NEW ZEALAND SOLDIERS IN ENGLAND.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 April 1917, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND SOLDIERS IN ENGLAND.

THE CAMP AT SUNG. (From Malcolm Eos?,. War Correspondent with the Forces iu tlie Fiold) T . lilth February. A close examination of the training .ml other institutions in comiection with the New Zealand- forces in England leads to tlie gratifying conclusion that capable organisation and strenuous effort have done all that could reasonably be desired to put the training and the comfort of tlie fo_rce on a thoroughly satisfactory' footing. Owing to. the exigencies of the situation, the various camps, hospitals, etc., are scattered over a rather wide area, and it takes some time to get round them all from the Heauqnarters in London. My journey ingß were done at a time when England was held in the grip of an iron frost and the country was white with- snow. It was the severest winter that England had experienced for about 25 years, yet, notwithstanding the severity of the weather, I found the men in excellent health and spirits, and the new men-es-pecially keen to get over to the firingline in France.

The main camps are on the Salisbury Plata that at Sling being devoted to the further training of the reinforcement drafts that hava come regularly from the little islands so far across the seas. A day or two before my visit a reinforcement had come in. I saw them marching through, the camp, and one could not. wish- for a finer lot. They certainly looked the right stuff, and I have not the least doubt that they will do the country that sent them great credit in the next great '■'push'' in the coming spring and summer. They were 11 weeks on the way, having been detained by circumstances over which they had no control. When they arrived in camp they round a hot meal awaiting them, there were tires in the stoves in the huts, and blankets also were ready for rJhem. It is inadvisable to give figures, but when I state that the camp Is about the size of the Featherston Camp New Zeaianders will be able to form some idea of its size and numbers.

Tn the Camp Commandant I found an officer well known in New Zealand politics and in Canterbury soldiering. There have, however, been several changes in tlie command, and theic will probably be others still. One of the most recent commandants was a brigadier who had been on tlie staff in .New 'Zealand, and wbo nas been with the Main Expedition- ! ary Force since it sailed in 1914. He is now returning to hia duties in France, and one of the other brigadiers is likely to take his place. A great improvement has been made in the comfort, conveniences!, and tidiness of the camp since the New Zeaianders took charge of it. There are evenly neatly dug plots in .which spring bulbs and flowers have been planted, and it is the intention of those in authority to aid the food supply by planting several acres- with potatoes. Since the New Zeaianders went into camp in April last a preat deal has been done In making it the model camp it, now is. For this an Otago officer who; was with us on Callipoli and was b-idiy wounded there is in great measure responsible. During my visit the ground was frozen hard, and owing to the absence of mud the camp was seen to best advantage, but it bears the reputation of being one of the cleanest and l)ealtliiost,camps in England, and the various British Generate who have inspected it have expressed 'their satisfaction with the conditions that obtain.

The system of training is arranged on that of the base camp in France. Needless to say it is therefore both constant and strenuous, but the men seem to thrive on it and look the picture of good health. They are also well dressed and smart in appearance. There is the usual "b,ull ring," with specialist instructors who have had the experience of actual warfare in addition to courses of special instruction. Amongst thorn are a number of Ensrlish instructors. Bayonet exercises, bombing, wiring, machine-gun instruction, and all the many things a modern soldier has to learn eontinue fiom morn till night. Old stnbies, built for another division, and now no longer needed, have been converted into sheds so that the drilling can go on in comfort, even on wet days. The command lrom time to time sends officers and N.C.O's to Aldershot so that they can keep up with the training there. But occasionally the New Zealanders have been a little more up to date than their comrades in the OiTotherland. The men arc quick to learn and keen on their work. In the bayonet training there are three or four Aldershot men assisting. At t,he bombing school I found a Timaru 'captain in charge—a man whom I had frequently seen on Gallipoli. The accidents have been very lew, Several thousands of men have been put through with only one serious accident, when Lieutenant Carey was killed in heroically saving the lives of several men. The sanitary arrangements of the camp are first class, and the percentage of sickness is very low indeed. There lave been only three'cases of meningitis in seven months, and two of these cases rccovi-rul. The first two occurred in the first month. The mclical examination of the new arrivals s very thorough. A thon-iind men arc put through in one day, and the unlit are rejected, A number of the reinforcements have failed to pass the eyesight test, and have to be supplied with glasses to suit each case. There is a small hospital in which tie sick get every attention and necessary treatment. There are n»>..' three dental sections, and these mive been found to b» very necessary. The kitchens are roomy and clean anil well arranged, The cooks hare a fairly strenuous time. They can supply scveriil thousand men. There are sniaj'oi cookhouses for the officers' misses, The men have their dinner at night after the training. They get frozen beef, mostly from Australia ami th« Argentine, What mutton the'v get is from New /Zealand. There are hot and cord shower baths, vhiidi. arc even better than the Featherston baths. There is a small supply depot, tlm supplies being drawn at frequent intervals fi'oni London, Tha big flininj halls seat 4")0 men. I wen; through them when the men were at dinner, and every man I spoke to was quite satisfied not only with the quantity, bu(, also with the qualitv tu the food. The meat looked excellent. There was plenty of vegetables, cheese, and jam—the latter from Nelson, "The best camp I have over been m." was the verdict of more than ■''ill' hefty warrior. The men are well eatcred [or in (ho way of umuscmeilti, F.vel'ywhmv one. meets the reprscutalives of the V.M.C.A. and hears of the splendid won; they ure doing, not only in England, but also at

the front. At Sling-I had the pleasure of meeting (Messrs. Varuey, Jamieson, ami Smeaton, whom only a few weeks before 1 had seen busy with the welfare of our men in France. Mr. Vnrney is shortly returning to New I'gnla'nd. At Sliuj', as elsewhere, this splendH orgsnidation ha.s built Twcuion halls lor the soldiers. There ivas a concert- room, a recreation room, an officers' tea room, and billiard tables \v, ( «h were always in request by the men, Carpenters and others were at work on another concert room to seat about eight hundred. A library was well stocked with books, and the English and Xew Zealand newspapers wero in evidence on the tables. In charge of the Y.M.C.A. was an English iady, the wife of an officer -whose husband was killed in tho war. She l.as with her eight voluntary women workers who have their own cubicles in the camp.

In an.article written in August last I gave details of the round our men make from England to the firing line, back again to England sick or wounded, and thence through (he hospitals and camps back to France again. In this round the Xew Zealand Command Depot at. Codfoni, also on Salisbury Plain, p!»ys an important part. Theiv is litt;,- 10 "l>e added to what was then stated, except to say that the round now goes on, if anything, more satisfactory than it did in August. The gradual process of hardening up is scientifically carried on until the men are ,-juite fit again. Hy that lime most of them are rather keen to get back to the fron:. As soon as they ere able to march' about ten miles a day without undue fatigue, they go into a reserve group, where they get more training until they arc fully fit. From this reserve -jroup drafts are taken to fill up gaps at the front. _ The present very unsatisfactory condition of the New Zealand administration in England is the result of a gradual process of evolution which has not been achieved without much thought and a great deal of hard work, In a few months it has improved out of all knowledge. It has been attained kr°cly owing to the initative and tirole&s organisation of a gunner, now a brig.v uier-gencraj, whose very successful oa~reei will have been followed with interest by many of his old friends in Xew Zealand Ho has been loyally supported by an able and enthusiastic staff. In future articles I hope to deal with other matters in regard to the welfare of our Xew Zealand soldiers in England.