TROOPS FROM ENGLAND

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2790, 7 June 1916, Page 6

TROOPS FROM ENGLAND

HEAVY DRAFT OF SURGICAL CASES.' Tlio White Star liner Athenic, from Euglantl, via Cape Town unci Hobart, arrived in port yesterday morning, bringing among lier passengers 97 New Zealand soldiers, convalescents, and men recovered from their wounds. Tho draft was in charge of Major F. Waite, D.5.0., of ■ Buncdin, a young officer. who hopes he has not yet seen the last of the war Major Waite said that the draft was the worst one that had returned to New Zealand, owing to there having been men who were severely wounded, and had been in hospitals for a considerable length of time. These were all surgical cases— mostly men who were shot at Cluinuk Bair (Gallinoli) in August of last vear. Of the. draft eight of the men return with wooden . legs, One man has lost both his left arm and leg, but had substitutes fitted which he was rapidly getting used to. This was Pte. Fuller, of < the lGtli Waikatos. There were also half a dozen wearing artificial arms. The whole draft are permanently unfits. Major'Waite informed a Domisiok reporter that the voyage of the Athenic had been quiet and uneventful, except for two outstanding features, and thoso" were the calls made at Cane Town and ilobart, where the draft was splendidly welcomed and entertained. Of the men on the Athenic about. 25 belong to th« Wellington Military District.