COLONEL RHODES'S

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2718, 13 March 1916, Page 7

COLONEL RHODES'S

MISSION

A DIARY OF ACTIVITY

GETTING THINGS DONE

J The following summary of the movements and doings of Colonel tho Hon. R. Healon llJiodos, M.P., since ho left Anzac on November 10, to December 6, when ho left Alexandria for Cairo, has been forwarded by Mr. Malcolm Bos?, ollicial war correspondent, dated Cairo, January 20. .The lateness of dispatch is explained by the fact that the information had been following him about,the Aegean for some considerable time before it came into his hands. November 16. —Embarked on the ferry boat for Mudros in the evening. November '17.—Left Auzac early, called at Silvia, and arrived at Mudros at 2.30 p.m. after a stormy passage. November 18.—Visited No. 3 Australian Hospital at West Mudros "Colonel do Orespignoy, 0.C.). Saw about 20 New Zenlanders here.. Lunched u'itli the officers of the hospital and then proceeded with Brigadier-General Earl Johnston (New Zealand Infantry Brigade) to East Mudros, where visited French and British camps.' November i 9 visited, the camps .at East Mudros with BrigadierGeneral Earl Johnston. November 20.—Met General Birdwood aiid Admiral de Robeck at Mudros. General Birdwood desired Colonel Hhodes to oonvoy. a message to the people of New Zealand to tho effect that he greatly appreciated the services of the New Zealand troops under his oommand, for they had fought magnificently. He stated that he would be glad to have as many more such .troops as Now, Zealand could send. Delayed Mails. November 21.—Had a conference-with Major H. F. M'Clintockj officer in charge British Army Postal Services, and discussed with him the question of the disposal of parccls for dead and missing soldiers. Colonel Rhodes informed Major M'Clintock that New Zealand had already decided that in the case of parcels containing eatables and ordinary clothing addressed to dead Mid missing men to distribute such articles to the ijoops, but that in the <sase of trinkets and articles likely to be of special value it had been decided to return them to tho senders. Regarding the allegation that New Zealand tonils were delayed at Mudros, Major M'Clintock stated tliat they were sent, on from there to the ■ front as quickly as possible, and were not'mixed up with t-nfe Australian mails, the Australians having a post office of their own. Uolonel .Rhodes Ihrui visited tbe Stores Transit Department ut Mucin's. Captain Bain, 0.C., explained the system by 'which parcels wero conveyed from tho base to the depots on the beaches, and I from there to the men in the trenches. He said-that so far his Department | had not had more than 1 per cent, of losses, that he had undertaken the distribution of Australian gift parcels, and was prepared to do the same for New, Zealand. He advised Colonel Rhodes to see Mr. Harry E. Budden, Commissioner, Australian Gifts Store at Cairo. .In reply to his inquiries, Colonel Rhodes was informed that by the torpedoing of a transport recently 182 combined bags (containing mostly parcels) and 130 rei gi stored letters of the mail dispatched [ from New Zealand on September 23 had been lost. As a gale was raging today there was no immediate prospect of leaving for Alexandria.

November 22. —Colonel Rhodes embarked on board the transport by whioh ho was to travel to Alexandria, but as

