OUR WOUNDED

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2475, 31 May 1915, Page 7

OUR WOUNDED

NO NEWS IS GOOD NEWS

ADVICE FROM THE BASE

THE MISSING MAY BE SAFE

The Minister of Defence has received advice from the New Zealand Base at Alexandria which should be comforting news to those with relatives or friends among the wounded. "On May 24 last," said Mr. Allen in conversation with a Dominion reporter yesterday, "I telegraphed to the officer commanding the. New Zealand base at Alexandria, asking him whether letters and telegrams addressed to the New Zealand base would be forwarded to Malta or elsewhere. I also telegraphed him I would assume the sick and wounded in Egypt were progressing favourably unless ho reported individual oases to the contrary. I asked him to report as to men going back to the front after reasvering from sickness or wounds. I asked him also what arrangements were being made to return to New Zealand the belongings of our men who have died.

"I have received a reply to that telegram to-day. The officer states that letters and telegrams 'addressed to the New Zealand Base at Alexandria will ho forwarded to the addressee wherever no may be._ He also informs me that he will periodically report on the men who recover, and return to the front. His telegram proceeds: 'The Royal Army Medical Corps does not advise the name of the hospital (in which a man lies) but it does' advise his condition it' it is unsatisfactory, and notifies discharge from hospital. Our visiting officer ascertains the location of the wounded, and informs this officer, and a full record is kept. But changes are of almost daily occurrence, men being transferred from hospital to hospital and from town to town as they progress. Tin's is what makes it difficult to send any report of the progress of men in hospital, unless in cases where the progress is unsatisfactory. The effects of deceased New Zealanders will be returned by the Willochra, and regularly thereafter.

"I sent another telegram on Mar 27 to the officer commanding the New Zealand. Base at Alexandria. I asked him to have telegraphed at once the names of New Zealand officers and men in hospital in Egypt, the names of those returning to the front, the names of new arrivals, and also the condition of ony man should such alter for the worse. I said I should assume that no information meant 'progressing favourably,' and added that there were numerous complaints about the non-deliv-ery of telegrams, letters, and parcels to the New Zealand troops. ' "I have to-day received a reply from Colonel Esson, wlio has returned from the front to Alexandria on special duty. His telegram runs: 'I am requested to pointy out that the list asked for is practically _ valueless, owing to the numerous daily transfers and discharges; also that it is not desirable to interfere with the hard-pressed hospital staff. The wounded are distributed in nine hospitals in Alexandria, eight in Cairo, and seven in different Egyptian towns, as well as (in hospitals) overseas. Our base lias already arranged to report the names of men discharged and returning to duty. _ If the list is absolutely essential, will arrange to increase the staff, but all the available men are wanted elsewhere. The hospital accommodation is excellent, the staff and the residents are most attentive, and the wounded are very comfortable. Chaplains are distributing the comforts. Tbo New Zealand Base Post Office at Alexandria. receives and distributes our mail, made up in bags for tho different ..units. Communication has been difficult and uncertain, but it is improving. The troops at times *re widely dispersed, and often personal matters have to be subordinated' to tactical requirements. Letters for the wounded are picked out here, and sent to hospitals. It is stated by Turkish prisoners that our wounded and prisoners of war are being well treated. They are sent to Constantinople. It is just possible that some of the missing are.safe.'"