MEDICAL MEN AND THE WAR.

Colonist, Volume LXI, Issue 151034, 28 July 1919, Page 3

MEDICAL MEN AND THE WAR.

WHAT NEW ZEALAND HAS DONE. The first comprehensive account of the work performed by the New Zealand Medical Service during the war was given at Auckland by" Colonel W. H. Parkes, Director of the New Zealand Medical Service Overseas. Colonel Parkes said it was exceedingly satisfactory that the overseas dominions had maintained fully-equipped and highly efficient medical services which had borne their full share- of responsibility in the prevention of disease, and also in the care and treatment of the sick and wounded. Although the sister dominion of Australia contributed a medical corps to the South African campaign, the recent war was the first occasion on which New Zealand had mobilised its medical department for active service. Initial difficulties and defects, due chiefly to lack of army experience, were inevitable, but were readily overcome by the cordial support of the War Office and the active cooperation of the various New Zealand medical units both in the field'and at the base. During the early part of the war three field ambulances were provided by New Zealand, but at a later stage a fourth was mobilised from the personnel already serving in the Expeditionary I'orce. The No.l New Zealand Stationary Hospital, originally located at Port baid, was on its way to Salonika on board the Marquette when that transport was torpedoed. After service in Salonika, the unit was recalled to Egypt and within a few months proceeded to Franco. Here it fulfilled various duties first at Amiens and later at Wiskues, where the unit had the satisfaction of clearing an area and erecting a hospital which was ultimately increased to 1,000 beds, and earned a "high reputation' for efficiency. The organisation, equipment, and maintenance of the New Zealand hospitals in Egypt and England for the care of our casualties nad proved a wise measure, and., although at first freely criticised, the pdlicv hnd in every way" proved to be amply justified. The total number of beck provided in the various New Zealand institutions in England exceeded 0,000. "Of the personnel of our medical service, whether nursing sisters, officers, or other ranks, it is impossible to speak too highly." <;ak{ Colonel Parkes. "Reference' to'nur hospitals would bo incomplete without .special mention of the splendid equipment providfvl so lavishly by tJio women of New Zealand " -