IN HOSPITAL AT MALTA

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2564, 11 September 1915, Page 11

IN HOSPITAL AT MALTA

A. WORD TO THE HANGERS-BAOK Private Barker, of the Dunedin Sig nailing Corps, wJio has been in liospi tal at Malta, has some intcrostiiu things to say in a letter which wa: recently received from Mm by a rela tive in Wellington. "On arrival at Malta from the Dardanelles," 1,0 writes, "wo disem-barkec immediately after dinner, and I goi on the first barge. To say wo wer< sorry to leave would ho a sin, becausi tho good ship was known as 'Starva* tion Gamp.' Certainly we wore at over-full ship, but the jolly thing waf evidently ptaffed together ill a few minutes and I don't think the stafl have yet found whether they are standing on. their heads or their feet —the kitchen staff, at any rate. The reallj ill patients got fair treatment, but the rest of "us would have been happier at the front. Fact is, for the distance travelled and the messing about lasl week's trip evidently takes the cake. It is just a week since 1 left Lenuios, and until I reached here was very sorry I left my happy homo at Anzao. ' 'Ever since we left, ship life has been Tiome' and everything puts new heart 'into one. Numerous ambulances and private cars were lined up at the pier. Here, too, were numerous English ladies with trays of biscuits and chocolate, cigarettes, matches, and' lemon drink, of which everyone got his share as we filed off. This truly was the Bibical cup of cold water and the first sign of welcome. We were dispatched in. motors for our several hospitals, and I was in luck getting a long rido of six miles out 'here. This hospital has been formed by Uhree barracks having been combined, and we are beautifully situated on the top of a hill where we get a 1 good breeze. The buildings are all of stone, better, I believe, than the New Zealand limestone. They are all well made and in narrow blocks running east and west, without windows and doors, north or south, which gives us lovely airy rooms to which no rain gets at all. The wards are large and airy with concrete floors, and southwards, top and bottom, we have a nice verandah built in, equally free from rain. Those that can get abont have meals outside at a table. We also make our own beds, feed ourselves, kteep the place clean, andlhelpthe nurses and orderlies a little in looking after those unable to get about. ■ "English nurses welcomed us and told us off .to wards, but we were not allowed m till we 'had hot baths. A 'isht grey flannel coat and trousers, shirty grey socks, slippers, a red tie cind haudkerohief were liaiided to ©very one of us with a towel and mysterious packet or soap, etc. The bath was delicious ui itself, and again we got a surprise our soap packet containing cirgarettes, tobacco, matches, a postpaper, envelopes, a pencil, and ohocolate. After our' bath, everything bar, boots and. hats was taken from us ror fumigation. Afterwards, bed, with ■leal spring mattress, snow-white sheets, counterpane and pillow. It seemed too good to be true, and I don't think it can last long. One almost laughs to think that here we are knowing again what comfort really is.. ' "Life in Anzac was very slow—our ! °kaps have been there three months, and not advanced a bit, and were feeing very downhearted. Both sides were making the place a veritable fortress. • . . We can see most of the reasons for standing still. "A trip like this is a new life to us. looplo here at least have seen some of the horrors of war and realise jnst how much we as a nation are fighting to overcome the mighty force endeavouring to destroy u5.,.. I don't think for a moment that it. is a matter, of its doing so, but' every passive person at this time means probably hundreds of lives lost, and months of -delay before we got peace again. I can tell you we often think and talk over these tilings and see many hangers-back .who should be' here, and I fear that thousands of tiioso who call themselves Britishers have no right, to the, title if they can't see uy now the seriousness of things how it is vital to us all in Nwv Zealand as well as to thoso at Homo. .Besides they are also losing a life's education. I tell you we can't help looking down- a bit on lots of chaps we know and could they, but see a-bit of the real thing they would be here. I think our chaps are sticking to the jciiSe• well, though odds are very much against them,' and all they need is comforting assurance that they are boh" backed up."