BACK FROM THE WAR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17317, 17 May 1918, Page 4

BACK FROM THE WAR

ANOTHER DRAFT ARRIVES. ; EXPERIENCES AS PRISONER OF WAR. (Pee United Pbess Association.) AUCKLAND, May 16. Transport No. 160 reached Auckland this morning, with 835 officers and men, 9 nurses, and 18 passengers. This is the largest draft to return for some time. The vessel mndo a remarkably fast trip. The men, on tho whole, look very well. There is a percentage of maimed men, but practically no cot oaees. The general health of the men improved greatly on the voyage, which was a particularly happy one. The one stop at an American port was memorable by tho most lavish hospitality of the citizens. Anzac Day was celebrated on tho ship, on which there were no fewer than 102 Gallipoli men. Tho draft, which is commanded by Colonel Plugge, ot Auckland, contains many decorated men, including tho wearers of French decorations. The transport 'will bo berthed to-morrow morning, and the southern men will leave by rail at 7.40 p.m. The statement that 200 men returned with wives is incorrect, no men having done so.

Eleven months as a prisoner in Germany was the experience of Private Bert Oxley, of Kingsland,_ -who returned to-day. Ho was wounded in a trench raid near Armentieres,_ and was left in a German trench, suffering from eight -wounds. Ho was sent to a German hospital in Franco, where he received fair "treatment. Subsequently he was sent to Germany, and was repatriated m January, his right arm having been permanently injured. While in Germany, Private Oxley endured very severe conditions, particularly in regard to food, and his weight dropped from 12 stone to S stone. " Things are certainly very bad in Germany," he said. " I was at Pachei, Cologne, Julich, and Mannheim, and was able to Meo the nrivations of the people. The shop windows are always empty, and potato queues often could not be supplied. At one prison our Christmas dinner was soup made out of entrails of fish." The following officers are included in the list:—Temporary-colonel Arthur Plus-ge (Auckland) and Major W. N. Abbott (Victoria), Major W. E. Carter (Auckland). Major Colin H. Gordon (Dunedin), Major P. Harvev (Dublin), and Major C. M'Gilp (Auckland) aro the principal offioera in the party. Major Abbott holds the Military Cross, and Major M'Gilp tho D.O.S. DRAFT~IS9. (Peb United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, May 6. Draft 159 arrived to-day, bringing 142 men for Wellington. The vessel left for the south this evening.