AT THE N.Z. BASE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2548, 24 August 1915, Page 2

AT THE N.Z. BASE

AN INTERESTING LETTER '« — GENERAL NEWS OF THE TROOPS A letter of general interest dealing with several topics winch have been the subject of frequent inquiry and complaint in New Zealand recently has 1 been received by the Defence Minister I from Colonel Essqn, in charge, of New c Zealand Base Details at Alexandria. } .Referring to New Zealand: i soldiers, \ Colonel Esson writes: —"In minor mat- c ters of discipline they aro probably be- c hind the regular soldier, but.as fighting J men they appear to.be rather more re- : sourceful and equally courageous, and determined. The doctors all say that J they suffer less from shock when hit, and t with few exceptions their first desire is ' to get back to the firing line as soon as possible!; The feeling between officers ® and men is excellent, and on many oc- . casions I have ■ heard wounded men j speaking of their officers with confidence, ' pride, and affection. The value of dis- j! ciplirie is clearly recognised by the ma- !r jority.of the men, and what appeared 1 irksome during the prolonged and trying 5 stay in this country is now understood ' and appreciated. . ■ J "The food supply is good, and during , the weeks-lavas'on the Peninsula I J never 'heard one single complaint as to ■ either quantity or quality, although I ' frequently ■ mingled with the men, and J lost no opportunity of inquiring and seeing that they were well cared for. The j wastage of-equipment during war is positively appalling, and large parties ( are constantly employed in the rear of ] the 'trenches convening discarded ■ material to the depots we have estab- ; lished where it is constantly in demand. , Our Responsibilities. ' ."We were all deeply touched at the j fortitude displayed by tlie people of . New Zealand on learning of our casual- ' ties. There are few homes into which ] sorrow has not come, and at the con- ; elusion of the war New Zealand will | hayo a, very heAvy responsibility to face ] in providing for the' dependents of those i killed .in action, also a large number \ of crippled and maimed men who will i bo seriously handicapped in life's battle ; by the loss :of eyes, limbs, and impaired 3 health. Everything .possible is being j done for them hero, and generally we ; 'have much reason to be grateful to the ] ir.cdical services and a host of willing ] workers whose services are so freely j given. Postal services. i "Tlie postal staff has been'doubled, and increased facilities afforded. Great t difficulty existed in the way of locating wounded men. The rush was so great s and ■ men were so widely dispersed that ; it took some little time to find out where they were, but to meet postal ro- i quirements.l instituted a- card system ] which is working very well. Each hospital is visited,' and two or three post- i cards are left--with'each man,-or filled 1 in for him, so that the Post Office is at once notified of any change of address, ; and- letters' are . sent out regularly by orderly. .It is.a,, big task. picking out i letters for. the .wounded in England. Malta, Leinnos, and different parts of } Egypt, in addition to.letters for the ,J Base Details,, but mail matter is being ' promptly assorted and distributed. Some complaints aro riiade" of delay in ' tho -1 transmission of parcels, whidli," I -under-' stand, first go to England by a. cargo steamer and then find their way back liefe. This perhaps can bo remedied in New Zealand. In selecting men for the Army Postal Service a fair sprinkling of senior men with' experience of handling large mails should be included. We have rather, too many jlmiors, mainly drawn from country offices."