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to make the officers who have command of the men understand their relations and duties to those men. It also takes time to show them, how to do things—how to keep themselves clean, and how to keep the environments round the tents clean, and how to go to the proper places to urinate. -It is the most difficult matter in the world unless you have staff to shepherd those men until they get on the way to look after themselves. 210. You really get a body of men who are absolutely ignorant as to first principles? — Quite so. 211. And all those men, as part of the o%mp training, have to be trained even in the duties of cleanliness and health?— Yes, that is so, even to cleanliness with regard to themselves. 212. The instruction in those matters depends on the camp staff?— Yes, and their officers. 213. And if that is inadequate the instruction must take longer to impart?— You must also remember that, as regards the question of cleanliness of a camp, all these reinforcements are running with the very minimum of officers. They are going to a Force that is complete with officers in a way; but, of course, casualties occur, and they just have sufficient officers really to carry them to the front. 214. And they are not fully equipped with officers as it is?—lt makes it more arduous on the directing staff and the training staff on account of the shortage of officers that have to go with the reinforcements. It, is not a question that we cannot find officers for the reinforcements among the people: the question is that there is no place for them. We cannot send them forward. 215. You cannot send forward more than a certain number of officers? —No, a proportion. 216. So that you cannot really take more than that number you are allowed to send forward? —That is so, or else we upset the Force at the other end. 217. Dr. Martin.] Do you not think it would be advisable to get wounded officers out, from England to supply the deficiency?—We have asked that, but could not get them. I. have also asked for them from India. 218. I know one officer who has' had a foot off and another who has had an arm off, and they would be willing to come out, and would be excellent officers?—We have asked. I fancy that in the Army they would have plenty to do there. I will keep that in mind and mention it again. 219. The Chairman.] Now, for the permanent staff out there you had simply Colonel Potter and Captain McCristell ?—Captain McCristell was Quartermaster. 220. What other members of the staff were there? —Major Adams, who was Adjutant-General to Colonel Potter. 221. Is he permanent there? —Yes. Then, of course, there is the training staff, whose duties are wholly with training and drill, although they give a great deal of assistance in supervision. They are Major McDonald and Captain Purdon, Musketry Instructors; Captain Bradley and Lieutenant Wilson, of the Artillery Training; Captain Cardale, of the Mounted Rifles Training; and Lieutenant Pettie, of the Army Service Corps and Supply. 222. But those men have lent their help to the supervision apart from their duties? —Yes; properly speaking, they have nothing to do but training and lecturing and everything that pertains to the education of the men. in the field. Captain McCristell has been assisted by Major Mounsey, a Territorial officer, who has given his time temporarily. 223. Now, I suppose requirements have cropped up from time to time as the camp's history went on showing that you want this and want that? —Yes. 224. Then it would be your duty to apply to the Minister if it involved expenditure?— Yes. 225. Well, have you had any difficulties about your recommendations or requirements being given effect to?—No, sir, any more than one has to explain and give reasons; but, there has been no difficulty whatever. 226. You have got what you wanted? —We got what we wanted. 227. Except men, of course, which even an Act of Parliament, cannot, provide?—Of course, we have spoken about it and discussed it, and I would take them all now. 228. In regard to the question of ambulance training, is that given at the camp?— Yes, that is given wholly by the medical service. We have no instructors in ambulance work apart from the medical service. There are allotted to each Ambulance unit sergeant-majors, but most of them are away with the Expeditionary Force—the qualified men. There are only two qualified Ambulance sergeants left. 229. Is there a difficulty, therefore, in providing for instruction in ambulance-work? —There must be. I do not understand myself how the Medical Officers manage to turn the men out, trained as they are without assistance. 230. The Medical Officers, of course, since May last have had an enormous amount of work thrown on them beyond what the ordinary camp requirements demand? —They have had an extraordinary amount of work, because in addition to the Trentham Camp going on they are carrying out the Territorial trainings right throughout the Dominion. 231. Then there would seem to be a pretty severe tax on the Medical Corps in regard to the discharge of their duties?— Yes. 232. Could that be conveniently increased? —I do not, think it could. That was one of the reasons that brought together the Department, of Public Health and the military medical service to work together to cope with the work. 233. Then, of course, the Medical Officer himself would require to be first instructed if he had not had any special instruction in the Army Service?— That is so. 234. Every doctor is not a born teacher of ambulance-work ?—By no means. 235. There is a special line of study on that subject, laid down in the regulations?—Of course, there is' no military customs, discipline, drills, stretcher-bearer work, and pitching of advanced collecting-stations, which contain the stationary hospital, which may be removed at any time. There is the transport-of the stationary hospital, and the Medical Officers really control that like a little army.
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