RETURNING SOLDIERS.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16205, 7 May 1918, Page 7

RETURNING SOLDIERS.

ADVICP. TO NEAREST RELATIVES. (SPECIAI, TO "THK I'RESS.") "WELLINGTON, May fi. New arrangements are being made by the Defence Department regarding t-iie arrival of transports bringing wounded soldiers back to this country. In ats oitieial statement i&sued by tno Department, relatives ■ are warned agaiust journeying to the port of arl'i.ai to .urct lciui'iiing men, now tnuL Jree railway parses cuuiiot bo granted, it is tno tit-bite ot the Otovei'anienc that tioiuicis be Uespatcued wnu uie least possiDle uelay to their .homes. Arrangements aro uierotoro lieing maao ior special troop trains, wnen ihe number ox men to ue carried is iarge enougn, to leave tho port or arrival as soon as possiblo after disembarkation. .As relative# lmd rriento cannot tie permitted to travel by special troop trains, it >viil be realised tuat to maKo a journey to the port of arrival may mean a very brief interview with, a returned soluier, and tho latter's return to his homo beforo his relatives can get back by ordinary train. Nearest relatives aro therefore strongly urged to arrange for relatives or friends resident at tne port of disembarkation to meet the returning soldiers, and that the nearest relatives welcome their soldiers on arrival at their home town or nearest railway station. An urgent telegram will be sent as soon as the information is available from tho troopship to the nearest relative or other person nominated by the soldier to notify tho timo tho soldier may bo expected to arrive at his destination. (Press association telegram.) WELLINGTON, May p. In futu-e, when returned invulided soldiers disembark at Wellington or Auckland, tho ahin carrying them will be anchored in tHe stream, where all the work of medical,-boarding, tho issuo of leave passes and travelling warrants, advance of pay, checking of baggage, etc., will bo carried out. This work will occupy approximately 6J hours for 500 men, and about ati. hour extra for each additional 100 men. Although the Government have been compelled to cancel freo railway passes to nearest relatives, a reserved enclosure for relatives and fricnls. of ivturning soldiers will "be provided, two tickets for which can bo obtained by nearest relatives or friends nominated by tho latter. When Wellington is the port of arrival, these tickets can be obtained at Base Records office; when tho port of arrival iB Aucklana, at Defence Headquarters there.