the gale was- still blowing it was doubtful whether the boat would leave. November 23.—1t was expected tlmt the transport would learo Jludros on tho following day. November 24.—Left lludroa Harbour at 5 p.m. November 25.—At sen. Colonel Rhodes was grieved to learn from an. officer who was travelling on board tlia same transport with him that Colonel Stewart) of tho New Zealand Expeditionary Force, whom lie- had visited in the 3rd Australian Hospital at West JLudros, had died ol' d'ysentery two days .previously; November 26.—At sen. .An officer roturning from tho front to Egypt mentioned to Colonel Rhodos, as showing the difficulties in keeping horses fit ill Egypt, that a post-mortem made on one of his horses disclosed sand iu its stomach weighing 701b. Though this was an exceptional case it was, the officor said, quite a common occurrence for post-mortem examinations on horses to disclose large accumulations of sand in their stomachs. November 27. —The pilot came aboard at 1.30 p.m.; awl tlie transport -was berthed at the Alexandria Docks at 3 o'clock. Brigadier-General Earl Johnston left immediately for, Cairo, where his wife'was seriously ill. Mrs. Johnston tiled on December 15, and was buried in the British section of the old Cairo Cemetery oil the following day. Tho pall-bca rers wero men of General I Johnston's own brigade, and all other units of the N.Z.E.F. were represented. The principal mourners wero General Johnston and liis brother-in-law, Lieutenant Fell. Colonel Rhodes and a number of officers of the N.Z.E.F., and General Carrutliors, A.Q.M.G. (representing the British Headquarters Staff in Egvpt), wero also present. Chaplain M'Kenzie Gibson, of Sumner, conducted the service. Wreaths were sent on behalf of tho Rt. Hon. W. F. Massoy, Prime Minister of New Zealand, and his colleagues, General Sir Alexander and Lady Godley, General Carriithers, A.Q.M.G. (British Headquarters), General Sir Andrew Russell, and the Headquarters Staff of the N.Z. and A. Division, the officers, non-coms., and men of the N.Z. Infantry Brigade, Colonel the Hon. R. Heaton Rhodes, Colonel Charters, Major, and Mrs. J. Studholme, and o.thers. A very large mail, the accumulation of five weeks, awaited Colonel Rhodes and his secretary, Mr. W. Orow, on their return to Alexandria from Gallipoli. November 28.—Accompanied by Chaplain Greene, visited' Bombay Presidency Hospital (old San Stophano Casino), where there wero eight New Zcalanders. _ Major Brown took them round the institution, which lias accommodation for 500. They then called on Colonel Pridmore, of the Indian General Hospifat, which is really part of the former building. The layer has accommodation for 1000. Colonel Pridmore has been very kind to New Zealanders, and Colonel Rhodes took the opportunity of thanking him on behalf of New Zealand for the interest he had taken in its men. This hospital now accommodates only Indians. • From there Colonel Rhodes and Chaplain Greene went to No. 17 General Hospital (Victoria College), and visited the solioolroom block,• where they found about six New Zealanders, two being dangerously November 29. —Visited Cairo, where was met by Colonels Charters, 0.C., N.Z. Base Depot, Esson, A.Q.M.G., and Major Maguiro, N.Z.M.C., of New ZoalariJnjcneral HospttaT, Cairo. Later ■met Brigadier-General Johnston and conferred with Colonels Chaytor and Parkes (P.M.O. New Zealand No.' 2 General Hospital). The latter had just returned from Suez, where lie had been superintending tho embarkation of sick and wounded on board our hospital ship Maheno. . Discussed with him the proposal to _ establish a small hospital at Alexandria, to be worked in conjunction with the _New Zealand General Hospital at Cairo, which has accommodation for upwards of 000. Returned to Alexandria at 11 p.m. Gifts and other Parcels. November 30. — With Chaplain