The Australian Army Medical Corps in Egypt Part 16

Tomatoes 51 cases Milk and cocoa 5 "

" " 69 tins Pineapples 98 cases Apricots 49 "

Honey 8 "

Dried apples 47 "

Dried peaches 115 "

Pears 43 "

Foodstuffs 77 "

" 55 pots Malted milk 6 cases Chocolate and sweets 2 "

" " 634 "

Extract of malt 3 "

Rolled oats 1 case Lactogen 7 cases Ground sheets 22 Cloth caps 2,984 Games 65 Walking-sticks 16 bundles " 687 loose Writing-pads 1,206 Envelopes 28,470 pkts.

Lemons 15 cases Gla.s.s towels 325 Sun gla.s.ses 108 Hot-water bottle covers 260 Dusters 773 Mattresses 9 Swabs 7 cases " 500 Candles 1 case Cane chairs 70 Toilet paper 45 cases Puddings 1 case Preserved fruit 47 cases Linen coats 388 Cushions 115 " 3 cases Fly whisks 725 " 2 cases Knives 30 Spoons 95 Wine 8 cases Deck chairs and camp stools 340 Bales of clothing 25 Bra.s.sards 200 Shaving-brushes 1,801 Skin coats 10 Cotton thread 50 reels Toilet paper 100 Nail brushes 24 Jug covers 100 Mittens 673

GOODS SENT TO LEMNOS

Articles. Cases. Sack.

1st Stationary Hospital, Lemnos 42,333 107 12 2nd " " " 187 107 13 Imbros Rest Camp 650 70 Col. Bryant, for Distribution, Dardanelles 23,236 127 8 2nd Light Horse, Lemnos 7,985 2

AGREEMENT MADE FOR PROVISION OF REFRESHMENTS TO SOLDIERS ON INVALID TRAINS

1. The Restaurant Car can be placed on the train and the cost of same, 7 10s., guaranteed by Lieut. Colonel Barrett.

2. Meals will be provided for Commissioned Officers, P.T. 20 lunch or dinner, P.T. 5 afternoon tea, at stated times.

3. Meals and afternoon tea will be provided for N.C.O.s in the Restaurant Car at half price.

4. Sandwiches, P.T. 1, and non-alcoholic drinks (soda water, lemonade, etc.), P.T. 1, will be served in the cars by the attendants of the Restaurant Car to soldiers who desire to purchase them.

5. In addition, water will be provided in each carriage for the use of soldiers in fanta.s.ses, and lime juice will be supplied, two bottles in each carriage, free.

Notice to this effect will be posted in every carriage on the troop train.

_July 1, 1915._

[Ill.u.s.tration: HELIOPOLIS SIDING: ARRIVAL OF WOUNDED.

_To face page 166_]]

12. _Soldiers' Clubs._--Reference has been made in the chapter on Venereal Diseases to the damage done to Australian troops in Egypt by venereal disease. Reference has also been made to the establishment of soldiers' clubs and recreation huts in various places to provide a counter-attraction to those entertainments furnished by the prost.i.tute and her degraded male attendants. After the various repressive steps already referred to had been taken, an earnest attempt was made to organise this constructive work. The valuable a.s.sistance of Mr. Jessop and the Y.M.C.A. was again invited. The Y.M.C.A. proposed to build in Alexandria on the sea front a large building to be used as a central soldiers' club, and to be available for convalescents and the healthy.

The Y.M.C.A. had only 250 available and required 1,000. The British Red Cross Society was appealed to and hesitated. A cable was dispatched to London, and an expenditure of 250 authorised. Surgeon-General Williams, after consultation with His Excellency Sir Henry MacMahon, the G.O.C.-in-Chief, Sir John Maxwell, and the D.M.S. Egypt, General Ford, decided to make a grant of 500 in addition for the purpose. The club was opened on September 12, and from its opening was a p.r.o.nounced success. The soldier on leave, tramping about the streets of Alexandria, gets leg-weary and falls an easy victim to the wiles of the various agents abroad. He now can visit his own club, where the entry is free to all men in uniform. He there receives war telegrams, stationery, cheap and excellent meals, and enjoys various forms of entertainment. He meets his friends, and can spend the time under the most pleasant conditions.

The building already requires extension, as the pressure on the accommodation is so great. Similar action was taken in Cairo, where after many unsuccessful attempts the Rink Theatre in the beautiful Esbekieh gardens was obtained, owing to the sympathetic help given by His Excellency Sir Henry MacMahon and other authorities. This open-air theatre is a little over an acre in extent, and is a valuable property.

