AFTER THE BATTLE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2592, 14 October 1915, Page 6

AFTER THE BATTLE

CARE OP THE WOUNDED Mr. Ross continues:— The hardest timo for the wounded man is the timo between his wounding and his being placcd on board the hospital ship. In modem warfare he is liable to be wounded by bayonet thrust, rillo Are, machine-gun fire, shrapnel bomb, ordinary shell, inflammatory shell, and high explosive. It is rather a difficult matter getting our wounded out of the steep and broken country 'hat we have recently taken, but everything that caii be done is now being ac..comDlished, and doctors and stretcher-

bearers alike are still doing heroic work.

Each man carrios a first field dressing, and that, skilfully applied, often saves a lob of after trouble. Quite close to the firing line in tho narrow gullies are established dressing stations, ,l '»ero wounds are properly dressed by experienced surgeons. From theso stations tbo wounded arc borne on stretchers for about a milo, and perhaps two miles, to tbo casualty clearing station, which is generally put in tho shelter of a bjil or gully near the beach. At this point; during the last battle thero was some trouble, duo mamly to insufficient transport facilities between tho sboro and the ships, and also to want of adequate shelter on shore. Exceptional Treatment. In regard to tho New Zealand wounded m particular, they have, owing to the action of the Government', and the liberality of private individuals, all tho time, been receiving exceptional treatment. The hospital ships take them to Alexandria, Port Said, and Malta. Slight cases may be landed at Inibros and.'Mudros, where there aro tout hospitals. _ In Egypt', tho boats are met .on arrival by the Now Zealand Base Staff, under Colonel Charters,' and by Chaplin Greene, of the . Salvation Army, and tho names are noted. Each man then gets a re-direction postcard, which, on arrival at the hospital to which lie is taken, ho fills in, so that prompt delivery by'the Military Post Office of letters, newspapers, telegrams and parcels may be assured. In most cases a soldier will"be on his way to tho hospital while his letters may bo on their way to tlio Gallipoli Peninsula, and m this case there will bo delay, because the exigencies of' the supply service are such that at' times the mails must bo regarded as of secondary importance. Apropos I may state here that one load of mails—thirtj-six bags—went to the bottom of the sea off Imbros, so that if Now Zealand correspondents do not get replies to certain letters —private and official—it may bo put down to that accident.

Reverting to the New Zealand wounded in Egypt, the many hospitals to much wounded are sent arc visited by one or other of the New Zealand chaplains, whoso special duty it is to supply the men with any immediate necessities thoy may require, such as shaving gear, toothbrush, handkerchiefs, writing paper, water beds (in certain cases)" crutches, sticks, underwear, cigarettes, tobacco, pipes, chocolate, fruit'(in certain cases), newspapers, etc. Newspapers, which are supplied by the Government, and in some cases by the newspaper proprietors, are always welcome. British and other residents in Egypt have been most kind to our wounded, and to these neople New Zealand owes a special debt of gratitude, which in most cases can never be adequately repaid. At the beginning many of these women went to. assist in the hospitals when there was a great strain on the ordinary staffs. The Convalescent Homes. /When the men are fit to leave hospital many go into convalescent homes or camps established by the Government, and administered by a local committee. Lady Godlev was the pioneer in this good work, which she continues with judgment and energy. There is a committee for each centre. In Cairo tlio committee consists of Surgeon-Gen-eral Ford, Director of Medical Services in Egypt, • Lieutenant-Colonel Hall, Camp Commandant, the senior medical officor, and Chaplain Angus Mac Donald. At Alexandria the committee consists of Lady Godley, Colonel Charters, Captain Fitzherbert, and Chaplain Greene. 'liie Divisional Staff Officer in ' Egypt is, ex officio, a member of both" committees. At Malta the Red Cross Society, in conjunction with Chaplain Tobin, aro administering ■ funds ' supplied by the Government to provide additional comforts for the wounded Now Zealanders. Here also the few devoted British residents arc doing a great work amongst the men. '