Greene visited the New Zealand Ordnance Store in Shed 43,. Alexandria Docks, whero there was a great accumulation of Christmas and other sifts for New Zealand troops. Colonel Rhodes authorised Sergeant Bond, who is in charge of the store, under the direction of Colonel Charters, to employ Arabs to assist in tho handling of cases, of which there were no fewer than 1300. Nine hundred of these would have to bo opened to ascertain the nature of their contents before distribution to the troops. In the afternoon Colonel Rhodes again visited Lady Godley's Convalescent Home. December 1. —In the morning again visited New' Zealand Advanced Base Army Post Office, Alexandria, and discussed with Lieut. M'Curdy, 0.C., various matters with a view," if possible, to improve the service. In the afternoon called on Major-General Egerton, C.8., G.0.C., Alexandria district, discussed with him many matters concerning New Zealand troops, particularly ' tho distribution of parcels and mails. The General questioned Colonel Rhodes about the distribution of guts to New Zealand patients in hospitals, and tho method of requisitioning for extras required by patients, and of debiting the cost of such articles against their pay. Colonel Rhodes informed the General that Chaplain Greene, who was with him, would be glad to explain the system. of requisitioning. This Chapjain Aireeno did, and undertook to give fuller details in writing. The General expressed his approval of the system, and Ins intention to adopt it for- the Bri- [ tisn troops.. Now Zealand has thus agam given a lead, being the first country to adopt a satisfactory system for the distribution of hospital comforts through its chaplains, and now to give a lead oil the method of requisitioning. General Egerton informed Colonel ■Modes that the New Zealand Jlilitary Post Office compared most favourably with other military post offices. Again accompanied by Chaplain l-ireene, Colonel Rhodes visited No 17 General Hospital, which they had partly visited on the previous Sunday. They, saw about twenty New Zealanders here mostly convalescents. They again saw ; one of the men who was seriously ill i on their previous visit, and were pleas- ' eel to find that he had taken a marked ] turn for the better. One of tho other f serious cases was still dangerous, suf- 1 from pneumonia and pleurisy. < Another had developed enteric on top 1 or pneumonia, and' had consequently ' been removed to the enteric ward. Again called at New Zealand Advanced Base Post Office to witness the sort- 1 mg of a large letter mail which had just i om Zealand. Lieut. ] ~ lfoi' m ed Colonel Rhodes that i 4od cases containing parcels had just I arrived, and that 150 bags of news- m papers and parcels were waiting a 1 transport to take them to the front. ' [ December 2.—ln the morning, con- i ferred with Chaplain J. Ross (Presby- t terian), who had just returned from o 1/iigland, and who was formerly chap- s I lain of No. 17 General Hospital, Alex- 1 andria. In the afternoon, conferred 1 I with .Senior Chaplain Bcadniore, and I pointed out to him that a chaplain was f urgently required for Neiv Zealanders i at Madras. It -was therefore arrang- I cd that Chaplain Ross should be sent 1 thoro, as was originally intended, in- li stead of to No. 1 General Hospital, I Salonika. Colonel Rhodes subsequent- <> wired to Colonel Chartors ( O.C. New 1 .Zealand Base Depot at Cairo, desiring ft linn to request tho authorities to ask C that the chaplain at present at Sari lonika attend to the requirements of n No. 1 Hospital until Chaplain Burridge, u who was aboard the ill-fated Marquette i when she was torpedoed, was able to a return ill in abouE six weeks' time. n Then visited, Chaplain Greene, ii No. 17 General Hospital. Saw here a li Canterbury man who w Mfifltolv 1)1 ii with enteric i then again visited Bow ie

