ARRIVAL OF WOUNDED

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2592, 14 October 1915, Page 6

ARRIVAL OF WOUNDED

$ FROM MALTA

NO HOSPITAL CASES

Twenty-three Now Zealand, soldiers who hav'o been confined to hospitals in Malta either through wounds received in action or sickness returned by the Maitai yesterday. There must have been some misunderstanding in the public mind about the time of tho steamer's arrival, for there was absolutely no one on the King's Wharf to meet them as tile Sydney boat crept alongside, and even some little time elapsed before any officials put in an appearance, so that for the boys who returned to their native land yesterday after facing tho dangers of war there were no joy-bells. The omission was duo to a report which seemed to have reached several people, including the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke), that the Maitai would not arrive until 6 p.m. This misunderstanding did not' extend to the Harbour Board or Police Force, which had a representation on tho wharf capable of controlling a crowd of some thousands. Some! of the soldiers expressed their keen sense of disappointment at their arrival home being allowed to take place without any sort of welcome. "We were splendidly received at Frcmant'le —the people could not do enough for us," said 0110 soldier. "At Sydney we were carried shoulder high, and there wero motors to run us round, wherever we wished to go. . Then we arrive back home —nothing. It's tho dizzv limit!"

About ten minutes after the boat was berthed the Maypr arrived at t'ho wharf, and was soon amongst the men, extending to them a hearty welcome back. At that time the medical staff were at work putting l tile men through their facings one by one, in,order to record exactly their particular trouble and present condition, and as the Port Health Officer (Dr. Pollen) had not cleared the Ship, tho fow people who were on tho wharf were not permitted to approach within twenty feet of the vessel's side. The officials on the wharf included Drs. Purdy, Frengley, and Elliott, and a" staff from the Record Branch.

The names of the men who returned appeared in yesterday's Dominion. They wore all picked up by the Ascanius at Malta, together 'with, about 60 or 70 Australian soldiers,' and wero brought right on to Sydney by that steamer. Twenty-six New Zealanders in all made Uie trip .in the Ascdnius. Of that number, three wero left behind in Australia—3/224 Private Frank Scfton, 7/404 Trooper Lumsden Neil Taylor, and 8/858 Corporal Fredk. Wall. Among the Men. None of the cases are hospital cases in the military sense of the term. That is they are all advanced convalescents, and in most cases are "medically fits" once more, but there are one or two with "bits of lead in them," which will havo to be taken out sooner or later on tho operating-table. "They don't worry about tho bullets much if they're not in a vital spot," explained one palefaced young fellow. "A bullet wound if it is not an explosive is not so bad, and will soon heal up if tho mau is ordinarily healthy, and it might do more harm' than . good probing about for it in the hot 1 weather, when wounds so easily become septic. There's a chap, he's got a bit of shell in his shoulder, but it doesn't worry him." What was your trouble? "Mine? Oh, a common one —concussion. Shook up by a bursting shell. I didn't happen to be hit, but the concussion it caused laid me out. Lots of cases like mine—it's general concussion of the nervous system, not of tho brain," he explained.

Another soldier from Dunedin was suffering from an injured back, the effect of a bullet/ wound sustained in the big advance on August 8. . He is able to walk about, and looks quite well, but doubts very much if he will bo able to do any hard work again. This young man's homo coming is a sad one, as sinco he lias been away his father has died.

A white bandage across the right eye distinguished one soldier, who confessed to having lost an eye when it could least' be spared. ' Other-men had been sufferers from enteric, dysentery, and rheumatism. One and all speak highly of the treatment they received in hospital at. Malta.