CASUALTIES AT THE FRONT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17090, 23 August 1917, Page 4

CASUALTIES AT THE FRONT

ADVICE RECEIVED PROMPTLY.

(Fbom Oub Own Correspondent.)

WELLINGTON, August 22. According to a statement made by Major general Robin, read to. the House of Representatives by Sir James Allen this afternoon, the overseas hospital reports-are now coming forward in a very satisfactory manner.

Advices of casualties, he says, are re» ceived as a rule within 10 days, and are* usually followed' closely by hospital reports, and tho soldiers', progress up to . complete recovery is fully advised. It is not uncommon for six cablegrams referring- to a casualty to be received within 1 a fortnight. These cablegrams are forwarded on the day of receipt to the next-of-kin, and very few complaints axe now received from them. At the time of the Sorume offensive hospital reports were confined to "serious" and "dangerous" cases, and large numbers were reported "wounded" without further details. Many cable messages were necessary to ascertain the whereabouts and progress of soldiers, which particulars were only made known to the relatives after considerable delay. In the Messines battle full hospital reports were received at once in nearly every instance, and all cases provisionally reported wounded have now been cleared up. With respect to soldiers who are reported missing General Robin _ states that it is often impossible to obtain the information so much desired by their relatives. After a reasonable lapse of time a court of inquiry is held to consider a soldier's fate, and its findings are promptly cabled to New Zealand.