BOATS ON TRANSPORTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16022, 14 September 1915, Page 6

BOATS ON TRANSPORTS.

From letters and diaries forwarded to the Herald, it would appear that one absolutely necessary provision f9r the safety of our men has been omitted from the equipment of the transports. In the case of the Sixth Reinforcements one transport appears to have had boataccommodation for only one-third of the ship's company, nor does this scanty provision seem to be supplemented by adequate rafting; the men are said to have drawn lots for places in the boats should the unforeseen happen, the intention being that those who drew the death-bal-lots should go down as did the men of the Birkenhead. The situation will be made clearer by the following quotations. One Aucklander writes under date August 20, six days after the transport left Wellington :

In the evening lots were drawn for places in the boats should accident occur. Strange it is that this boat carries 1400 men to the front and yet has accommodation for 500 only in case of accident. Boat drill will be practised by those fortunate to draw / a seat, the rest of us meanwhile standing fore and aft whilst the former row away. (Surely this matter is not right and needs atterotion.) Another Aucklander writes: Though I am sorry to have to say so, there are only enough boats on the vessel to accommodate onethird of the ship's company. I think it is a crying shame that two-thirds of the men in the ship must inevitably perish were we to be torpedoed, strike a derelict, or founder in a heavy sea. I can just imagine our ship sinking here in mid-ocean, at least 300 miles from land ! We should not have the slightest chance under such circumstances, It seems almost incredible after the disasters of recent years that the military authorities would allow a vessel conveying troops to set out without adequate provision being made for their safety while at sea. A man does not mind risking his life on the battlefield, but he does not cherish the- thought of dying like a rat without the remotest chance of being rescued.

Comment is needless— there is any disposition on the part of the Xational Government to justify the practice. Possibly it is Imperial practice, which may account for the 1000 lives lost by the recent sinking of a British transport in the iEgean Sea, but in any case it is a practice which must step as far as Xew Zealand can stop it. Now that attention has been drawn to a truly "incredible " system we await with confidence an official statement frotn Mr. Massey to the effect that sufficient boats or raits will henceforward be provided on every transport in the equipment of which Xew Zealand has a voice.