ATHENIC'S CONTINGENT

Evening Post, Volume XCVII, Issue 65, 19 March 1919, Page 8

ATHENIC'S CONTINGENT

SPLENDID VOYAGE OUT

TROOPS LANDING TO-MORROW.

The troopship Athenic, with Returning Draft No. 222 on board, arrived in Wellington Harbour at 6.45 this morning, and anchored in the stream. Tho draft comprises 748 officers and other ranks and 184 soldiers' wives. The Health authorities boarded the vessel shortly after 9 o'clock, and, finding her "a clean ship," have granted her pratique after she lias been in tho stream for the customary 24 hours. The Athenic will berth at the King's Wharf at 7.45 to-morrow morning, when the troops will disembark. A 43 DAYS' VOYAGE. The voyage out, which was an uneventful one, occupied forty-three days. The Athenic left Liverpool at 4.30 p.m. on Monday, 3rd February, arriving at Colon (Panama) on Friday, 21st February: left Colon on Sunday, 23rd February, and arrived at this port as above. The voyage—with the excep*tion of a strong gale experienced on 11th and 12th February—was a very pleasant one; on the intervening days the weather being most propitious for the prosecution of military work, deck amusements, and the general enjoyment of the passengers. SHIP'S OFFICERS. The officers of the ship are as under: — Captain, J. E. Crossland, R.D., R.N.R. ; Chief' Officer, P. E. Vaughan, D.S.C., 1914 Star; First Officer, J. Jenkins, D.S.C., Croix da Guerre, 1914 Star; Second Officer, C. Cochrane; Third Officer, A. E. Harvey ; Chief Engineer, J. Wolfe; Senior 2nd Engineer, C. S. Newton; Senior 3rd Engineer, L. R. Magnus ; Fourth Engineer, F. W. Randell; Marconi Operators, W. T. Cousins (sen.), and C. L. P Troy; Purser, R. S. Richards; Surgeon, 0. H. Wilson; Chief Steward, F. Moss; Stewardess, Miss Stevens. The military officers' postings and duties are as under : CO. Troops, Lieut.-Colonel P. H. Bell, D.5.0., Croix de Guerre; Adjutant, Capt. F. F. Reid; Assistant Adjutant, 2nd.-Lieut. R. A. M'Master; Quartermaster, Capt. W. G. Tweedy, 0.8. E.; Medical Officers, Major R. H. Hogg and Capt. F. Lumsden, M.C.; Dental Officer, Capt. J. H. Don; Chaplains, Rev. G. C. Cruickshank, Rev. J. C. Murphy; Deck Officer, Capt. J. A. Shand; Canteen Officer, Capt. H. Holderness, M.C/; Gifts Officer, Chap-lain-Capt. G. C. Cruickshank; Sports and Recreation Officer, Capt J. D. Swan; Education Officer, Capt. J. G. Stewart, M.C.; Assistant Education Officer, Lieut. H. A. M'Kenzie; Baggage Officers, Lieut. Scrivener, Lieut. Stanley; Canteen Committee, Lieut.-Colonel P. H Bell, D.S.O.', Capt. Fisher, Lieut. Vickerman; Gift 3 Committee. Capt. F. Reid, Rev. G. :C. Cruickshank, Rev. J. C. Murphy, Sergeants Keeble, Johnstone, and Gibson. As stated,- the voyage was a most enjoyable one, and as a result of the assiduous attention to duty of the CO. (Lieutenant-Colonel Bell) and his executive officers, together with the fact that the enjoyment of the men was well catered for, not a discordant note was struck throughout the trip. RECEPTION AT PANAMA CANAL. On arrival at Colon, on 2ist February, ! general leave was given, and the .Panama Railway Company, putting on a special ! train from the wharf 'to Colon, trails- i ported a large number to this interesting I city. At Christobel—the purely Ameri- j can portion of Colon—much hospitality was shown by the residents, especially the representatives of the Strangers' Club, the V.M.C.A., the Red Cross, and other hospitable institutions At these institutions everything possible was done for the comfort and enjoyment oi the Nero Zealanders, and upon tho departure of the troops on Saturday, 22nd February, to rejoin the 'ship, hearty cheers were given for the ladies and gentlemen who had gone to so much trouble for the entertainment of what they were pleased to term their "brothers and sisters from ' overseas.'' All ranks, without a single exception, returned to the ship during the evening. The departure from Colon. was made at 7 a.m. on Sunday, 23rd February, and the passage of the canal was completed by 2.40 p.m. on the same day. Along the route of the canal American officials and their wives assembled and gave hearty greetings to the New Zealanders, while magazines and baskets of fruit were sent on board. The amusement of the men and their wives was made a prominent feature of the voyage, thanks to Captain J. Swan and others, various entertainments being arranged, so that with concerts and dances the monotony of the long voyage was minimised. Sports, in which all ranks participated, were held at regular intervals, and the ladies, as well as tile officers and men, joined in with considerable enthusiasm. A special programme was arranged for the children, and throughout the voyage the enjoyment of the little ones was well catered for. In this respect the voyage was distinctly successful, and the various forms of entertainment were well patronised and competitions throughout were remarkably keen. Popular lectures and addresses by various officers and n.c.o.'s were given and were highly appreciated by the hearers. DISCIPLINE GOOD THROUGHOUT. The discipline and general conduct of the men throughout the voyage was of a particularly high order. Though someI what handicapped by the limited amount of space available, company and platoon commanders managed to do very good work, and the relations between officers and men were throughout of the most cordial nature.

