DEPARTURE OF TROOPS.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 April 1917, Page 6

DEPARTURE OF TROOPS.

CHANGE IN PROCEDURE.

The next of kin arrangements in connection with the departure of troops for the front having recently been revised, the following statement on the subject was issued by the Defence authorities on Satiirdav:—

"Hitherto the Defence Department has provided special facilities for enabling next of kin to say good-bye to s troops en leaving for the front. This was done by supplying next of kin with next of kin tickets a fortnight or so in advance, and by setting aside a special enclosure on the wharf foriihe use of holders of these tickets' only date of the departure. These ajHSigeinents have now had to be cancelfetPfbr the reason that it has become necessary to observe the greatest secrecy regarding the departure of drafts for the front. This being so, 'jthe Defence Department can no longer acquaint next of kin on such occasions. Indeed, all that can be done for next of kin in this respect is to open the camps to next of kin of each draft as that particular draft is nearing the final stage'of its training, which period is generally known. Arrangements have been made at the camps accordingly. Next of kin will understand 1 that these extra precautions are taken solely in the interests of the safety of the men while they are at sea, and are not due to callousness on the part of anybody. At the same time the Defence' Department desires to State that there is no occasion for alarm in this connection. The step taken had been in operation for two months now, and enabling as it does the maintaining of greater secrecy minimises proportionately the chances of the enemy learning the movements of our transports. The Defence Department hopes that by the issue of this information needless" inconvenience and expense to next of kin will be avoided, and further, that next of kin,, when their men are on final leave, will take the opportunity for "saying good-bye. "Parcels for men on the transports may be forwarded either to the men in camp or sent fully addressed—number, rank, name, unit—to the men care- of 'The Transport Shipping Officer, K Shed, Glasgow Wharf, Wellington.* Parcels sent to the latter address should be marked 'For use on voyage.'