THE MAHENO.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15488, 15 January 1916, Page 11

THE MAHENO.

ALISGrATIONS DEJI3ED. . (tke& Assoaxnox AUCKLAND, January 14. n»nlviE- to certain allegations pub•HS regarding the hospi- £ Sip Maheno, Colonel Traci Inglis, on that v^!, Ties that, though he did not go to Eedin on tho Maheno. ho knows that while she was in commission everything clean ° n J**" 1 " Options were earned out, and t^ cSukl only bo done under P«fcctg , I-D regard to the that esprit do corps -was not fSw Snre P Colonel Inglis savs ♦bff thia is contrary to fact. The She D l was a completely happy home, j,w npypr had any disputes as tJTwhether the can«in was the master * vpWl It was realised that S a S fa attain „■ sS with standing orders and, by consent, the matter was re,™the Admiralty. Tho only I!* raided was that tho captain COTl f cr trith the medical officer i n r hige in respect of matters affecting dcnic<l t l ,ai '. Portions of tho nurses' accommoda.tw>n were commandeered by tho medical staff and pavs that, on the contrary, .the medical *taff cave up the single cabins to which thev wero entitled because- tho accommodation for the nurses was insuffiInglis also contradicted the statement of excessive entertainments on the Maheno at Anzac. When they left tho Mediterranean they were specially oomplimenter] for the harmonious working and general efficiency of the fihip by Sir James Porter, chief hospital transport officer. A similar compliment was paid to the staff by General Donovan, chief medical officer in charge of Sonlhampton. STATEMENT BY PRIME MINISTER. HEPLY TO CKITICISM. tfPBESS ASSOCUTIO.V TELBGKAiI.) WELLINGTON, Jannary 11. To-day tho Prime Minister, in answer to criticisms regarding the hospital ship Maheno, said it should be clearly nnderstood that both the Mabeno and ha<l boon placed unresoyedly at the disposal of the Imjjenal Government, and the Imperial Government had notified tho New Zea•land Government that the Commonwealth of Australia had agreed to a like course. . The Maheno proceeded to England in October with a full com- . piement 'of British sick and wounded. On arrival back at Malta, the New - Zealand Government telegraphed that they hoped tho Maheno would remain in tho Mediterranean it\it iras the wish and desire of the Imperial Government. ■ The Imperial Government replied that, •in view of the fact that a large number of sick and wounded men must be evacuated from Egypt as soon as pos- , "sible, it was desirable that the Maheno . should proceed to New Zealand. The »; selection of cases to' travel on both hospital ships rested -with the Imperial I; authorities. K Surgeon-General Henderson received a communication from the DirectorI* General of Medical; Services in BWpt f" stating that he was most anxious to .use tho Maheno to convey to ' New Zealand, ,as the ordinary transports wero , not suitable, otherwise these 'cases would bo .occupying • beds which -were urgently required, and the Director-General .of Medical Services ir Egypt pointed out the urgent neeessity these removed at suitable intervals. Every voyage, of a hospital ship l cleared bad cases- as -well, as lighter ones. ThJs enormously "relieved the tion in. tthe - hospitals in Egypt' and. tended to-the-earlier;-, rp' tiifniof : mi6y.tP'the,tting-lme. -V r> •■'Referring to . tho' embarkation- of, ? ( largo number of convalescent .enterii ft. cases, Surgeon-General Henderson; say it'ls far more snitablo. that those whi jnay he "carriers" or about whom then || may bo 'suspicion of their being "car friers," shall bo placed on a hospita K*hip> rather than on a transport. Oi ||$a hospital ship these cases .are proper], ®|segwgated, kept under strict observa and prevented from being a dan P».ger -to others. As the Maiheno re to New Zealand under these cir it was natural to'disinfec ■Ur thoroughly. - must be remembered that whili Hp^-active; service; and "apart- from tin brought_ back to New Zealand |PthevM a hen(> carriotl approximately 400( Pc wcunded, and that the oppor K, tfimty was taken during a-.cessation.o c,' "figjituig to send' the hospital ship t< f,>~ evacuate sick and wounded in f. in 9, convey theni back to New Zealand

V • ' THE STORES. v i- ,-..(special to "thje rrvEss.") 1 •-P . DTJNEDIN,-. January 1-1: ; 200 tons of hospital. stores tho hold of the hospital ship vMtheno -were landed to-day and ■ stored on shore. . Tho rats >~«W damaged the bedding, of -which |w,;jthereJs a.large quantity.' The stores -to be overhauled and • catalogued before being returned to the Itislup, where'they will he' stowed so that felw difficulty will be experienced in findj|j|aig whatever is needed at any time.