WOMAN'S WORLD

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3165, 17 August 1917, Page 3

WOMAN'S WORLD

4 (Continued from page 2.) AMERICAN NURSES AND THE WAK Now that America is fairly launched into the world-wido war of nations, it is exceedingly interesting to read in the American "ournal of Nursing" that alone of all Government Departments the nursing servico is organised and ready. The Army Nurse Corps and the Navy Nurse, Corps aro at full strength, and their reserves as repilesouted by 'the Nursing Servico of the Eed Cross 01 nearly SOOO of the most highly-trained women, would be sufficient for any demands made upon it. "The Eed Cross work of instructing tho women of the leisure classes who would wish to give voluntary servico to the Government in time of war is placed in the hands of nurses. There should bo no place in this country for friction between the professional and lay workers, and no opportunity for conditions which have existed in foreign lands. If the plans of the Red Cross aro supported by the Government our soldiers will he assured the same good care as is provided for the ordinary citizen in time of peace." Elsewhere wo read that tho voluntary aid workers are called "nursjo helpers," and apparently there is no danger of their clashing with tho trained nurses. We read by cablegi-am that already a largebody of doctors and muses has left America and taken over some of the largo military hospitals. Since the war .started American women have been giving their services not only to tho sick and wounded of Britain and her Allies, but also tile Germans. The well-known hospitals at Paignton and the American Women's Hospital in Prance have dono splendid service from the very first.—"Kai Tinki."

NEWS FROM MESOPOTAMIA A .NURSE'S LETTER. "Kai l'iaki" (tho "New; Zealand Nurses' Journal") is, as might naturally be expected, of more than ordinary interest now, as it contains so much nows of our nurses, -where thoy are, what class of -work they are' engaged upon, and various other matters in connection with their ministrations for our siok and wounded soldiers. Wo do not hear very much news from Mesopotamia, and for hat reason tho following letter written by ono of the New Zealand nurses from the General Hospital, Amara, is of particular interest. The writer says: "I am on duty on ono of the paddle boats which bring, our sick and wounded down. They have now two sisters on each of the large boats. Wo havo a very busy time going down, and, of course, like hospital ships, nothing to do on tho return journey, wliich is very much longer. This river has such a strong current, and ire are laden with a barge on each side of fodder, and GOO Indian troops on board. It is a week to-day since welt left Basra, and expect to see into Bagdad to-morrow. We aro now nearing Otesiphan. It is most interesting passing all these places where our troops havo been and fought so well; it is sad to think so many have been left behind. There is absolutely no evidence of fighting except the trenches and barbed wire entanglements. It is truly wonderful how the enormous amount of equipment and tho guns we ■captured havo all been cleared, and it is indeed a desolate-looking country. It will always remain a mystery to me how our men got from Kut to Bagdad in so short a time, February 25 to March 11.' They are indeed wonderful, and they ore all so bucked with this great success, that everyone's mental, condition has gone up fifty per cent., which one feels certain will make a marvellous difference to the number of sick this summer. Tho general idea is that most of them will bo kept in Bagdad, and not bring them all tho way down this hot river,.although they can get right to Basra in' four or five days, and about two days to Amara, and our hospital is in a most excellent condition now, any number of electric fans and lights, anil we shall have plenty of ice, and much better stores. The people of Hastings, Christelmrch, and Dunedin have been most generous in sending me most wonderful supplies of stores. "Of course, "we are all wondering what the n-oves are going to be. Two Maticnary hospitals have gone to lKnnda-3, but I fear we are too well 10 be moved now. However, we do abiut two months on tho' boats, so hope ta have an opportunity of seeing the wonderful old city. We are most wonderfully comfortable on th'ese boats, now cut from the Clyde about five or sis weeks ago, and specially built for the river. We carry about 500 wounded just on stretchers on the deck. This is my first trip above Amara, but we took a big convoy down to Basra, including twenty officers. We have camp beds for the latter, and do what we can. It is difficult getting about amongst the stretchers. Wo do all dressings necessary, but don't have time for much more. We also had fifty wounded Turkish prisoners, and with barges full with Indian troops we don't do anything for the Indians unless urgent.

"We passed ICut (where poor General Townshend spent 60 many weary months) in the very early morning, and could plainly see where the bombarding had wrecked some of the walls and the dome of the minaret is blown off. A group of palm trees close by seemed to have suffered most. There is not a single, person in Kut; nothiug but starving cats, they say. It is full of disease; no one goes near. There are various rumours that it will'bo burnt down and also that a now Kut will be built further down the river where our camp is at present. It is quito a small place, but picturesque. Mostly the country is barren, and nothing but desert as far as the eye can see."