AT THE FRONT

Nelson Evening Mail, 21 September 1916, Page 6

AT THE FRONT

NEW ZEALAINDERS IN FRANCE. la a letter to the Son. J. Allen, Minister of Defence, General Godley encloses a letter from General Russell ref aiding some of the work being done y New Zealanders in France. General Russell states that when the division went to France the infantry, as part of their training-, were put through a gas cloud with helmets on, in order that they might be accustomed to gas attacks. They were also given experience of the effect of tear-producing shells. "By day," he writes, "our artillery is constantly active, shelling movements observedl on roads in rear of enemy lines, suspected enemy headquarters, communication trenches, and other tender spots, also in retaliating upon enemy trenches for all shelling of our town. By night our infantry are engaged- in constantly patrolling 'No Man's Land,' between our trenches and the enemy's lines, the extent of whicih varies from 200 yds to 300 yds to 60yds or 60yds in one or two places." The Ambulance Corps have had many duties. Besides their purely ambulance work they have had to do all manner of sanitary duties. General Russell says they have worked as inspectors, road sweepers, destructor hands-, and at the divisional baths and laundry. They have greatly assisted the civil population, evacuating- the civilian sick and wounded of the town to the hospitals in rear as directed by the French authorities. The Sanitary Section has taken over all the sanitary municipal services—water supply, drainage, street-cleaning, destruction of refuse, evaluation of cases of infectious disease, inspection of dairies and food shops, disinfection of premises and clothing, the provision of hot baths. The section also supervises the washing of all -underclothing for the division. Av the divisional baths the number of bathers for the month of June was 36,483, an average of 1300 per day. The number of garments wahed was 229,191. The strength of the Sanitary Section is one officer and 71 men.

The division has had good health, hut an epidemic of German measles and mumps has reduced the number of effectives. All the diseases of the Mediterranean, are now practically non-existent among the men. The casualties for May and June were : Killed—officers 8, other ranks 113; wounded'—officers 31, other ranks 703; missing'—l.