.The health of the troops and passengers was excellent, and those who were located in hospital during the voyage received every attention at the hands of the 5.M.0., Major R. H. Hogg, and M.0., Captain F. Lumsden, M.C., and the sisters and nurses. The latter rendered valuable service to the passengers, and the mothers should be deeply indebted to these self-sacrificing ladies for the attention paid to the young children on board. With the exception of a single case of mumps, the ship was entirely free from infectious disease, the principal malady— affecting a few—being scabies. Those who came on board classified as "in. valids" also received attention during the voyage from medical officers and nursing staff, with the result that a large proportion were classified "A" by the Medical Board before arrival at Wellington.

The vessel, which had been docked at Liverpool after her mishap at Jamaica, behaved splendidly in the roughest weather. Her best time for 24 hours was 318 miles on 24th and 25th February, and the poorest 98 miles during the gale on 11th and 12th February. DISTINGUISHED OFFICERS. Among the officers landing at Wellington are Colonel Bettington, C.M.G., Legion of Honour, R..A.F., who has seen much service, and Major A. de B. Brandon, D.5.0., M.C., R.A.F., of Wellington, well known in New Zealand as the aviator who brought down a Zeppelin, and who has other Hun machines to his credit. In the United Kingdom Major Brandon is recognised as one of the most daring and Aiiccessful flying "aces," and ho htm worthily uphold New Zealand's rsptuatiofl. in .tha '-'&?•

ing army." Colonel Bettington comes to' New Zealand to act as general adviser our Government and Defence authorities on the important subject of aeronautics, with particular attention to its official use commercially; and we understand •that Major Brandon will also occupy an important position in this connection. Ten naval officers are also included in the contingent. These are: —Lt. C. V. Brown, R.N.V.R. ; Lt. Hemus, R.N. V.R. ; Lt. Harris, R.N.V.R,; Lt. Swales, R.N.V.R, ; Lt. G. Thome George, R.N. V.R.; Lt. H. A. Rhind, R.N.V.R,; Lt. J. B. Stevenson, R.N.R. ; Lt. C. G. .Andrews, R.K.V.R,,; Sub-Lt. M'Lean, R.N.R.; Sub-Lt. Matthews, R.N.R. ' THE EDUCATION SCHEME. Contrary to all expectations, the aver- I age "Digger" was most reluctant to I avail himself of the facilities offered by ' the educational scheme. Fair compensa- I ■tion, however,, was made by the fact that 30 per cent, of the men were most enthusiastic and .accomplished much woric during the. voyage. The scheme,, it is contended, was too theoretical, and more practical subjects should have been introduced. .Every man wants something that will have an immediate and .direct influence upon" his future work.

A valuable reference library of some 250 books was placed on board at Liverpool by the Director of Education, N.Z. E.F. During the last week of the voyage thesa books were sold at half the wholesale price. During the voyage every man was interviewed by the Education Officer, and the importance- of continuing his" studies in New Zealand was explained. He wai also informed of all the facilities offered to the "discharged soldier for such continuation of studies. At the same time the terms of the Discharged Soldiers' Land' Settlement Act was explained to the soldier. It was found that 25. per cent, of the men'were farmers,' and intended returning to the land, and that 5 per cent, of the men ; were giving up trades to take up land under the Government schema.