THE SIXTH REINFORCEMENTS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLV, Issue 4009, 16 August 1915, Page 7

THE SIXTH REINFORCEMENTS.

“A GOOD SPORTING LOT.” DEFENCE Ml NISTER’ S PRAUSE. (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON, Aug. 15. “I inn very pleased indeed with, tbei Sixth- Reinforcements,” said the Defence Minister yesterday after his visit to Trentham. “The mounted infantry of tih'C. l Sixth have had their difficulties, owiiin-- to various shifts of camp, and they have not had! the same chance as the other mounted men who have gone; also their numbers have had to be .supplemented by men who have -come into camp later. 'These men will finish,'their training in, Egypt relieving the men who are now looking after the ,horses there. My .opinion of the Sixth is that: they are a real good sporting lot. They have had the winter to contend with, they have been in Trentliium through all the camp troubles, and they liavo had less sickness among them, than any of tho, others. ‘They ■ have . played, the game always without a grumble, even when things were at the worst. They have the real soldier spirit and J don’t care where you place those men—however adverse- the eircunustances-—they will play tii-el game. J look for good work from the Sixth wherever tiny go anil 1. am quite sure they will uphold the standard we have set, or even improve ■upon it. I .should be very proud to bn going with them. THE TRANSPORTS. “As- for their transports, I think they have two of the best transports w-e- have got.. The Tofua lias been turned , into an excellent troopship a mil the accommodation for the men is very good, with plenty of air space. As far as I can judge, the hospital arrangements are very good' indeed. They have a general hospital for 32 men and an isolation hospital for 24. Both transports carry a perm aiieni. quartermaster, who will come, back hero- with them, and these quartermasters will be held responsible for ell stores. They are taking a. quantity of extra clothing, overcoats, boots, pyjamas and that sort of thing for sick and wounded men returning I wlioi may be short- of clothes. i “On the Tofua, a capital exercise dock- has been constructed and it should give the men ,a good opportunity to keep well and: fit. I think the Transport Board deserves the thanks of the country for the care they have taken. Every possible precaution has- -been taken to see that all the men who go on hoard are well. A'o sick paraded yesterday. All the men’s clothes ami bedding have been disinfected am! 1 think everything possible has been done to send the men away in a satisfactory condition.” MEDICAL STAFF. ■'There- is a good staff of medical officers—all men who have had experience in camp and who will be prepared to meet any contingency. Nine medical officers are gniim throe being cxlra officers sent at- the request- of the inediifal authority in Egypt to fill up the wastage- in the ranks of the medical men there. Thi f oe nurses are gomg in each transport in order that they may look after wounded and' sick men returning or relieve other nurses who may bring out wounded. PARTY OF NURSES. "A party of .mimes are to sail with the transports carrying the .Sixth Reinforcements to Egypt-. It is not anticipated that they will ho required to look after sick men oil, the outward voyage, but- they will lie required to care for sick am] wounded men on the return voyage, or possib! to relieve other nurses who. perhaps feeling the strain, of tho Egyptian climate, will prefer to return to Now Zealand in charge'of wounded. The names of the nurses to go are: Nurses Me AI him. Gordon-Boyd, A injorson, Naesmith, Brook. Leers, and Newell. All except Nurse Newell have been at Trentham Hospital. Nurse Newell should liavo gone with the Hospital Ship, hut she was prevented by sudden illness from leaving. MOUNTED ATEN. Tb«' Prime Minister also mad ■ some rofernees to the Sixth. “They seem to be in perfect health and very fit.” lie said—“quite equal, I think, to the men who have gone in previous drafts. The infantry have been in Trentham all the time, but the mounted 5 men' have been in the ATairanapn for the 1a st few weeks. Allh ouglr nom imill y mounted men, they are gomg ns Infantry, for wo have been notified by the, Imperial authorities that no more horses are required at present. As a consequence, no more horses are being .bought now. but wo are keeping a number in camp for training purposes. It is quite likely that- we sha.lt not require any more saddle horses, but a number of heavier horses for the artillery will probably bo required from time to time.”