OUR MEN IN EGYPT

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2719, 14 March 1916, Page 6

OUR MEN IN EGYPT

BEIIIND THE FIGHTING FRONT

COLONEL RHODES-S REPORTS

A report has been received by the Defence .Minister from Lieutenant-Col-onel Kliodes, who went to Egypt to investigate the administration of the New Zealand Base and other matters affecting the. 111011 in hospitals and at the front. This latest report is a reply, to a series of definite inquiries from tho Defence Minister, whicli accounts for its somewhat disjointed character. Also it was cabled in code, a, fact which accounts for the economy in words. Following are extracts from the report :—

"Nearly all patients are now aggregated in our General Hospital, Cairo, and Canal Auxiliary Hospital. 'Less than 100 remain at Malta, less than 50 in Alexandria, and it is being arranged lo transfer the latter to Cairo. You will have my letter of January 23 about Malta. 1 hope that all Malta patients will soon .be removed, and that Chaplain Tobin may be given another appointment.

"Chaplain Greene has been appointed now in charge of all i>ift goods mores. He meets ships arriving now that can reach our troops in the new station; personally superintends the repacking and distribution of all gift goods. The revised scheme organised By. Colonel Esson is, in my opinion, working well. Cases are still arriving containing parcels for men of various units, giving much work here, and causing delay in delivery. I strongly re* commend the establishment of a central depot in Wellington for properly sorting and packing gift goods before dispatch.

•"'All funds sent through the Government of New Zealand channels are administered by the Commandant "at Headquarters, New Zealand Expeditionary Force Staff, in conjunction with committee composed of the DeputyDirector of Medical Services, the senior mounted and the senior dismounted regimental officer at the station, Chaplain Greene, and matrons of the New Zealand Convalescent Home.

"Cash and goods sent to private in* Jividuals are delivered as soon as posBible to them, or disposed of on theii order. Frequently they are handed to the general fund and the gift section as far as these cases permit, with due regard to the donors' wishes.

"Men leaving the New Zealand Gen« oral Hospital and the New Zealand Base are fully supplied with uniforms, clothing, and are fully equipped lor tlio voyage home. At 'other hospitals regular issues are made, and the embarkation medical officer is always in, attendance at Suez to rectify shortages. Both our hospital ships carry heavy Red Cross supplies, and the quartermasters in each troop ship have a supply of uniforms and ordinance clothing. Postal Director Wanted.

"If our troops remain in Egypt as at present, I think services as now organised by Lieut. M'Curdy would prova satisfactory, but in view of a big movement and the wide distribution of tha troops, my opinion is that a New Zealand) Director of Postal Services should be appointed. He must be a senior officer of the standing of an assistant oiiief postmaster, to be attached to tha staff of the Commandant of the New Zealand base, and to travel from placo to place, organising necessary' services, while M'Curdy will probably follow tha division.

"I can only repeat that men in all hospitals are treated- well and are satisfied. Our troops are well fed. In view of the fact that the Imperial authorities now take over control of all supplies, future catering will rest with them. For the further conifort of our patients, the Red Cross ladies are providing many extra delicacies in our hosV pitals and in other hospitals in Egypt. In furtherance of this good work, I have allotted the O.C. part of the £1000 placed at mv disposal for sick and wounded by the Canterbury St. John Ambulance Association. New Zealand and other ladios have organised for patients in our hospitals and! convalescent honies a system of excursions to interesting places in the neighbourhood of Cairo. The Y.M.C.A. and other institutions have established reading, writing, recreation, and refreshment' rooms, which are appreciated highly by thousands of the Empire's soldiers. Our medical and Army Nursing Service are thoroughly, efficient! "You can again assure people in New Zealand our., sick and wounded are exceedingly well cared for, as .are the convalescents in Lady Godley's and tha Aotea Home. . "The definite establishment of a headquarters' branch of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, under a Commandant of Base, has provided for a very necessary link between New Zealand and various branches of the-army on tlie field and elsewhere."