bay Presidency Hospital. The Post Office Muddle. December 3. —With Captain Fisher, D.A.I'.S., Australian Imperial Force, spent tlio morning visiting the New Zealand and tlio Australian Advanced Base Post Offices. AVit.li liim and Lieutenant Cunningham, O.C. of the Australia n Post Office, and Lieutenant M'Curdy, O.C. of the New Zealand Post Olfiee, diseussod methods of sorting letters and the distribution of parcels adopted by both offices. While complaints were rifo in Now Zealand concerning .tlio non-delivery of letters and parcels, it was evident that such complaints aro not confined to New Zealand. AVliereas in the New Zealand Army Post Office all letters aro sorted alpliab'eticallv, in the Australian offico they are sorted in bags for battalions, and are sent on in that way •to the front. If the men are not with their battalions, tlio letters aro sont hack to the baso post office, thus causing a considerable delay in the delivery of correspondence for tliosc in hospitals and elsewhere. Mr. Cunningham said that it would bo impossible For him and Tiis staff to cope with the Australian mail if tlio method of sorting alphabetically were adopted. Newspapers are sent on to tlio front from both offices sorted into companies or battalions. In tho Australian offico the parcels are ffstcd, but not so in {lie New Zealand office. This does not ensure tho delivery of parcels, being morely a record of the forwarding of parcels. Both tho Australian Post Office and Parcels Offico wero full to overflowing, even the lavatories being used For storage. In She Australian Parcels Offico thero was abundant ovidonee that the New Zealand method of forwarding parcels in wooden cases was a very great advance on tho old method of sending them in Sags. Many parcels in tho Australian office were found to bo crushed to atoms, and evon strong tins were flattened. The sergeant in charge of tho parcels offico stated that in some of their bags 50 per cent, of tho contents were damaged or entirely destroyed. In tho afternoon Colonel Rhodes saw Surgeon-General Babtie, V.C., P.D.M.S., and obtained from him a report by the Imperial Advisory Committee for tho prevention of epidemic diseases in the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, which they had kindly prepared in answer to cortaiii quostions forwarded by Colonel Rhodes to General Babtio. Tlio report is signed by Colono! AV. Hunter, Lieut.-C'olonel G. S. Buchanan, ami Lieut.-Colonel L. S. Dudgeon, all of tho It.A.M.C. Later in tho afternoon .Colonel Rihodes called on Colonel Beach, A.D.M.S., on whom ho .had previously cnlled. Ho had not been ablo to meet him before ho (Colonel Rhodes) loft for Gallipoli. On that' occasion Colonel Rhodes explained tb Colonel Beach's second in command that he was desirous of obtaining cultures of t'ho. typhoid germ with which. Now Zealand troops were being inoculated' at Mudros. Colonel Bench informed him that there had been some correspondence with New Zealand on this subject, and that on November 5 10,000 doses had been forwarded to Now Zealand. AVith regard to obtaining further supplies of cultures, Colonel Beach advised him to see Surgeon-Major Ferguson, of tho Central Laboratory, 21st General Hospital. Colonel Boaoli also informed him that they wero experimenting with para-typhoid vaccine, and had inoculated about 50 patients. It was too early yot, howover, to say whether the experiment had been successful. Colonel Rhodes spent somo timo discussing the general health of the, troops and the sanitary condition of tho trenches. December 4.—Spent tho morning in the New Zealand Records Offico discussing many matters with Major Fitzhorbert, 0.C., r-nd examined his system of entering the records of casualties and cabling the same to Now Zealand. Tho system seemed to bo vory satisfactory indeed. Major Fitzherbert promised to send Colonel Rhodes explanatory memoranda. ' In the afternoon, again accompanied by Chaplain Greene, ne visited tlio Montazah Convalescent Home, wliioh is beautifully situated in extensive grounds, and has moit convenient bathing accommodation in the boat harbour. There he met afceut a dozen New Zoalanders, including olio who had enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force. Ho also met two New Zealand nurses, Sister Higginson, formerly matron of the Hamilton Hospital, and Sister Collins, late of the ICumara Hospital, both of whom, at the outbreak' of the war, had first offered their ser-! vices to tho New Zoaland Government, but as no nurses wore then being sent from Now Zealand they paid their,own passages to England and offered their services to the AVar Office, which, however, did not accept them. Then thoy offered their services to the British Red Cross Society, which readily acceptcd them, and the two sisters were sent to Malta. After doing duty there for six months they left' for Egypt, arriving about a month afto. From Montazah. Colonel Rhodes and Chaplain Greeno proceeded to Aboukir Railway Station, thence by donkeys to the Aboufeir Nurses' Rest Home, run under the auspices of the British Red Cross Society. The matron explained to them that the place belonged to her father, Mr. G. B. Alderson, also the house-boat in the bay, from' which tho nurses bathed. There were about po New Zealand nurses in tho home, including fivo who had been on the Marquette when sho was tbrpedoed on the- way to Salonika with the No. 1 New Zealand Stationary Hospital, Another generous action on Mr. Alderson's part was the placing of his bountiful house and grounds in Alexandria at Lady Godley's disposal as a rnvalescent home for New Zealand offi:ers. December 5. —Spent tho morning in thj No. 19 General Hospital, 'iceing some of the nurses who were on the Marquette. In the afternoon. accompanied by Ohaplain Greeno. Colonel Rhodes hoarded. tho hospital ship Oxfordshire md saw a liumoer of New Zealand sicc and wounded who had just returned From Anzac. A r er.y severe weather line] iccently been experienced there, m-i i number of the invalids wero suffering from its effects. They then visited lie hospital ship Essequibo, which was . a OII E W ®.V down the harbour, nns is tho most recently equipped (ospital ship._ They returned to the ■ity just in time to meet at the railvay station Colonel Chaytor, who had tome up from Cairo on his waj to Vnzac, where he is to take command jf tlio Now Zealand Mounted Rifles .in Hade. ' December 6.—With Colonel Chavtor, joloncT 7<hodes visited the Now Zeaand Post Office, and later the New Zoaand Ordnance Store in Shed 43 at the UoxaniJria Docks. _ After that they Raited hlie stores oi flu; firfiTsii Stores ransit where "they saw ijimerous cases ready to bo" shipped to no froilt. These cases had been made ccording to instructions and were of a uitahlo size for packing on mules, icing a great contrast to nearly all the >oxes dispatched from New Zealand to be iroiit. In consequence of what he aw there, Colonel Rhodes at oilco a bled to Colonel the Hon. J. Allen linister of Defence, on tlio subject! n the afternoon, accompanied bv Chaplin Btirridge, visited at the 1 Schools' lospital several nurses who bad been n tho Marquette, as was also Chaplain urridge himself, and again saw tlio larquette nurses in tho Number I<l eneral Hospital. With Chaplain Burdgo he then visited the cemetery here all New Zealandois who have 1 ied in Alexandria aro buried. Ilav- | ig been shown around by the engineer ! nd having seen his plans and records' : tRe graves,\oolonei Rhodes was satfied that- the_ graves could be identi?d without difficulty. In the oven- I ir Celond RHndss "3!sed! H La<% ' y 6| where be mat Lady. Carnarvon

