AMONG THE WOUNDED IN EGYPT

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2594, 16 October 1915, Page 11

AMONG THE WOUNDED IN EGYPT

A VISITOR'S IMPRESSIONS. A New Zealand lady who has spent tho last eight years in the Old Country returned to the Dominion by tho Mooraki, and arrived' in Auckland by the Main Trunk express oil Wednesday, in the course of a tour through the Dominion, and in an interview with a representative of tho "Herald" had somo very interesting information to impart respecting a visit niado by her to soma of the hospitals in Egypt for Now Zealand wounded. "On my arrival at Port Said I learned," slio said, "that my brother had been wounded and was in a hospital at Heliopolis. I determined to visit him. Proceeding to Cairo I caught a train for Heliopolis, and reached there 20 minutes later. The train runs right up to the Palace Hotel, which is now known as No. 1 Australian General Hospital. It is a beautiful building, capable of holding 1000 wounded soldiers. The rooms are lofty and the place is surrounded by delightful gardens. When I visited the hospital it was only half filled. The soldiers had to put up with a number of minor disadvantages, but were very bright and cheerful.. "I would just like to mention that tho non-arrival of parcels and telegrams is a most serious inconvenience. My brother had been in the hospital for many weeks, and although I had dispatched parcels weekly addressed to him at the front none whatever had reached him up to the time of my arrival. This has apparently been the experience of most of tho men, aud it has caused them a great deal of disappointment. I dispatched a telegram to my brother from Port Said, but I ascertained that even this was not received by him. Thero appears to bo still a great lack of organisation in dealing with goods- and correspondence, especially for wounded soldiers.

"I was in. Heliopolis for a fortnight," continued'the lady, "and took the opportunity to visit Luna Park Hospital, and two other auxiliary hospitals. All of these, together with tin Palace Hotel, aro used to accommodate both wounded Australians and New Zealanders. The trains conveying the wounded passed direct to the Balace Hotel, where the men are divided, and each is sent to the hospital best suited to deal with his wounds. The town lias a very quaint appearance. Olio sees scarcely anybody but khaki-clad soldiers, unless it be the convalescent .wounded, who limp about the town in their pyjamas. ' 'About halfway betwe 211 Helioplis and Cairo lies the Abbassia Hospital, which is devoted solely to the accommodation of wounded New Zealanders. _ I made a point of visiting this place, being especially interested in the men from my native country. The building is a large square grey stone one, with a balcony running right round it. A garden surrounds the hospital, but outside the gates the sand stretches away into the distance on either side. The building is (veil suited for the purposes of a hospital, and the long halls have been turned into wards, accommodating perhaps nearly 1000 men. The place was bo filled at tho time of my visit_ that beds had been placed in the corridors. The men aro extremely well attended to, and receive many dainties in the .tvay of grapes and other fruit, poultry, etc! In facty I cannot say too much in praise of the excellent food provided. Tho nurses 'are New Zealanders, and have endeared themselves to all the men by their consistently kind and considerate treatment. The only thing which troubled tho men was the heat, which was extremely trying, and the everpresent fly and insect pests. Each of til soldiers is provided with a switch made of split cane, and this is very active, especially at meal times." Tno urgent necessity for tho establishment of canteens at Heliopolis was pointed out. "When passing through Boulogne," said tho lady, "I visited one of the numerous canteens established by wealthy English ladies at their own expense for the purpose of providing men for the front and returning soldiers'with light refreshments. At theso canteens a soldier may obtain a cup of tea, coffee, or cocoa, or a cooling drink at any time. 'Die popularity of the canteens lias been demonstrated repeatedly. The one I visited had been supplying 110 less than 3000 soldiers daily for a long time. If such a canteen, ill charge of ladies, wore opened at Heliopolis it would bo an inestimable boon to our soldiers from New Zealand. Here is a department of activity in which some of the women of Now Zealand with the means and the leisure could perform a very noblo work. They might very easily be run 011 the same lines as those in France,'where the canteens aro maintained solely by patriotic Englishwomen to whom licenses lave been issued by tho military authorities. The military camp at Zeitoun is only ten minutes' walk from Heiiopolis, where the men usually go when off duty. Many, I of them, failing in their endeavours to obtain a temperance drink, are tempts ed to take tho local beers, which intoxicate very quickly. Tho establishment of a canteen on the lines suggested. would, lam confident, save many of our 6oldiers from ruin."

Mr. P. Donton. is announced to givo a lantern lecture on India at tile Y.W.C.A. this evening Mr. Denton has some eplendid slides of various parts of India. A collection will be taken lip for the purpose of obtaining wool for knitting socks for our soldiers. A play in four acts, entitled "Cinderella," to bo followed by a grand concert and playlet entitled "Britannia's Tea Party," is to be givon in St. Mark's Schoolroom on Thursday evening nest in aid of St. Mark's Church Funds. Miss Gladys Watkins is arranging the concert items, Mi6s Drake the playlet, and tho Misses Holm the "Cinderella" play. Miss Kathleen Murray (Sydney) is the guest of Mrs. W. Watson, The Terrace.