THE BATTLE OF MESSINES.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 September 1917, Page 5

THE BATTLE OF MESSINES.

HOW THE WOUNDED WERE CARED FOB. SPLENDID ORGANISATION AND UNWEARYING EFFORT. (By Captain Malcolm Rose.) For days before the battle of Merinos our medical services were busy with arrangements for the prompt treatment the evacuation of the wounded from his watched the preparations with internet, and wondered if they would be completed in time. AH concerned worked with tireless energy. When tho morning of the battle dawned everything was reiulv. The A.D.M.S. of the New Zealand Division was made responsible not only for the svaci'.atioh of the wounded from bis own division, but also for the evn'nation of the wounded from another division which, as has already bo.cn stated, passe 1 through the New Zealand Division after •the latter had established itself beyond Messines. Tho plan of the operation made this advisable.

I should like to be able to write of the work of this department in detai', but it «is not advisable to do • so, as it would mean making public information that would bo of value to the enemy. I must therefore confine myself to generalities. In fairness, it should, however, be stated that the personnel of the division •linked with us became available to the A.D.M.S. of the New Zealand Division as soon as they began their advance across a forward line of German trenches. In the very early dawn, looking ove: the parapet of the trench from whiili with another war correspondent I watohed the battle, wo saw the first wounded —walking cases—coming back across the •open. From that hour onwfird the evacuations proceeded steadily, and there was at no time an* accumulation on •thft field, at the aid posts, or. at the dressing stations. Wounded Germans .were taken in and treated just as were I our own men. One of the most surprising things in the battle was the sight of our motor ambulance cars running up to the original regimental aid posts six hours •after the first shot in the bat tie proper Jiad been tired. This great success was attributable no doubt to the clock-work regularity and rapidity of the advance, and the excellent work of the roadmemlers. Owing largely to the precautions taken, and the fact that the i Germans were so decisively beaten, the casualties in the New Zealand Medical Corps were remarkably light. We lost no doctors, and only one other ,rani. was killed. Twelve men were wodndort, and ten other men more lightly wounded remained on duty. Excellent work was done in keeping up communications. Or.e telephone lino was several times broken by shell,: fire, but it was always promptly repaired. Despatch riders on motor-cycles were of. considerable assistance. One of the buildings of an advanced dressing station was Jxit by an enemy shell, which set fire to the roof, with the result that it was burnt down. Some of the. areas occupied by advanced dressing stations were often bombarded with 'gas shells, but the work went on in spite of this, the doctors at one station working with their noses plugged up with cotton wool, while themouth-pieces •of their gas helmets were kept in the mouth so that they could breathe in safety. It was not easy to work with the mask and the goggles on, so this alternative method was adopted. At different points drinks and light refreshments were provided for the wounded walking cases, the Y.M.C.A. as usual doing excellent work in this, direotion. DOCTORS AND STRETCHER- , BEARERS. Once more the doctors ani stretcherbearers worked with great gallantry and untiring devotion in dressing and attending the wounded. One of the Field Ambulanee captains took his bearer section repeatedly through a very heavy barrage and succeeded in bringing bacß many wounded who were lying exposed to the enemy's fire. During the attempted counter-attack by the enemy he also took his bearers through a barrage j both t» and from an advanced regimental j

a\i post, and in. addition to- Helping! USeS officer at the post he brought!, back" aft .the wouuded 1 to safety and without casualties to his men.' But lor Hiss action many of our wounded would haw had. to stay in shell holes all the- night witajr'.. out attention. This doctor had previous.* ly done excellent work of a. srmilaS nature on the Sorame. Another doctor, attached to the Austy ' landers, went ovr with his battalion : oir' the morning of • tie 7th, and establi|lw4 fliia regimental aid post well foiiward of Battalion'• Headquarters. From that ijtjme, until relieved,' kij was j64- Aijty under heavy shell fire,'attending not only to our own wounded, hut also to tltofe of the diviSoh in front. His 11.A.P. Avflfe the farthest advanced on the .divisional; front. Undoubtedly many lives saved owing to his advanced position and the untiring'energy he played... ~ ' Attached to the Wellingtons was 8 captain uKth a long record of fine servicl in Gallipbli and in /'France, who again did tin? work tinder'shell fire attending to our '-wounded. A third captain, yfha also had' a fine record on the Somma, now, as regimental medical officer, again did his duty regardless of danger. Aftfl* his battalion took over, he established ■his aid post east of the Messines Ri(fg«( and there he remained bravely carrying' out his work;-although subjected tfl . : heavy intermittent 1 shell tire. Once hi and his staff were shelled out of theii ' post, but rather than go back into conw, parative safety, or move clear of tIM track most frequented by the he simply shifted his aid post to tW other side, and carried on until tM battalion was withdrawn front tha Jius> His conduct and bravery througbwtfj were inspiriting and magnificant. Two other captains likewise displayed great bravery. One, after establishinj his dressing station at 5 o'clock oij tbS morning of the 7th, worked under shelf fire during the whole of the battle. Thil was, the first aid post established, and here many wounded from all units werS dealt with. The other captain took hta bearer sections rapidly through thl enemy barrage, clearing the regimental nid posts of wounded, and searching th< slid! holes for wounded. He continued all day at this work, and when the enemy attempted a hi led his bearers up to the advanced aid posts through heavy Hre and brought back many wounded. At Gallipoli, on the Somme, and at Armentieres,' this man's work was remarkably fine. Of the stretcher-bearers one' can writs only in terms of the highest admiration. Their bravery and their untiring energy and devotion were themes, of constant conversation amongst our soldiers, if company stretcher-bearer; with the Wellingtons had arrived in tihe early morning of the 10th June back at ft camp five miles away. There he was told that six men of his company were left out wounded. He at once returned volun-tarily,-with three comrades, and successfully removed these wounded to an advanced dressing station. This ' wa« done under continuous enemy shelling. .A private when some stretcher-bearers .were wounded volunteered to carry on their work, which he did under heavy shell fire with great pluck and endurance. For three days he worked a< .long ai; there was wounded to carry, and when there was no stretcher-bear-ing to do he carried 1 water up to the. tfront line. Another private- worked for three days and nights continuously dressing and carrying out wounded men under heavy shell fire. He saved several men's lives. 'Previously he had done work of a like nature. But thesa are only a few instances of similar con' duct on the part of our brave stretcherbearers. Under the hottest shell. firs most of them showed an utter contempt of d.Vi!;r;T, and they worked Until they almobi, dropped from want of sleep an 4 through sheer physical exhallStiOjttj •"-'