• and Mrs. Popham, who are interested in helping British troops in Egypt. He ' discussed with Lady Carnarvon -the ■ question of finding employment for the twolve members of the volunteer sisterL hood frho had just arrived, from New • Zealand. . Lady Godley's Hospital. December 7. —Accompanied by Lieu-tenant-Colonel Dudgeon, of the Imperial Sanitary Commission, Colonel Rhodes visited tho laboratory at Number 21 General Hospital, where he had arranged to meet Major Ferguson, O.C. of the Central Laboratory. From there Colonel Rhodes, accompanied by Colonal Chaytor, proceeded to Lady Godley's Convalescent Home, and took with them . Lady Godlcv to Number 17 General • Hospital, where they saw the work of tho voluntary lady helpers of the Bed Cross Society. These ladies were preparing jellios and other light foods for patients in the hospital, Le., for those between tho patients on special diet nnd the convalescents. During the previous week these' ladies had prepared and distributed upwards of SOOO ilishcs. There wcro five of them in a small building, in which they prepared and cooked these foods. They lold him that other voluntary helpers wero Koing similar work in other hospitals, but in sonic hospitals this work was Jiofc permitted. While at No. 17 General Hospital, Colonel Rhodes took tho opportunity of again seeing the three serious Now Zealand eases. . One was very much improved, and one was improving, but having developed heart trouble would have' to bo returned to New Zealand. Colonel Rhodes then called on the superintendent, of'the Eastern Telegraph Company regarding cablegrams of inquiry. December S.—Called at tho Australian Advanced Ease Army Post Office, and from there went with Lieut. Cunningham, O.C.'of the. Australian Office, to call on .Norton Pasha, Egyptian Post-master-General. They discussed with I'jm the question of tho transit of mails, ivith particular reference to the rough handling mail packages are subjected ( to in Egypt, more especially when parcel mails are being lauded at Suck. Colonel Rhodes then went to the Writish Advanced Base Post Office, where he was taken in hand by Captain Wilson, O.C. It was very evident that complaints as to tho non-delivery of letters, newspapers, and parcels applied equally to all military post offices. Colonel Rhodes ,snw a heap of parcels from England which had been broken and the addresses destroyed in' transit. While the Australian Post Office sends letters to tue front twice the British Office sends (.hem only once. On their return they are kept for six weeks, and {I the addressee cannot be found 'tho letters are returned to England. J Shelves which Captain Wilson explained ( had recently been packed with letters, j returned from the frent were then al- \ most empty, as lie had recently put on i 100 men to again sort and forward those t letters to the addresses recorded'in t'he ( books. S Having for th» present completed his 1 vat'ts s.t, Cilnnsl Rltodsn left ! by tram for Cairo at 8 p.m. J