New Zealand

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 26, 31 May 1915, Page 8

New Zealand

CARE OF THE WOUNDED. j STATEMENT BY MR ALLEN. j REASSURING TO RELATIVES. Ijeii1 j eii Fresh Association. Wellington, May HO. ; A cablegram received by the Minister tor Defence to-day from the officer commanding the New Zealand base at Alexandria, answered many questions that are being asked by the relatives and friends of the men at the front, i The Minister cabled to this officer on May 21, asking him if letters and telegrams addressed to the New Zealanders’ base would be forwarded to men who might be in hospital at Malta or elsewhere. Air Allen stated in the, same message that the Defence an- 1 thorities here would assume the sick and wounded in Egypt to be progressing favorably unless reports to the contrary were sent regarding individual cases. He requested the officer at Alexandria to transmit information concerning men who might he going back to the front after recovering from sickness or wounds, and asked what

arrangements were being made to return to New Zealand the personal possessions of men who had been killed

Tlio message received by tlic Ministor of Defence yesterday states that letters and telegrams addressed “Care of .New Zealand base at Alexandria” will bo forwarded to the addresses wherever they may be. The officer commanding the base undertakes to report periodically regarding men who recover and return to the front. “The Royal Army Medical Corps” adds the! cablegram, “does not advise the name of the hospital in which a man lies, but it does advise his condition if it is unsatisfactory, and also notifies his discharge from hospital. Our visiting officer is ascertaining the location of the wounded ,and informs this office, and a full record is kept, hut changes are of almost daily occurrence, men being transferred from hospital to hospital, and from town to town, as they progress. This is what makes it difficult to send a report of the progress of men in hospital, unless in cases where the progress is unsatisfactory. The effects of deceased New Zealanders will be returned hy the Willochra, and regularly thereafter.” “I sent another telegram on May 27 to the officer commanding the New Zealanders’ base at Alexandria,” added the .Minister of Defence. “I asked him to telegraph at once the names of Xew Zealanders, officers and men, in hospital in Egypt; the names of those returning to the front, and the names of new arrivals; also the condition of any man should such alter for the worse. 1 told him I should assume that no information meant “progressing favorably,” and mentioned that there were numerous complaints about the uon-delivery of telegrams, letters and parcels to the New Zealand troops. f have to-day received a reply from Colonel Esson, who has returned from the front to Alexandria on special duty. His cablegram runs. ‘I am requested to point out that the list asked for is practically valueless, owing to the numerous daily iisin—fers and discharges; also that it is not edsirable to interfere with the hard-pressed staff. The wounded are distributed in nine hospitals in Alexandria, eight in Cairo, and seven in different Egyptian towns, as well as in hospitals oversea. Our base has already arranged to report the names of men discharged and returning to duty, if the list is absolutely essential, I will arrange to increase the staff, hut all the available men are wanted elsewhere. The hospital accommodation is excellent, the staff and the residents are most attentive, and the wounded are very comfortable. Chaplains are distributing the comforts. The Now Zealand base post office at Alexandria received and distributed our mail made up in bags for the different units. Communication has been difficult and uncertain, hut it is improving. The troops at different times are widely diseprsed, and often personal'matters have to he subordinated to tactical requirements. Letters lor the wounded are picked out here and sent to the hospitals. It is stated by the Turkish prisoners that our wounded and prisoners of war are being well treated. They are sent to Constantinople. (t is just possible that some of the missing are safe.” The .Minister added that the reports he had received ought to bo comforting to the relatives and friends of the wounded. They indicated that, although the conditions were difficult, in some respects, the wounded were receiving excellent attention, and that the staff in Egypt was doing its utmost to make matters run smoothly.

