OUR MEN IN FRANCE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXVI, Issue 3559, 20 September 1916, Page 2

OUR MEN IN FRANCE.

REPORT FROM MAJOR-GENERAL RUSSELL.

WELLINGTON,- September 19. The Minister of Defence has received a letter from General Godley, conveying v little news of our troops, chiefly in a report (enclosed) from MajorGencrsil Russell

Uenerai uocuey tells of the visit of the New Zealand Parliamentarians. These visitors, he writes, appeared to enjoy themselves. Some of them went forward into 'the trenches, and were actually shot over a little. General Russell states that when the Division went to France, the infantry, as part of their training, were put through' a gas cloud, with helmets on, in order that they, migt be accustomed ■to gas attacks. They were also!given experience of the effect of tear-produc-ing shells. "By day," he writes, " L our artillery is constantly, active, shelling movements observed on the roads in the rear of • the enemy lines; suspected enemy ' headquarters, communication trenches, and other tender spots; also in retaliating upon the/enemy trenches for any shelling of our own trenches. ■By night our artillery activity continues. Our infantry are engaged in constantly patrolling No Man's Land between our trenches and the enemy s lines, the extent of which varies from 200 to 300 yards to 500 or 600 yards in one or two places. "The Ambulance Corps have had msmy duties! Besides their purely ambulance work, they have had to do all manner of sanitary duty. They have worked as inspectors, road sweepers, destructor hands, and at the divisional baths and laundries. They -have greatly assisted the civilian population by evacuating civilian sick and wounded of the towns to the hospitals in the rear, as directed by the French authorities. The sanitary section has taken over all sanitary municipal services, water supply, drainage, street cleaning, destruction of refuse, evacuation of cases of infectious disease, inspection of dairies and food shops, disinfection of premises and clothing, and provision of hot baths. The section also supervises the washing of all the underclotKing for the division at the divisional baths. The number of bathers for the month of June was 36,483, an average of 1300 Der day. The number of garments washed was 229 J9l "The Division has had good health, but an epidemic of German measlees and mumps has reduced the numbor of effectives. All diseases of < tlie Mediterranean are now practically non-exiafcent among our men." The casualties for May and Juno Other Officers. ranks. • Killed ... 8 113 ' Wounded ... 31 703 Mining ... 1 —