It had been leased to a restaurant keeper in the vicinity. Arrangements were made for the supply of light refreshments at bed-rock prices in the theatre, and other meals at low prices at the restaurant which is about fifty yards away. In addition a soldiers' club, managed by ladies, is equidistant, and at this comfortable resort refreshments are supplied in quiet rooms at low rates. Naturally the club has become a resort for all the soldiers in Cairo. Major Harvey, Commissioner of Police, has cleared the surrounding gardens of undesirable characters. The club was placed under the management of a joint committee of which Her Excellency Lady MacMahon is Patroness, and Lady Maxwell is President. The executive committee consists of three members of the Y.M.C.A., and the expenses of managing the club were provided by the British Red Cross Society, Australian Branch, for the first three months. It was soon found that in order to make the club successful the athletic element must be developed, and splendid programmes were arranged--boxing, fencing, skating contests, and the like. The club provides writing-paper, games, war telegrams, Australian and other newspapers, shower baths, and other conveniences. As many as 1,500 soldiers are present on some of these occasions, and the club is visited by officers who periodically drop in amongst the men. Altogether the success has exceeded even the sanguine expectations of those who founded it.

The British Red Cross Society, Australian Branch, was most fortunate in securing such a site, as any one acquainted with the conditions of Cairo is fully aware.

[Ill.u.s.tration: MATRONS AND NURSES, NO. 1 AUSTRALIAN GENERAL HOSPITAL.

_To face page 169_]]

The exact extent to which these clubs have contributed to the limitation of venereal disease cannot be accurately measured, but there is no doubt whatever in the minds of any one acquainted with the facts respecting their salutary and healthy influence. Under the new const.i.tution of the Australian Red Cross money cannot be devoted to their maintenance, because it is not being used exclusively for the sick and wounded. Such is the ruling, although many convalescents use the clubs. It is regrettable that such a rigid ruling should have been established. It is absurd to permit men to become infected and then to a.s.sist them by doles of chocolate and tobacco, and yet to refuse to provide the necessary funds which a.s.sist so materially in preventing infection.

13. _Nurses' Rest Homes._--The nurses in the hospitals had done excellent work under trying conditions, and it became obvious that many of them would break down unless holidays and rest were provided.

The British and Australian Red Cross Branches combined under the Presidency of Her Excellency Lady MacMahon, and opened two rest homes--one in Ramleh near the beach, and the other at Aboukir Bay, the site of Nelson's victory.

They were furnished by the Red Cross Societies and have been maintained by the Commonwealth Government so far as the Australian nurses are concerned. They have met a great want and have proved a boon and a blessing.

_Conclusion._--The work has been very heavy and the circ.u.mstances far from easy. Taking everything into consideration and realising the pressure at both ends, the result can only be regarded as more than satisfactory. The policy of the Red Cross Society requires, however, some consideration.

The policy adopted until lately was that reasonable intimation should be given to the Red Cross Society of the requirements of those who want help. Under public pressure another policy may make its appearance--that of compelling the Red Cross Society to find out what people want. A word of caution is necessary. This policy will almost certainly result in the creation of an extensive business organisation and in the Red Cross undertaking much work which the Government should do. In my opinion the Red Cross Society is entirely ancillary, its functions being to provide comforts and other things which the Government cannot supply, and to act decisively at critical moments. It should, however, refrain from embarking on great national undertakings.

Every one will endeavour to help the Commissioners in their extensive and difficult task, and will look forward to the Australian Red Cross maintaining the high reputation which it has already gained amongst responsible officers in Egypt.

In conclusion it should be pointed out that during the whole period under review all necessary services were provided by the military authorities and the Red Cross was administered on military principles.

Consequently there were no large expenses, no one received any money in payment for services, and the storage of goods was free.

If the Red Cross is to be administered on non-military lines many charges must be properly made and met, but the efficiency of the system inst.i.tuted and now set aside must be judged largely from the standpoint of economic administration.

JAMES W. BARRETT, _Lieut.-Colonel_.

(In this volume the original report forwarded to Melbourne has been expanded and amplified.)

APPENDIXES

1. _Directions for the Conduct of the Red Cross Depot_

Depot--conduct of. 1. The Depot is placed under the charge of a Medical Officer who will have at his disposal nurses and orderlies in such numbers as the work from time to time may necessitate.

Storage of goods. 2. All goods consigned to the Red Cross Depot shall be placed in store at once and rendered secure under lock and key at other than business hours.

Receipt Book. 3. All goods received will be entered in the Goods Receipt Book.

Requisitions--how 4. On receipt of requisitions dealt with. signed by the Officer Commanding any unit, and countersigned by the Officer Commanding First Australian General Hospital, goods will be issued, and if necessary transport provided. Two clear lists shall be prepared on forms provided for the purpose, one to be receipted and returned to Red Cross Depot by the consignee and duplicate to be filed in Office.

Stock-taking. 5. A Stock Book is to be kept showing the nature and quant.i.ty of material received, and the quant.i.ty distributed, so that at any time the stock remaining can be ascertained.

This book to be checked once a month by stock-taking of the contents of the store and certified to by the M.O.

in charge.

2. _Result of Vote at No. 1 Auxiliary Convalescent Depot_

The following items represent the wishes of 840 patients at Luna Park on July 29, 1915, ascertained by the O.C., Major Brown.

Four hundred and forty papers were received, a great number of patients failing to vote.

The patients were asked to make a list of twenty to thirty articles that would add to their comfort during their stay in hospital, and which could be supplied by a small fund at his disposal.

The average items on collected lists were 8.