COLONEL RHODES'S MISSION.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 67, 18 March 1916, Page 6

COLONEL RHODES'S MISSION.

WORK IN EGYPT AND MALTA. NEW, ZEALANDERS WELL CARED FOR. (From Malcolm Ross, Official War Correspondent with the N.Z. Forces). On returning to Egypt from the war zone —where he was ahle to experience the thrill of Turkish high explosives dropping very near, as well as all the delights 'and difficulties of transport in the Aegean—Colonel Rhodes proceeded to inspect the many fine military . hospitals, including the New Zealand one, that have been established in 'and about Cairo. Soon after his arrival he was interviewed by two members of the New Zealand Volunteers Sisteribood, regarding the position of the; twelve \ members who had arrived with the 'object of obtaining work in the hospitals or in other institutions in the interests of the sick and the wounded. It may be stated at the outset that there are already more than sufficient trained nurses and women workers .in "Egypt, 'and that the authorities have found it necessary to put an embargo upon the further immigration of women for the time being. Many would-be voluntary women workers had already been stopped from leaving England, and the Sisterhood referred to had difficulty, on arrival, in finding any employment. Work was eventually found for two, who are qualified nurses, in the Egyptian Government Hospital, at Cairo. A third is •employed giving cooking lessons to soldiers, who will, later, serve as cooks in the camp. Another sister obtained a position in the Walda Palace Hospital for convalescent soldiers at Helouan) near Cairo, and the remaining eight are employed in the refreshment rooms established by the Y.M. V C.A. for soldiers in the Esbekieh Gardens, Cairo. These rooms are becoming increasingly popular among soldiers from all parts of the Empire, and are serving a most useful purpose. Later, on receipt of a cablegram from two other members of the Sisterhood, then on their way to Egypt, Colonel Rhodes interviewed the Cairo authorities in regard to a permit for them to land, and it is understood that permission has been granted. Colonel Rhodes has seen many officers - and officials connected with the hospitals, convalescent homes, record offices, post offices, etc., and discussed with them matters concerning the welfare of the New Zealand troops. The Director of Medical Services, who was among those. interviewed, said that he did not think there would be. further complaints 'about New Zealand patients having been kept in hospial for weeks after they had been "boarded" for New Zealand, as it had been arranged that the Maheno and the Maram'a were to run between Suez and New Zealand .carrying New Zealand, as well as Australian, patients when space was available for the latter. The Maranm has, however, under instructions from the War Office, heen sent to London, but it is understood that only one New Zealand officer and a few of our men are on board. Colonel Rhodes visited the new convalescent home, Aotea, 'at Heliopolis. The promoters of the home are Wanganui and Wairarapa resdents, and though the original idea was a home for twenty-five, it now has seventy-, five inmates, and further provision has been made for 100. With some extra accommodation for cooking and,, lavatories, the building will be in 1 every way suitable. An electric light installation has been arranged for.""' Crosses for New Zealand graves in Egypt are being prepared," and when the crosses .'are erected, .the graves will be photographed for .the. next-of-kin. In Malta, Colonel Rhodes also mad£, arrangements for the placing., of rae> mcrial stones on the graves..of New ;Zealander s that have died there,, and" arrangements were in progress for _ 'cresses to be placed on New Zealand*-,' ers' graves at Gallipoli, but the eyal_. cuation has, of course, prevented."an'y'; thing further being done in the matter at present. (Since the above was written, .Colonel Rhodes has received information through our captain-chaplain at Malta, that Lord Methuen has under consideration a scheme to make the cemeteries at Malta more attractive,, involving a change in the scheme referred to above). Having completed his labours, for the time being, in Egypt, Colonel Rhodes left Port Said on Christmas Day for Malta, where, as already stated in a cable message, he was able to do some work in the interests of our sick, wounded, and convalescent soldiers. Just about this time, enemy submarines were very busy in the Eastern Mediterranean, but the ship Colonel Rhodes and his secretary, Mr W; Crow, travelled in, reached her