They are proud of having been chosen for a task the success of which depended entirely on extraordinary dash and daring.
All speak highly of the members of the Red Cross Brigade, who moved about absolutely fearlessly.
Many brave men fell attending to the wounded, and their comrades declare that all of them deserve the Victoria Cross.
The fire was appalling, yet the Red Cross men moved about in the open, not thinking of their own lives.
The Turks behaved disgracefully, firing on the Red Cross men on every opportunity.
Reuter's correspondent mentions that the Australasians had 4000 injured, but a great number of casualties, however, are slight, and the men will be in the firing line again within a month or so.
The losses are not, therefore, so great as they seem.
The war continues of a ghastly monotony. To-day is as yesterday; this week's cables might be last week's.
The Germans are shelling Rheims cathedral; the Germans were shelling Rheims cathedral six months ago.
Six months ago a siege of Przemysl was figuring in the cables; a successful siege of Przemysl figures in the cables to-day.
There is a vice versa arrangement of parts, the besiegers becoming the besieged; that is the only difference.
See-sawing in this fashion, we are for ever ''progressing'' and never getting any forrarder.
Nothing changes but the daily casualty list, and the more that changes the more it is the same thing, sad to say.
I am thinking of the Dardanelles, where our 80,000 are making head as best they can against 200,000 Turks. But on our Flanders front the wastage of life is even worse.
In the Spectator latest to hand (April 17) the Bishop of London writes: ''I have been holding services for our troops along the battle-line - some 40 services in all, each service often being attended by as many as 4000 men.
Every day, when there is practically nothing going on, 200 are killed and wounded.''
The same week in Parliament our losses on land for two months were stated to be 35,347, - over 500 a day, part of the time with ''practically nothing go on.''
Time waits for no man, and we have only until Saturday, June 12, to find Otago's quota for the Seventh Reinforcements.
A splendid response to the heavy calls for the Sixth Reinforcements and the new unit was made by Otago, the sixth being full and the new unit only a small number short. Now we are required to send, amongst others, some 300 infantry.
Already half the number have been passed, whilst others are awaiting the medical examination.
Regarding the medical test, it is as well that all should understand the concession which the Hospital Board has made.
As a result of the deputation from the Recruiting Committee which waited on the board last week, the board has decided to treat all minor ailments and disabilities of those enlisting, whether married or single, free of cost, provided they are accepted and go forth in their Empire's cause.
The position at the front is very grave, and before the end of the war New Zealand will have to send many more of her best type of manhood. - ODT, 4.6.1915.
