The Dominion MONDAY, JUNE 21, 1915. THE TREATMENT OF OUR WOUNDED

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2492, 21 June 1915, Page 4

The Dominion MONDAY, JUNE 21, 1915. THE TREATMENT OF OUR WOUNDED

It is with some relief that we learn this morning that the rumours and stories that 'have been set in circulation concerning hospital accommodation for those wounded in the fighting at the Dardanelles have little foundation in fact. It is not possible to foresee and provide for every conceivable emergency in a [struggle of such magnitude as tho [present, and it is inevitable that situations must occasionally arise which will put a severe tax on the resources of even the best-organised forces. Thero arc sure to be individual cases of hardship, and complaints will naturally be heard from time to time. In the Gallipoli campaign, the medical officers were suddenly called upon to copo with an unexpectedly large number of casualties arising out of the great difficulty which our forces experienced in gaining a foothold on the peninsula in tlin face of desperate opposition on the jjait of large and well-armed Turkish forces under German leadership. The hospital organisation in Egypt seems to have been put to a hard test, which no doubt revealed somo deficiencies and weakness. These initial difficulties appear to have given rise to the rumours and complaints mentioned, which havo caused a certain amount of uneasiness in New Zealand. His Excellency the Governor took steps to ascertain the actual state of" affairs, and has been informed that whatever deficiencies may have existed at the outset had been rectified without delay. But in order that no room might be left for doubt on a matter of such importance, Lord Liverpool sent a personal cablegram to Sir John Maxwell, General Officer Commanding the Troops in Egypt, and Sir John Maxwell has now given an absolute denial to these allegations, and declares that the. accommodation is ample. The Minister of Defence (the Hon. James Allen) has also made inquiries, and has received a cablegram from tho Officer Commanding Base Hospitals in Egypt giving a detailed account of what is actually being done for our wounded soldiers.' This "man on the spoD" declares that the hospitals are "splendidly conducted," and that "the treatment of tho Now Zealanders is being held up ns an example, and is being copied." Complaints contained in private ietturs regarding matters of this sort ought to be received with a considerable amount of caution. They aro usually written by people who can only see a small part of the hospital scheme, and who cannot always distinguish between some temporary arrangement to meet sudden pressure at a given point and the normal working of_ the system as a whole. The writer is probably not in a position to see things in their true proportion, and bis comments may be based on inadequate or one-sided information. It is our duty, and it should bo our earnest determination, to see that the men who are injured in fighting for us at the Dardanelles or anywhere else receive the best attention possible, no matter what the cost may be. The action of His Excellency the Governor and the Minister oe Defence in communicating with the authorities in Egypt in order to place the actual facts before the country is to be commended, and the cablegrams they havo received (which arc published in another column) should allay the anxiety of those who have friends and relatives at the front as far as the question of hospital accommodation is concerned. The treatment of the wounded is a matter that requires the constant and careful attention of the Government. Many of these gallant men will soon return to New Zealand, nnd tho obligation rests on us I to se" that every preparation is made to ensure for tli-m the best possible accommodation and the most skilled medical tveafiwiit. The Government have (his niatti r in hand, and private eili/ens 3nd public, bodies have ,*x)Kirou:ilv ulaced at their disposal

residences and buildings suitable for the accommodation oi the sick and wounded. But in order that there shall bo no possible room for complaint—no suggestion of neglect—no ehauce of any of these returned boldiers finding themselves thrown on their own resources through carelessness or oversight, a special Department should be created to deal with all matters affccting the men who come back to these shores wounded or invalided home. It is plain that the treatment of our wounded and convalescents is going to be a, big task—far bigger than was ever anticipated. Many of them will justly look to the fcstatc to provide for them for some time to come. It will bo well, therefore, for the Government to consider the question of creating a special organisation to give its whole attention to the present and future care of those who have risked their lives for the nation's welfare. The Minister of Defence is already heavily burdened, and it may, therefore, be desirable that a Minister who can devote more time to the matter might be placed in charge. Moreover, H would seem desirable that the military authorities might be relieved as far as possible of this branch of scivice, though their co-operation would, of course, be required.