"A SURGEON IN KHAKI."

Taranaki Daily News, 27 September 1916, Page 6

"A SURGEON IN KHAKI."

DAYS SPENT AT THE FRONT,

THE AFTERMATH OF BATTLE.

Tn his book "A Surgeon in Khaki" the late Dr. Martin deals with a ".ad phase of the surgeon's work at tha front. He

The memories of days spent at the frjnt can rever be quite forgotten. Time may blunt the clearness of outline of some of the incidents in a hazy mist, but there are others that will jtand out clear and undimmed to the last.

The surgeon sees the very seamy side (f war. He comes close to the men stricken down in the field, helpless and bleeding and in pain. He stands by them in tlnir dark hours in hospital and by their bedsides when they die. While the world is hearing the earthquake voice of Victory, he is perhaps kneeling on the straw easing the path to death of a dying 'man, one of the victors in the fight, or perhaps operating in a mean cottage, surrounded by wounded men waiting their turn on the table. '.. he gallant charge, tht brave defence, the storming of the enemy's position arc heralded in dispatches and in song and story, but translated into the notebook of the "Surgeon in Khaki" they represent many dead, many wounded, much crippling and- mutilation, tear;, distress, and broken hearts. I have seen brave men die the death in battle—changed in a second of time from forceful, vital, volcanic energy to stilj inanimate rest. I have seen mortally wounded men pass uncomplainingly anil composedly to the valley of the shadow, and I have seen faces become anxious and troubled at the thought of those dear and loving ones left behind and of the aching hearts and tears. I have written letters of farewell from dying men and officers to wives and sweethearts and children, and have felt the horror and misery of it all. It is, a sad and -mournful sight to see brave voting men die. Vet, though the life of the "Surgeon in ivhaki," is amidst this aftermath of battle, he has the infinite satisfaction of knowing that he can and does, hold out a haiid of help to the hurt and maimed soldier crawling out of ,the inciter of blood and destruction, and that he is doing the work of the Compassionate and Pitying One.

"Affliction's sons are brothel" i:i ("istress, A brother to relieve! tflow exquisite ! the bliss."

This war has brought out many faults in our national life, but it has also brought out many shining virtues, and to the faith and hope of the people in the prowess of the soldiers, we must add the 'harity hown by the. people of this Empire to our sick and wounded. By subscriptions to ambulance funds, Bed Cross funds and hospitals, and by doing all that was humanly possible to help those hurt in battle, the people of today have made a name that posterity will honor and strive in vain to equal. I They have also helped the Belgian 'and Serbian Red Cross movements and have shown that

''Kindness is another's trouble, !\tirage is your own." which is always so admirable a trait.

Our fighting men are magnificent, and the hardihood and patient endurance of our wounded are beyond all praise. 1 have seen oui .men ir actual fight, I have watched the French gumier'n at worlf and seen the French inlantry charge with the bayonet and throw back a German rush, and 1 feel a complete confidence of the ultimate final success of the Allied arms—for to such men i 3 given the Victory.