CARE OF THE WOUNDED

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2459, 12 May 1915, Page 2

CARE OF THE WOUNDED

, EVERYTHING POSSIBLE DONE. !•' In the Christchurch "Press" Mon- ' day the following statement appeared: "At 1 p.m. yesterday Colonel G. J. Smith received the following cable mes-' pge from Major Loach, of the Canterbury Infantry Battalion, at Cairo: '.'Urgently need £100 for wounded.' " By 8 o'clock the same afternoon the Amount had been donated by eleven Christehurch residents. Major Loach's appeal was placed before the Minister of Defence (the Hon. Jas. Allen)"by a Dominion reporter last night, and Mr. Allen replied that the only statement he could make was that Major Loach had not communicated to him that there was any shortage with regard to the treatment of wounded in Egypt' or elsewhere. The arrangements. so far as he was aware, were complete, and the Government had taken every precaution. A convalescent hospital had-been provided in Alexandria. and he did not know where there could be a shortage, but he presumed' Major Loach would not have cabled unless the money was really required. . Mr. Allen added that anything required the' Government would provide, and those in Egypt knew that perfectly well. The Government had not restricted them in any way whatever, and provision was being made now for further assistanco for them. In conclusion. Mr. Allen said, "Major Loach ought to have communicated with his own senior officer. These indiscriminate demands for assistance we cannot deal with. We cau only deal with the position as wo find it from the responsible officer at the head."