0. DORIZAC.]

223

H.—l9b.

214. This was in February?— Yes, sir, in Major Holmes's time. 215. There were pillow-cases and sheets : what were the arrangements in the marquee like inside —were they satisfactory? —One lot of mattresses which we got went to pieces very quickly: they were kapok mattresses. 216. What was wrong with them? —They were very thin. 217. Was it very dusty?— There was a fair amount of dust everywhere. There was no floor. 218. It was very dusty inside the marquee?--When it was blowing hard. 219. Had you all the equipment you wanted —bed-pans?—Yes, bed-pans, urinal-bottles, and all. There were six beds in three bell tents. 220. This is the report, of the Medical Officer in charge at that time, 19th February: "At present we have nothing but a marquee containing some six or seven beds, which we frequently have to supplement with ordinary bell tents. As a rule it is blowing strongly from the northwest, and consequently to prevent the marquee and tents from being blown down we have to keep the side curtains pegged down, with the result that the ventilation of the tents is execrable. If a bed-pan, for instance, has been used, the tent is unendurable for twenty minutes afterwards. There is no equipment for the beds—no sheets, no pillow-cases, nothing but mattresses and blankets " ? —Who was the Medical Officer who wrote that report ?_ 221. Dr. Fyffe. You told me that there were sheets!— Yes. 222. Dr. Fydfe says there was nothing but mattresses and blankets, and that everything was covered with dust, and as to doing any surgery 7 under such conditions it would be suicidal?— We did no surgery 7 there except minor surgery. There were beds and sheets and pillow-cases. They were there for the Thirds and the Fourths. AYe had them, but we were short of them, and when they were away at the wash we might not be able to replace them all the time. 223. About the training of the Field Ambulance men, was the bearer section trained? — Not to any extent after the Thirds. If we could get twelve men together we took them out. They were going with the reinforcements, and they wore supposed to be trained on the ship in every branch of the service, because we did not know which branch they would be going into. 224. There have been a good many charges about the training? —The Second Reinforcements received all their training. 225. Can you tell me the training that the bearer section got?— For the Seconds they got stretcher-work, squad drill, advanced dressing-station work under Sergeant-major Blackman. With the Thirds, just before the Seconds got away, Sergeant-major Blackman was sick, and they wont on under Sergeant Johnston. They were taken for stretcher-work by 7 another sergeant. They 7 went through all the stretcher-work. AVhen the Fourths were there we had not sufficient men to form one stretcher-party. 226. Then, for the Fourth Reinforcements the bearers were not fully trained? —That is so. 227. Up to that the bearers were fully trained? —Yes, sir. 228. Tn connection with the Fourth and Fifth there was no training of the bearers?— Only in stretcher drill. 229. Go back to the tent section : was the tent section of the Third and Fourth trained? — By lectures from the doctors, and by having to do work under the ward masters. 230. Were they trained in pitching the operating-tent? —Yes. 231. Had they panniers?—No, sir. 232. What would they have to do actually : the operating-table would be in the middle, and the panniers ?—No; we never had panniers. 233. Were these men trained in the work they would get at, Gallipoli Peninsula? —No. 234. Not in opening up their panniers at all?—No; we had none. We had, two, but they were not complete. 235. Ts it safe to say that none of the tent sections were fully 7 trained?— That is so. 236. Tn any of the reinforcements?— That is so. 237. In any of the tent sections were there complete panniers? —No. 238. Were those that you had medical or surgical panniers?— One was medical, one was surgical. 239. AVere they trained in putting up acetydene-lamps?—No, sir; they had no acetylenelamps. We had hurricane-lamps and two small acetylene-lamps. 240. Were the men trained to work the acetylene-lamp in the operating-room? It is a rather difficult lamp to manage?—No, sir. You see, there were only twelve or sixteen men going away. 241. The tent sections were not, trained in how to light the operating-tent?—No, sir. Of course, the understanding was that these reinforcements were to receive lectures on board ship while on their way to the front. 242. Did you say that the Sixth Reinforcements got instruction in nursing?— They all got instruction in nursing from the Medical Officers and actually from doing the work, in the hospitals. 243. Were they trained in taking temperatures?— Yes. 244. And in sponging patients?— Yes. 245. Do you think the training and nursing was good?— Yes. 246. Where were they trained in first aid? —At the lectures. 247. And the lectures were carried out up to what date? —They were carried out practically right up to the time when I left. 248. They got instruction in first aid up to the 12th June?— Yes, sir. 249. Was it so regular latterly, when the pressure became so great?— The pressure was not so great on the medical service when T left. 250. Were any men trained in looking after the water-carts?—No, sir. 251. Had you a water-cart out there? —No, sir; but at one time we had a double filter-water-cart with the Field Engineers, and I took most of the men over and showed them it.