One of our reporters yesterday made local inquiries into the allegations of harsh treatment of these soldiers, and discovered a really remarkable state of affairs. One of the soldiers who are involved landed in Gallipoli halfway through the campaign there, and took part in the evacuation.
He returned to Egypt, and thence went to France, where he was badly wounded at Armentieres. He still carried a bullet in his chest. He was in several hospitals in England and France. With other wounded men he arrived in New Zealand on May 12, and the whole of them were granted three weeks' leave, after which they had to return to Trentham.
When they reported there, nobody appeared to know anything about them. Finally they were instructed to take rifles and kits and join up with some of the forces. This they refused to do, and they were then sent to Featherston.
They were again told to take rifles and kits, but once more they declined, and demanded to be taken before a Medical Board. The Commandant at Featherston treated the men fairly, they say, and sent them back to Wellington in charge of a sergeant.
Here a Medical Board, which included Colonels Purdy and Fyffe, examined them, and it is understood every soldier was pronounced to be absolutely unfit medically for further service. This medical opinion was stamped on the men's pay books, and they were given what purported to be their discharges, each one according to the state of his health, being recommended for a pension. The men then left for their homes, quite satisfied that everything was all right.
A week later, however, each received the following telegram:- ''You are to report at this office on Tuesday, June 19, for medical board. On presentation of this telegram to the nearest Defence office, you will receive all necessary warrants for travelling.'' (Signed) Base Records.
On arrival at Wellington in compliance with this notice, the men went before another doctor. It is alleged that this officer asked each man what was the matter with him, and, as the replies were received, they were simply noted. There was, it is further alleged, no medical examination whatever, the men being not even asked to take off their tunics. They were then sent from Wellington to Featherston, being told that they would probably get their discharges there. At Featherston, however, they were informed that they were to join up with the C Company of the 28th Reinforcements.
The men protested against this treatment, and asked for a proper medical examination, but they received no satisfaction. They are now on final leave of a week, under instructions to go back north preparatory to returning to the front. The men state that they do now know why they are thus being called on, and that no explanation has been given them.
One soldier, who is said to be carrying a bullet in his stomach, was very ill on the voyage out from England, another has his shoulder out, a third has been shot in the spine, and it is asserted, could not lift a 5lb weight, and, as already stated, still another man has a bullet in his breast.
Hares for hospitals
The New Zealand Red Cross Record states that 148 crates of hares and rabbits will be shipped from New Zealand for English hospitals. They are the result of hare drives organised by Mr Duncan Rutherford, of Leslie Hills.
''Hares and rabbits,'' the journal states, ''are much appreciated at the various hospitals in England, where they are used for making stews and soups, but it is possible that, owing to the shortage of frozen meat space, shipments may have to be curtailed for some time.''
Coal at Sandymount
A correspondent informs us that coal has been discovered on the property of Mr R. Weir, of Sandymount. A sample, which has been forwarded to us, is that of a brown coal of a quality that should make the mining of it profitable, if it exists in sufficient quantities.
Mr Weir himself is, we are assured, so satisfied with an analysis of the coal that has been secured by him as to have decided upon systematic prospecting of the locality in which the deposit was found. - ODT, 3.7.1917
