HOSPITAL WORK IN FLANDERS.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 310, 5 October 1915, Page 2

HOSPITAL WORK IN FLANDERS.

GHASTLY SCENES. «We had a ghastly attack by a. Taube on Sunday morning at 9.30,” writes Lieutenant A. D. Anderson, an army surgeon with the R.A.M.C. in Flanders, and an old boy of Christ s College, Christchurch, in a letter lo his relatives. “He dropped three bombs up by the station; two dropped in some cottages where some English Tommies were billeted, killing nine outright, and two others died up here later on, while eight were badly wounded.

Seven civilians were killed, a little old man losing his four children, wife, sister, and brother-in-law. It was a terrible morning, and we wore very busy but I have never seen more ghastly sights. One wee girl had her head blown off —I’ll never forgot it. The only consolation the relatives have is that the German aviator was brought down dead five miles off. He flew over our buildings twice at a terrific height, but, thank goodness, did not let fly. This is the ninth attack by Taubes on this town, and the third while we have been here. Without exception, yester-

day was the worst day I have experienced since we’ left Ypres in November,” continues Lieutenant Anderson. “At 6.30 a.ra. a. aube came over the dropped seven bombs just outside the town, trying to hit off the aviation sheds. All seven missed their mark, but damaged some private property. Then, from 10 o’clock to 2 p.m. I was

continuously dressing bad cases (as I am on tlie heavy wards again for a week), and gave a long anaesthetic. Had lunch, and then and I went for a run in a big Daimler with some other friends in the A.8.C., to a. village, which is under shell-fire every evening, three and a quarter miles from here. There was a Hot of firing, but no shells came over us. We motored back and had tea with them in a house midway between the two places, where, half an. hour later, while still there observing two Taubes, two large 151 b bombs fell. The first fell in the Convent Garden, in which wo have our serious wards. Every window was blown in, and a man and a nun wounded. "The second, a few seconds later, fell in the main street, kiDing nine civ- I ilians and wounding several badly, mostly women, of whom we have nine in my wards. Two of these died in the wards, and I dressed some terrible wounds on three others, one little girl of sixteen being one of the victims. I went round to the spot immediately on hearing the explosion, and it was the uost ghastly sight I have over soon. Throe dead horses, another with a leg all tern up (shot by an officer later on), and dead and wounded lying all l over the place, and glass and bricks all over

the road. The bomb had torn a groat hole in the paved road. A ‘Zeji ’ flow over the same village last night and blew two railway trucks to glory. "Thank goodness, to-day is too dull; for I frankly confess they almost scare the liver cut of the one when they begin chucking their beastly bombs about anyhow. They never come low enough to do any military damage* but to have nine moaning women in what is supposed to be a hospital for wounded soldiers, is the absolute lim'v. It’s not war, but murder, plain and ghastly. "It was very funny on Sunday. About ten minutes, after a (iin had crossed over our roof and street, and

everyone had got as flat as possible against the nearest object (myself against our front door), I was going to my billot, and a ear, which was not yet round the corner, got its gears . jammed for an instant with a horrible rasp; wo all made for cover. Then, when wo realised our positions, we all roared, civilians and Soldiers. Nerves! We found the base of one 12inchcr! Phew! I can just lift it! "The Canadians have done splendidly, and all are full of praise for them. This use of asphyxiating gas by the Germans is quite true; we had lots of men in, not wounded, but quite laid out and blue, j "It’s a dirty way to fight, but typical of German military methods.’’