RECRUITING IN NEW ZEALAND. Auckland, May 30. A statement on recruiting was made by the Prime Minister. “People sometimes forget,” lie said, “that for the last few weeks very much larger numbers, than usual have been required, for in addition to the usual reinforcements wo have been asked for nearly 3000 men to make up a special force j offered and accepted a month ago. This meant a heavy strain on the community, but I have not the slightest doubt we shall get the full number. Within the last fortnight there has been a very decided improvement, and men are coming forward in a very satisfactory manner. 'There is no occasion for excitement. 'The manhood of the country is doing its duty well. Wo

■ . , ... ‘is to send n entered into eligageme... ... . ; definite suecihed number Of men at k

dates as long as the war lifsts, and thv men will be sent. More may be w.'fiftod to go into training. Jf so we will ask for them, and I am confident the Dominion will not disappoint ns. “In the meantime J. am proud to say that in proportion to population New Zealand leads the other Dominions in the assistance given to the Empire, and we intend to keep that position however long the war may last. I am not speaking in a boastful spirit, but just to let the people know wo are doing our duty. In the meantime, it is the duty of every young man who is physically lit, and who can possibly get away, to respond to the Empire’s call and register with the military authorities, so that as more New Zealanders arc wanted to go into cam]) they will be forthcoming without any difficulty, and the reputation of New

Zealanders for courage and patriotism, which stands high, will be maintained.”

THE TRENTHAM REGIMENT. THE FIFTH REINFORCEMENTS TESTED. A SEVERE ORDEAL. Wellington, May 2b. The new battalions which will be known henceforth as the Trenthani Regiment (the Earl of Liverpool’s Own) commenced going into camp today, large draughts of men arriving from various parts of the country. Further hatches will go in to-morrow, and the remainder on Monday, bringing the new units up to the- full strength. As the battalions comprising the infantry brigade of the Alain Ne.w Zealand Expeditionary Force were provided by the respective districts with hands, the hope is expressed that the Trenthani Regiment will not be overlooked by the public in this respect . Two battalions can be provided with hand instruments and drums for £3OO, which necessitates a contribution of only £75 from each of the four military districts. Southland has already offered to do its share, and a satisfactory response from other districts is looked forward to. The new battalion will also require thirty-two bandsmen and thirty-two buglers. The fifth reinforcements have now reached the advanced -stages of their training, and arc being thoroughly tested. The four infantry companies wore put through a severe ordeal on Thursday and Friday, when they were engaged in continuous operations for thirty-one hours and a half, sleeping out at night and making an attack at dawn under heavy rain, and putting in lengthy marches. They came through the ordeal with credit and displayed a specially fine soldierly spirit. This morning they were sent out again on - a fourteen-mile route march. The test for the arms will be \ continued next week.

HANDSOME CONTRIBUTION. Napier, May 30. As a result oi' street collections on Saturday close on £7OO was raised for the hospital ship. With previous donations the amount raised for tin’s object to date is about £I6OO. PATRIOTIC FUNDS FROM CISBORNE. Gisborne, May 30. The Gisborne carnival queen election concluded on Saturday night, no less than 2,617,209 votes being recorded, realising the huge sum of £22,060 Is 6d, which is claimed to be the New Zealand record. In addition to this, the festival held in His Majesty’s Theatre in conjunction with the -carnival, realised about £2OOO. It is expected a big sum will be raised on Coronation Day (Thursday next) and during the ensuing days. The result of the election was as follows:—Miss Norma Loisel (Tolaga Hay), 984,140 votes, queen; Miss Kathleen Fromm (sports), 462,370; Miss Mary Taylor (Waiapu County), 374,087; Miss Jvy Parker (Cosmopolitan Club and commercial travellers), 310,827 ; Miss Vera McDonald (Waikohu), 234,812; Miss A. Zachariah (Territorials), 111,517; Miss 11. Carlton (Rowing Club) 74,314; Miss Gladys Cooper (friendly societies), 60.216; Miss Gena Gumming (motorists), 30,621; Mrs Grayson (Cook County) 26,806. The whole of the proceeds go to patriotic funds.

TOTAL SUM RECEIVED, £11,541

Wellington, May 30. The Internal Affairs Department has now received £ll,off on behalf of the Hospital Shij) Fund. JOTTINGS. 'I he Government has decided to pay married privates and non-commission-ed officers of the Xew Zealand expeditionary forces a separation allowance of Is per day for seven days in the week. This extra shilling per day is to be payable to the wives of the noncommissioned officers and privates of the main expeditionary force and ail subsequent reinforcements. Payment will commence from June 1, 1915, for those already in the forces on that date, and from the date of enlistment for others . This means that the pay of married men in the rank and file will be (is per day, instead of os as previously.