NEW ZEALAND WOUNDED.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 October 1915, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND WOUNDED.

HOW THE ARE TREATED. THE HOSPITAL ARRANGEMENTS. (From Malcolm Ross, Official War Correspondent with the N.Z. Forces). Gallipoli Peninsula, August 17. The hardest time for the wounded man is the time in between his wounding and his being placed on board the hospital ship. In modern warfare he is liable to be .wounded by bayonet thrust, rifle fire, machine-gun fire, shrapnel, bomb, ordinary shell, inflammatory shell and high explosive. In front of the Germans he has the added horror of noxious gases. On the Peninsula the Turk has not descended to the same depths as his German friend in the use of gas. His nearest approach to it has been the firing of a few inflammatory shells, which have harmed no one. Altogether, he has fought a clean fight, has shown much bravery and resource, and is respected by our troops, who, while they will fight him to a finish, bear him no malice. We have also reason to believe that the Turk is treating such of our wounded as fall into their hands in a merciful and humane manner. The Turkish medical service is said to be good, and material captured by the New Zealanders in the recent fight leads us to the conclusion that the enemy is tolerably well supplied with the medical and surgical necessities for an army in the field.

It is rather a dfficult matter getting our wounded out of the steep and broken country that we have recently taken, but everything that can be done Is now being accomplished, and doctors and stretcher-bearers alike are still doing heroic work.

Each man carries a first field dressing, and that, skilfully applied, often saves a lot of after trouble. Quite close to the firing line in the narrow gullies are established dressing stations, wher« wounds are properly dressed by experienced surgeons. From these stations the wounded are borne on stretchers for about a mile, and perhaps two miles, to the casualty clearing station which Is generally put in the shelter of a hill or gully near the beach. At this point during the last battle -there was some trouble, due mainly to insufficient transport facilities between the shore and the ships, also to want of adequate shelter on shore.

In regard to the New Zealand wounded in particular, they have, owing to the action of the Government, and the liberality of private individuals, all the time been receiving exceptional treatment. The hospital ships take them to Alexandria, Port Said and Malta. Slight cases may be landed at Imbroa and Mudros, where there are tent hospitals. In Egypt the boats are jnet on arrival by the New Zealand Base Staff, under Colonel Charters, and by Chaplain Greene, of the Salvation Army, and the names are noted, Each man then gets a redirection postcard, which, on arrival at the hospital to which he is taken, he fills in, so that prompt delivery by the Military Post Office of letters, newspapers, telegrams and parcels may be assured. In most cases a soldier will be on his way to the hospital while his letters may be on their way to the Gallipoli Peninsula, and in this case there will be delay, because the exigencies of the supply service are such that at times the -mails must be regarded as of secondary importance. Apropos, I may state here that one load of mails—thirty-six bags went to the bottom of the sea off Imbros, so that if New Zealand correspondents do npt get replies to certain letters —private and official —it may be put down to that accident./

Reverting to the New Zealand wounded in Egypt, the many hospitals to which wounded are sent are visited byone or other of the New Zealand chaplains, whose special duty it is to supply the men with any immediate necessities they may require, such as shaving gear, tooth-brush, handkerchiefs, writing paper, water beds (in certain cases), crutches, sticks, underwear, cigarettes, tobacco, pipes, ehocolate, fruit (in certain cases), newspapers, etc. Newspapers, which are supplied by the Government, and in some cases by the newspaper proprietors, are always welcome. British and other residents In Egypt have been most kind to our wounded, and to these people New Zealand owes a debt of gratitude, which in most cases can never be adequately repaid. At the beginning many of these women went .to assist in the hospitals when there was a great strain on the ordinary staffs.

When the men are fit to leave hospital man y go into convalescent homes or camps established by the Government, and administered by a local committee. Lady Godley was the pioneer of this good ( Work, which she continues with judgment and energy. There is a committee for each centre. In Cairo the committee consists of Surgeon-General Ford, Director of Medical Services in Egvpt, Lieutenant-Colonel Hall, Camp Commandant, the senior medic&l officer, and Chaplain Angus Mac Donald. At Alexandria the committee consists of Lady Godley, Colonel Charters, Captain Fitzherbert and Chaplain Greene. The Divisional Staff Ofbcer in Egypt is, ex officio, a member of both committees. At Malta the Red Cross Society, in conjunction with Chaplain Tobin, are administering funds supplied by the Government to provide additional comforts for the wounded New Zealanders. Here also the few devoted British residents are doing a ft'reat work amongst the men, When a man is unfit for further service he is shipped back to New Zealand Generally he wants to get back into ths filing line. He wishes, as he puts it, to rejoin the boys." He goes back, and is wounded again, perhaps killed in action, to occupy a nameless grave in a Turkish trench or on some steep hillside or deep ravine. But he has given his all for England—Mother England—and his relatives mourning the loss of so gallant a son may dry their tears and assuage their sorrow with a glow of pride in such au honorable sacrifice. In this fighting I have seen New Zealauders —and I have no doubt there are British, and Australians, too—who have come back until they have been wounded three times. Such a number of honorable scars should surely entitle them to surcease of strife! Altogether it may be said that New Zealand is looking after her wounded as no other country is. The organisation and the energy displayed are as near perfection as possible under the circumstances. Indeed, one other Dominion, at least, has noted, and admired £>!ir organisation. In conclusion, it may be said that it is pleasant to hear the wounded speak in terms of the highest praise of their officers. It was not always thus, but the New Zealand officers have shown in battle that they are made of the right stuff. A Founded man in hospital expressed regret for opce having called his officer "a damned old woman." "I am very sorry I ever said that," he told a friend, "for, by God, he died lika a man *b4 * gentifsiftjwU?