FRESH FROM FRANCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 August 1918, Page 7

FRESH FROM FRANCE.

LIFE AT THE FRENCH HOSPITALS. SOME .'PATHETIC STORIES.

Chaplain Bladin, adjutant in the Salvation Army, and formerly in charge of the Wellington Corps, left Etaples in France les3 than three months ago, and arrived in Wellington this week (says the Dominion). From his experiences in Sling Camp, where hp was working for two months, and Etaples, where he worked for twelve months, lie knows the war through and through, from the Salvation Army service point of view at all events. Adjutant piadin was placed in charge of the Army's big work at Etaples, and ho "stood the gall" until Ilia nerves gave way and he became stone deaf through nasal catarrh. The rest he has enjoyed in England, and on the six weeks' trip to New Zealand, has set hiin up again, and he hopes to be looking for trouble again very soon. Conversing with a Dominion reporter yesterday, Adjutant Bladin referred to the wonderful work the Army was doing in France, among the unending stream of men, men, men, that was going to run on until victory wa;s achieved. "No one likes it," said Adjutant Bladin; "they are all weary of tlie war — but all are doggedly determined that it. has got to go on, that they have got to go back as soon as they're fit again to relievo tlio3e holding on, and dogged wins!"

"It's been a heart-breaking, tiresome business this retreating after every German push, but don't worry. The change is coming now. Foch knows his business. The French went nearly delirious with delight when it was announced that Foch (pronounced with a soft 'c' as though the word were Fosh) waa appointed Generalissimo of- the Forces. He had to wait, he had to retreat, and in retreating took his toll of the enemy. It was all to gain time—time for the Americang to get in. You remember Foch's message to the Americans six months ago. It was two words, Hurry, hurry!' And they are hurrying over at tiie rate of 300,000 a month. Think what that means. I've seen them at Calais and in Paris. Great fellows — the pick of a nation of 120',000,000 souls. Fine, fresh, alert, brainy men, full of ardour, and determined to show a world that American, troops can hold their own with anyone. Freedom is the American's birthright. They have fought and died for it in two great wars, and they are going to fight till the death for it again. Don't worry. We'll tie the Huns up next year—time is all in our favor!"

Adjutant Bladin said that there are sixteen huge hospitals in Etaplcs, capable of accommodating 30,000 wounded, and after an action they soon fill up. One of his chief duties every day, month in aud out, was-hospital visiting. The New Zealand padres made this work their first thought, and he wished to say for the benefit of friends and relatives in New Zealand, that every New Zealand soldier in those hospitals was visited at least once a week, and if anyone wished to know tlie value of those visits they should ask the men, plenty of whom "had returned to New Zealand. They tried to take with them as much cher and comfort as they could. They wrote cablegrams and lettei'3 for the wounded, gave advice in many little ways, provided means for the men to write, and distributed solid comforts provided either by the Army or the War Contingent Association, a body that was doing fine work. Owing to the way they were looked after the New Zealand men were the admiration and envy of all the other troops, and it was doing New Zealand a power of good in many ways. Then they had to officiate so often at funerals—so many died there in France. On the other side of life was hope, represented by the Army in a monster hut capable of accommodating about one thousaud men, and there were concerts and entertainments every night in one part, and perhaps a religious service going on in another at thesame time. Adjutant Bladin organised a regular working concert party, an orchestra, and a brass band, out of men unable to return to active service through wounds, etc., and these people used to tour the hospitals and give concerts afternoon and evening—real apostles of cheer! And the Army had women workers, in France. Lady officers were attached to each of tiie'huts, and they were fine women aud tireless workers. "I remember," said Adjutant Bladin, "'one story told me by one of our lady officers." A little 'Tommy' soldier, who did not look more than eighteen years of age, 'had been brought in badly wounded, awl after he had been made as comfortable as possible, the officer had taught him a little prayer. That night he died—twenty-one wounds were counted in his body. The next morning the officer burst into tears on learning of the boy's death, and as she wept on the empty lied another boyish-look-ing Cockney 'Tommy' from the next bod administered comfort in these words—'Don't cry, sister; don't cry. 'E's all right now, take it from me!' And the sister went to his bedside. 'Say, sister, lie said, 'I 'card you learnin' 'im to pray last night. Wish you'd teach me—l can't pray, neither!' And s!ie went down on her knees, and taught ! him a simple:, earnest, little prayer, placing his poor maimed hands together. And he, too, died at dawn!"

Another incident was that of a young Scotsman, who, after the British retirement, found himself in "No Man's Land'' in company with two others — all three wounded. Two Herman stretcher-hearers came along after a time, and the Scotch lad was suffering =o much that he begged them to put an end to his pain. But with stolid indifference they took first one of his mates, then the other. Then, knowing that they would come back for him, he resolved to defeat them. His shattered lc-g he lashed to his whole one with liis belt and some string, and then, suffering immeasurable agony, he dragged himself to another shell-hole, and hid. There he was found when the British advanced again, and. Adjutant Bladin was glad to say, his leg healed up in good style. Before leaving England Adjutant Bladin, at the invitation of General Richardson, visited all the New Zealand hospitals—Walton, C-odford, Brockenlmrst, Hornehurch, and the New Zealand Gift Stores at Southampton (where Major Greene in is charge), and it was a revelation in what could be done for masses of men by good organisation and management. What pleased him most was the way they had instituted ways and means at these hospitals for .the convalescents to learn new trades

and handicrafts'— there were classes" for woodwork, basket-making, ehginMrffigV wool-classing, and lots of others—all giving a man - intelligent employment, and teaching him a new business if his wounds made his own one that could not possibly be resumed. Great praise is duo to General Richardson for the fine work he was doing for New Zealand in England, and for his inexhaustible humanity where the men were concerned.