INVALIDED SOLDIERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16667, 12 April 1916, Page 4

INVALIDED SOLDIERS

MAHENO REACHES NEW ZEALAND. j 326 PASSENGERS. 26 COT CASES. (Peb United Pbess Association.) AUCKLAND,' April 10.' , The Maheno arrived at daybreak and anchored in the stream. The ship has on board 326 returned invalids, mostly from Egypt, though some are from England and Malta. There are eight officers and four nurses, ,all under the chage of Lieutenant-colonel Elliott, New Zealaiitf Medical Corps. cot cases number 26. One man lost both legs, two one leg each, and others e»- 1 arm or an eye. One; returned soldier ;is a . retaarkabla l example of surgical skill. He is a young engineer, who had the back •of his aVjill blown away. He is so skilfully patched up that he is able to walk about. ;■■■ - The Auckland soldiers number 88, and •' the other men will be landed as follows:— Wellington 99, Lyttelton 63, and Dimeclra The voyage passed very pleasantly and beneficially. The number of oot cases has been considerably reduced as a result of the voyage, and of the less seriously wounded men the overwhelming majority are able to walk about without the aid of a stick or crutches. Except for one incident on the voyage, when a distress wireless message was received from a. transport which had lost . her propellers, the voyage was uneventful. The crippled vessel,was taken in tow until the hawsers snapped, when she had to ba consigned to other care. ' , When the ship put into Albany the men wero allowed shore leave, and were warmly received by the townsfolk. ' , The departure of the Maheno was witnessed by a large crowd. She sailed for the south shortly before 9 o'clock. Sho was delayed for three-quarters of an hour owing to the non-appearance. of several firemen, but they returned later, and the ship left amid cheers: " The speakers at a reception on the wharf ■ were Sir Joseph Ward, the Hon. Mr Myers, and tne Mayor. . , OTAGO AND SOUTHLAND MEN. Tne local Defence Office has received , information by telegraph that the Maheno left Auckland at 9 o'clock last night. Sho has 50 sick and wounded for Dunedin, including three cot cases;, 27 for south of ' Dunedin, including 3 cot cases for Inveroargill, and 8 sick and- wounded for north of Dunedin.