NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 238, 29 June 1915, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

POLITICAL. | GOVERNMENT CAUCUS. j ■WELLINGTON, Monday. J The Government party met in causus | is morning, and adjourned till 2.30 j is afternoon. The Premier states at all members of th e party, includg'Tau were present, or aciunted for: The business was of a ivate nature, and' the Premier deares that he cannot make any stateent at present.

MAORIS FOR THE FRONTNO OFFICIAL NEWS WELLINGTON, June 28. I In reply to a question this evening te Minister for Defence (the Hon. J. lien) stated that he had received no formation to the effect that the Maori mtingent was leaving for the front. Mr H. Hiroti, who has three brothers Ith the Maori .expeditionary forces, jceived the following cable yesterday ■om Lieut. Turn Hiroti, despatched ■om Alexandria: “Leaving for front. All well. Love ) all. —T. Hiroti.” NE||l I ZEALANDER IN DISGRACE. WELLINGTON, June 28. General Orders issued to-day state hat a general court-martial was held ,t Zeitoun, Egypt, on April sth, for h 8 trial of No. 10-166 A, Corporal John Jpringer, Wellington Battalion,on charlas (1) of endeavouring to persuade versons in the New Zealand expediionary force to join in a mutiny, and 2) conduct' to the prejudice of good srder and military discipline. He was lentenced asunder: To undergo penal servitude for three years, and to be lisdharged with ignominy from His Majesty’s service. THE HOSPITAL SHIP. DEPARTURE DELAYED. WELLINGTON, June 28. The Hospital Ship would have reached Wellington some days ago if the original arrangements had been carried into effect without a hitch, but there lias been delay at Port Chalmers, where the Maheno is being fitted for her new duties, the work having proved moredifficult and extensive than was anticipated, Probably . the ship will be ready to leave Port Chalmers at the end of this or the beginning of next week. for Defence mentioned to-day that the work requiring to be don# ajfter the arrival of the Maheno nt Wellington would be likely to occupy four four or five days, so that the Hospital Ship would not be able to leave New Zealand waters probably for a fortnight yet. The medical staff here would be ready to begin'the equipment of the ship as soon as .she arrived. , • ‘TOMMY ATKINS IS SPLENDID.' ’ FEARS'ONLY GAS, AUCKLAND, June 28. Dr. Arthur Martin, of Palmerston North, has now returned to Now Zealand for a brief rest to recuperate after Ids trying experiences in France and Flanders. Twice his gallant conduct on the battlefield has been mentioned in despatches, but of the circumstances attaching to these incidents Dr. Martin declined to speak. Speaking of “Tommy Atkins” as he found him. Dr. Martin says the British soldier is splendid. He was very cheerful. He was not afraid to die. He could march on, although he knew that that march led to certain death. The only thing that really upset him was the gas, *±hat that was because he did not understand it. The British Army was no^" 0 supplied with masks, but these were not quite effective although very near it. There was a great deal of doubt as to what the gas consisted of. Some supposed it to be a mixture of chlorine and bromine, but a famous Swiss scientist was of opinion that it was azotic acid, made from ammonia, and that the Germans could

produce any amount of it cheaply. He saw several of the men die from poisoning, and it was one of the most terrible sights connected with even a military hospital. • "It is just as though an asthma sufferer while in his worst paroxyam > was strangled by. a cord/' gaid the doctor. Most of the sufferers had died. • The survivors would be crippled for life. Dr. Martin spoke appreciatively of the .magnificent work of the famous French 75's batteries, and of the reputation won by General Davies, the only New Zealand general in Prance.