AFTER FOUR YEARS OF WAR.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 1983, 29 May 1919, Page 2

AFTER FOUR YEARS OF WAR.

DR. ADAMS RETURNS. Surgeon-Captain Cl. J. Adams, who was practising his profession in Foxton for some years, and who . left New Zealand for Edinburgh iu 1913, and upon the outbreak of war ollered his services to the Imperial Authorities, ajtul served, first in •the Royal Army Medical Corps and later hi the Now Zealand Medical Corps at the front, and in various hospitals in France and other places right up to the time he left Glasgow last month, returned to New Zealand in the Paparoa, arriving In Wellington on Saturday last. Captain Adams wears three ribbons, the 1914-1915 Star, the Imperial General Service Medal with two clasps, and the Imperial Long Service Medal. Whilst residing in Foxton prior (o leaving New Zealand, Caplain Adams took a keen interest in all local attains, and was a member of the Foxton Borough Council. He was also keenly interested in sport, and was a member of various (dubs and societies. He is at present visiting bis parents at Mangaweka, and is coming on to Foxton on Saturday, and will arrive hero by the evening train. The Mayor is arranging to welcome him tit the sta-

lion, ami the local Borough Band will also be in attendance. Captain Adams will only be able to stay a day or so in Foxton, as be has to return to England in the Paparoa, which sails within the next fortnight. He will return to New Zealand with another batch of troops, and then will take up his permanent residence in (his countrv.

To a newspaper reporter iu WeD linglon Captain Adorns related some of ins war experiences:— In 1914 the imperial authorities posted Captain Ada ins to Edinburgh Cus(le, where lie recruited some of the earliest Scottish Battalions which formed part of Lord French's

"contemptible Jiulo army.” Desiring to see sumo of tlu; lighting, lie then applied lo he allowed to proceed with one of (iiese units, mid some little lime afterwards was able to go over with a Highland battalion. He first wont to the Armen ti.ores sector, and then to Flanders, -*< later going to the Somme. “In thoearly part of 1910,” said Captain Adams, “1 was recalled for special services, and was posted as surgeon and pathologist at Ivipon llostiiliil, Yorkshire, where 50,000 troops were garrisoned. I was there until early in 1917, and was again sent lo France as bacteriologist and pathologist, being stationed at the 20th General Hospital at Ft a pies. "While I was a t Etaples four squadrons of German aeroplanes bombed our hospital, and did • considerable damage. Many other hospitals were wrecked, and terrible injuries inflicted on the soldiers.” v >

It was at Etaples that Captain Adams was rather seriously wounded, and was sent to Manchester Hospital, where he remained for a long period. As soon as lie was lit; for duty again, the .Northern Command applied for him to go back to liipon Hospital as surgeon and pathologist, and he remained there until the Few Zealand authorities recalled him to the No. 1 General Hospital at Broekenhurst. When the hospital closed down he volunteered for transport duty, and was posted to the Paparoa.

“I would like to mention an a Yew Zealander,” said Captain Adams, “(hat I cannot speak too highly of the kindness shown by the Imperial authorities to our troops. Our troops were held in the highest regard, not only as fighting men, but as good disciplined soldiers who could behave themselves on mixing with the British people when on leave. I feel proud Ho lie aide, to say that the treatment provided for the Mew Zealand sick and wounded far excelled anything in the held or base hospitals.” Tin-: BABA BOA'S VOVA OK.

The departure of troops from' England in February and March was delayed owing (o industrial troubles, and a little unrest was caused among all colonial troops, in their eagerness to get back home. The Paparoa eventually sailed from Glasgow on April Ist. A Highland baud was engaged to play during the embarkation, and tbe Paparoa cast off to the strains of “Will Yo iso Como Back Again?” On the trip across the Atlantic the weather was cold and the sea at times heavy, but nothing damped the ardour of tho mem Sports were held, as well as concerts, and every morning a regular budget of wireless news was received. One morning, much to the disappointment of all, news was received that prohibition had been carried in Xew Zealand by 13,000 votes, and the following day the ballot was taken on boat'd the transport. The subsequent day everybody grew, brighter on the receipt of another wireless message stating that the voting had been converted into a continuance majority of about 1,000 votes.

At Newport News all the troops were received with open arms by the American naval, military, Y.M.C.A, and civil authorities. It was impossible to do enough for the New Zealand men, every facility for sightseeing being provided, and those who so desired had free living and sleeping accommodation provided ashore by the Y.M>C.A. The five days’ stay at Newport News would be an everlasting memory of the generosity of the Americans. In (he Pedro Miguel locks, half-way through the Panama Canal, the Paparoa was bombarded with bundles of papers, etc., by the inhabitants.' 'F!ie Paparoa was the first transport to tie up at the Balboa dock. On berthing they found that the American Red Cross and Y.M.C.A. luu|

provided a sit-down, dinner for all troops, and arrangements had also been made for motor transport for every soldier. Motor cars were placed at their disposal to go to Panama, and to return them to the ship. American military police had been detailed to assist in directing any of the New Zealanders, and to see that the townspeople did not overcharge them. At 0 a.m. the next morning the Paparoa sailed, much to the sorrow of the troops, for as keen as they were to get back home, they were sorry to leave American generosity so abruptly. The troops had much to thank Captain Barnes, master of the Paparoa, for, as he made the monotonous trip delightful by calling in at Dehipago Island and Pitcairn Island. Tim Pitcairn Islanders are descendants of the mutineers of “The Mutiny of, the Bounty” fame. Three days later they sailed under the mountainous Ropa Island, which claims to be colonised by the original descend-' ants of the Maoris.

Captain Adams’ wife is awaiting him in Edinburgh, and he is to return there by (lie Paparoa when she sails on the return trip. His two sons, William Edgar and Georga Potter, came back with him, and will stay in Manghwcka with relatives.