charge —a man whom I had frequently seen on Gallipoli. Tho accidents havo been very few. Several thousands of men have been put through with only one serious accident, when Lieutenant Carey was killed in heroically saving the lives of several men. The sanitary arrangements of the camp are first class, and the percentage of sickness is very low indeed. There have been" only three cases of meningitis in seven months, and two of these cases recovered. The first two occurred in the first month. The medical examination of the new arrivals is very thorough. A thousand men are put through in one day, and the ■ unfit are rejected. A number of the reinforcements have failed, to pass the eyesight test, and have to be supplied with glasses to suit each case. There is a small'hospital in which the sick get every attention and necessary treatment. Thero are now three' dental sections, and these have been found to bo very necessary. The kitchens are roomy and clean and well arranged. The cooks have a fairly strenuous time. They can supply several thousand men. Thero are smaller cookhouses for the officers' messes. The men have their dinner at night after the training. They get frozen beef, mostly from Australia and the Argentine. What mutton they get is from New Zealand. There aro hot and cold shower baths, which aro even better than the Featherston baths. There is a sinall supply depot, the supplies being drawn at frequent intervals from London. The big dining-halls seat 450 men. I went through them when the men wero at dinner, and every man I spoke to was quite satisfied, not only with the quantity, but also with the quality of the food. The moat looked excellent. There was plenty of vegetables, cheese, and jam—tho latter from Nelson. "Tho best camp I have ever been in," was the verdict of more than one hefty warrior. The men are well catered for in the way of amusements. Everywhere one meets the representatives of thcY.M.C.A. and hears of the splendid work they are doing, not only in England, but also at the front. At Sling I had the pleasure of meeting Messrs Varney, Jamieson, and Smeeton, whom only a fow weeks before I had seen busy with the welfare of our men in France. Mr Vamoy is shortly returning to New Zea- . land. At Sling, as elsewhere, this splendid organisation has built recreation halls for the soldiers. Thero was a concert room, a recreation room, an officers' tea room, and billiard tables which were always in .request by tho men. Carpenters and others wero at work on another concert room *to seat about 800. A library was well stocked with books, and the English and New Zealand newspapers were in evidence on the tables. In charge of the Y.M.C.A. was an English lady, the wife of an officer whoso husband was killed in the war. She has with her eight voluntary women workers who have ' their own cubicles in tho camp. In an articlo written in August last, 1 gave details of tho round our men made from England to the firing line, back again to England sick or wounded, and thenoe through the hospitals and camps back to France again. In this round tho New Zealand Command Depot at Cbdford, also on Salisbury Plain, plays an important part.' There is littlo to bo added to what was then stated, except to sav that the round now goes on, if anything, moro satisfactorily than it did in August. The gradual process of hardening up is scientifically carried on until the men are quite fit again. By that time most of them are rather keen to get back to the front. As soon as they aro able to march about 10 miles a day without undue fatigue they go into a reserve group, where they get moro training until they are fully fit. From this reserve group drafts a.re taken to fill tip gaps at the front. The present very satisfactory condition of the Now Zealand administration in England is the result of a gradual process of evolution which has not been achieved without much thought and a great deal of hard work. In a few months it has improved out of all knowledge. It has been attained largely owing to the initiative and tireless organisation of a gunner, now a brigadiergeneral, whose very successful career will have been followed with interest by many of his old friends in New Zealand. *Hp has been loyally supported by an able and enthusiastic staff.