SOLDIERS' CLOTHES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 16, 13 October 1917, Page 9

SOLDIERS' CLOTHES

A REASSURING STATEMENT.

In- Hie House of Representatives a few days, ago, Mr. W. B. Meld asked the Minister of Defence whether ho was aware that New Zealand soldiers have been over twelve months in the trenches without change of clothing, and that some of them at the time tho last mail left were in rags; and whether deliuito instructions will be issued that every one of our men shall be 1 supplied with a full outfit of warm clothing before the European winter begins. The. eU'eut of Sir James Allen's roplv was that ideal conditions could not be maintained while' the men were in tho trencheß, but as soon as they came out everything possible was done tor their cleanliness and comfort'.

A much more reassuring replv was given to a Dominion reporter by a hero of jUessinw. now in. Wellington, snlloriiigfrom a splintered elbow that is likely to keep nis arm stilt" for life. This soldier, when approached about the matter, said that he could only speak for his own company, and none of tliein had ever, had any troublu in'getting new ctothos when they were required whilst on duty iu France. If they got their pants torn in the barb-wire—and barb-wire was everywhere—they could at once requisition new ones from stores and get them. It was the samo with everything else. liven tho underclothing that was sorved out was of the very best. Iu the trenches a man did not iook for new clothes. Anyhow, they were only in for eight Ways, then they went back to billets, ami tho first thin? that was done there was to have a hot bath and get a clean rig-out in everything, leaving tho old uniform to be fumigated, washed, and mado as good as new for,someone else. Of course, there were "grousers" in every platoon. A man might deliberately roll iu the mud and then ''grouse" because he could not there and then get a clean rig-out. "Grousers" were born, not made—they were just liko typhoid-carriers, only with them it was tho germ of discontent they carried. There was no need to worry about the clothes—they woro as good ias, if not a bit belter than, any 6crved. out on the whole front. It was 'quite true that soldiers on furlough sometimes arrived in London with the mud of Flanders still upon them. That was because they wished to mako the very most of their leave. Knowing that they could reach London in it few hours, they postponed changing untiltuey could get there, and in London, too, there were always clothes to be had whilst one's own uniform was being washed and pressed. Parents of boys at the front, had no need to worry about the way their sons were clothed— there was no reason for it. Yesterday Sir. James Allen read to tho House tho following statement by a ser-geant-major who left France after the Dattlo of Jfessiuos:— Clothing.—l was at Mcssines, and was wounded there. In regard to clothing, the. men in the First "Wellington Battalion, of which I was a member, were absolutely well clothed. Tf a man hail a, slight hole in his clothing, or if it m any way needed attention, fresh clothing was requisitioned for, aud we got it iu a week or less. Food.—The men in the trenches, and especially in the front Hue, are better fed than tho men in rest billots. In tho battalion I was in a man pays one franc a fortnight., arid this is subsidised by tho regimental funds, which enables the men to get porridge, potatois, cabbage, or other vegetables, nr nay other little extra. Payment of one franc n fortnight is sufficient to supply all tho extra' requirements. Wo do not need moro money at tho front. ?Fe had tho ono franc arrangement no matter whore wo wcro in France, and tho food wo got was very good, but of course a lot depends'on the cook. Sometimes we got plum pudding, and this came out of tho ono franc a fortnight.