MAIN EXPEDITION

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 129, 27 November 1914, Page 2

MAIN EXPEDITION

WITH THE MEN AT SEA SECOND STAGE COMPLETED SOME INTERESTING ACCOUNTS. (By The Post's Special Correspondents.) At Sea One Day From . H.M.N.Z.T. No. — , — , 1914. We left - — - on — — , after we had taken in sufficient water to carry us to . Our stay in. — ■■ ■ was most pleasant, with beautiful weather, and our send-off by a very large crowd of people will long be remembered. Throughout our stay in that towp the friendliness and hos-" pitality displayed by the townsfolk were most marked. The troops were taken ashore for two route marches, and they were continually cheered by the people as they passed through the streets. We reached on — — , and it so happened that the Agricultural and Pastoral Show was being held, at which most of the people were. Nevertheless, a good crowd waited at the barriers of the wharves to see the vessels arrive—indeed, a big day for as far as shipping goes. I think everybody wished their stay in had been longer, and in fact some of the troops thought so much of the place that they missed their boats, but had sufficient sense to get on board one of the cruisers which brought up the rear of the fleet, and they are still there, but I should imagine they are wishing themselves back aboard their own transports, because on occasions the warships appeal 1 to be more under than above- the water. The first day out from -— was rather rough, but very few were seasick. From then until to-day, Tuesday, the weather has been beautiful, but to-day it is most unpleasant, being showery and misty, with a heavy sea and swell. The trans- 1 ports occupy the same position as they did on the way from Wellington (surrounded by warships), but the positions of the convey has been changed. We are due, to reach our second port at about noon to-morrow, Wednesday. On Sunday all ranks attended divine service on the boat deck, but we are rather unfortunate in not having a- band to accompany us with the hymns. The usual routine of duties is being carried out, but physical drill at 6.15 this morning had to be cancelled on account of the bad weather. Classes of instruction for officers are being held, and classes for French are being attended by n.c.o'g. and officers. Musketry practice has been carried out, targets being towed over the stem, and in some Cases good scores were put up. IMPRESSIVE FUNERAL SERIVCE. Yesterday a gloom was cast over all on board by the announcement of the death of Private Gilc'hrist, of the Now Zealand Medical Corps, from Otago, on board the transport — . It is stated that death was due to ptomaine poisoning. A very sad and impressive funeral service took place, the procedure carried out being as follows : — At 3 p.m. the transport with tile dead soldier on board came to the centre of the squadron. At 3.40 p.m. the troops op the whole of the transports paraded in caps, jacket*, trousers, sidearms, and deck shoes. At 3.48 all transports were stopped, and the bands played the "Dead March," followed by tho funeral service. On the .conclusion of the service the body was committed to the deep, and volleys fired by a firing party on the central ship, upon which that vessel hoisted her ensign close up, until which time the troops stood to attention. The flagship then made a. signal to the central ship to take up her station, and the squadron proceeded. The reader will no doubt picture this sad and impressive scene, which will long be remembered by all who witnessed it. The removal of coal from hold" to bunker has been undertaken during the last two days by volunteers, who are to receive 2s per day extra pay. The men had to pa*ss a. medical test before being allowed to undertake euch strenuous work. The general health of tho troops throughout the fleet is good, only an occasional case of measles, bronchitis, or pneumonia being reported. Thehofses on this boat are doing very well, but on the other transports about twelve have died from various causes. SPEED OF THE FLEET. Tho speed of the fleet varies at- times. So far the old — -, which was thought might maike the pace slow, has done very well, and kept her position, but the "■■ ■ — - and ■ — — have proved to be slow boats for some reason or other. They will no doubt have remedied the causes of their slowness by this time, for they appear to be doing well to-day, in apite of the rough weather. For the twenty-four hours up to noon to-da.y our run wan 273 miles, but this will no doubt bo lessened during the next twenty-four hours on account of the rough sea. We have not so far been inoculated, but I believe it will soon be carried out, and when that is over wo will no doubt settle down comfortably to our long journey, for by this time almost every body has gained his sea legs, and the time passes very quickly indeed, as there is always something to do from reveille to "lights out." It is not anticipated that our stay in — — will be lengthy, and of course we do not know what our next port of call will be. It is rumoured that wo may call into — — ■ or we may go direct from to , in which case it will be some timo before you hear from me again. We have probably got about the worst portion of our journey ovei a3 far as rough seas are concerned, for tho ■ and ■■ - are considered to be pretty bad. AT SECOND PORT OF CALL". Anchored in Stream, , ~— , 1914. We entered the harbour here at about 9 a.m. on Wednesday, and wore surprised to see the at anchor. Tho arrived here on Saturday, and others came later on. One of the warships is keeping guard at the entrance. The flagship oi the New Zealand transports went straight to a berth at the wharf, and as sho passed each vessel the men continually cheered us, which we duly returned. At the wharf were two boats, but they pulled out into tho stream as wo approached. Later on in the morning tho — *— ' came alongside the wharf for water, and the - — ■ took her plac» later. We l«ft for th» stream at S o'clock this morning, and ar» now lying at anchor. I Th« -— — was with the — — when ws , arrived, but what our convoy will be I afUr leaving hto'e remains to be seen. ' In fact, orders have boen issued that particulars concerning out convoy must not bo < sent to friends. Our letters are , not being censored to New Zealand, but ' if addressed to any other country they are censored. While at our second port of call our horses were taken ashore for exercise, and they appeared to be very frisky after their confinement on tho boat. One of the horses below decks died last night, and this 13 the only death that ha& happened on our boat, but on the other boats there has beon an average all round of about one horso per' day since wo left New Zealand. No leave whatever was granted here. Yesterday insulation commenced on bowd this Uajuspott, .and &-goo<Ljttu.nv

ber were done, and all appear to ty) all right this morning. It is rumoured that we shall remain in the stream until about Sunday next, when we will proceed on our way. It can be imagined what a fine sight the fleet lying at anchor presents. A dinner to officers of tho forces was held on board the New Zealand flagship on Wednesday evening, and the band off the , which was lying opposite to us, came on the wharf and acted as the orchestra. The weather has been fine but rather muggy. Some of our boys who went ashore with the horses had a hunt. They were unsuccessful in finding a , but succeeded in finding a — — -, which 1 understand is a native of . The health of the troops throughout continues good. A few moro cases of measles_ have been reported, but everj precaution is being taken by the medical authorities.