BACK FROM THE WAR

Otago Witness, Issue 3276, 27 December 1916, Page 13

BACK FROM THE WAR

ARRIVAL OF MAHENO. 376 SOLDIERS OX BOARD. MANY SEVERE CASES. _ AUCKLAND, December 19. The hospital ship Maheno arrived early this morning, with 376 officers and men who have been invalided home. In addition to the men, there are also returning 15 officers and two sisters of the nursing staff. The ship's contingent is made up of 150 men for Wellington, yO for Auckland, 70 for Port Chalmers, and 61 for Lyttelton. Of the Auckland party, six are cot oases and nine indoor patients, while for all parts of New Zealand there are 144 indoor hospital cases. Many of the gallant fellows have suffered deplorable wounds, and it will be many long days before they can enjoy to the full the freedom which the discharge from the hospital ship at 2 p.m. to-day promised them. There is ono sorely-smitten member of the Maori Contingent —declared by his mates to be the happiest man on the ship, —who is minus both legs, but, thanks to the marvellous advance of the manufacture of artificial limbs, he has been fixed up in England with a couple of legs, which, with the aid of sticks, will enable him to walk about despite his affliction. 'lhere ar* many other sad, yet wonderful, cases aboard, bearing eloquent testimony to the skill of our hospital department and the care with which England looks after her wounded sons. Despite the inevitable atmosphere of pathos that must surround the home-com-ing of a hospital ship, the welcome given to the' men was as bright and cheerful as could be wished for. Tears which the shock of meeting- a sadly-altered son or husband brought were hastily dashed aside when the men wore admitted to a shed on the Queen's wharf, and a largo crowd joined in giving them the heartiest of _ ovations. The ship was in command of Lieutenantcolonel Elliott, and the other staff officers aboard her are: Major Christie, Captain H. xVI. Wilson, Captain J. Barclay, Captain F. Best, Captain A. Whyte, Lieutenant T. W. Maben (ship's adjutant) and the chaplains —Lieutenant-colonel Evans, Captain J. W. Shaw, and Captain T. Kinkaid. The matron is A'liss Bicknell. The Maheno has been on the ''crossChannel " water, and the staff had many exciting experiences. They saw the bombardment of the south-east coast by a Zeppelin and the mining- of an oil ship. There were no deaths except that of Nursing Sister Lind, of the French service, who was returning invalided.

LIEUTENANT DOWNIE STEWART. AUCKLAND, December 19. Amongst the officers on the Maheno is Lieutenant Downie Stewart, M.P., who was invalided from Franco to England just before the New Zealanders went into tho thick of the fighting on the Somme. Lieutenant Stewart, who left the dominion about a year ago, spent a few weeks in Egypt, and proceeded in April to France, where he was engaged in trench operations for a few weeks. During this time nothing of an exceptional nature happened, desultory raiding and counter-raiding being the only form of excitement. Subsequently he was attached to General Russell's Divisional Staff, and he was engaged in intelligence work for a few weeks. It was not long before the initiation of tho great Somme offensive that Lieutenant Stewart was seized with an attack of rheumatoid arthritis—a severe rheumatic complaint. He was invalided to England, and was sent to a spa at Bath, but as his condition did not Improve the medical authorities decided to send him back to New Zealand. Lieutenant Stewart, speaking this evening, said ho had benefited considerably by the voyage, and that he was now able to walk about the deck of tho vessel. He is in good spirits, although disappointed at not being able, as he says, to see it through. "I did not like leaving the front," he said, " and should I be well enough to return next summer I shall bo very glad to go." He will proceed to Dunedin in the Maheno, and after the holidays will visit Rotorua and take a course at the baths there. Lieutenant Stewart pays a high tribute to the army hospital arrangements in France and England. In Franco there are 15 British hospitals, from which a choice for each case may be made. The organisation both there and in England is described as '" marvellous." Lieutenant Stewart states that he has heard nothing but praise from Imperial officers regarding the way in which tho New Zealanders who took part in the fighting in France acquitted themselves. He states that Lieutenant Seddon, M.P., who saw him off on his departure from England, is looking well, and ; s in high spirits.

MARVELS OF SURGERY. {Fbom Oub Own Correspondent.) AUCKLAND, December 19. Evidence- of the rapid advancement of surgery was embodied in an account given by Gunner A. H. Sewell of an operation which he underwent in hospital in Franco for the removal of a piece of shrapnel shell from his spine. It was during- the righting at Armentieres that Gunner Sewell was wounded. A piece of shell penetrated his neck to the root of the second rib. Ho was taken from tho field paralysed in one side, and it was suggested to him that ho should return to New Zealand, as the possibilities of recovery by operation were remote. He took tho risk, however, and was operated on by Colonel iSargeant, late surgeon to the King. Strange to say, immediately after tho operation he regained tho use of his arm and leg, and 10 days later he was despatched to Waltoni-on-Thames, where he remained for seven ■weeks, leaving the institution to join tho Maheno for New Zealand. Members of the medical profession in France, in complimenting Gunner Sewell on his recovery, advised him that it was the only known caso of a man having recovered his faculties after such an operation. THE HOMEWARD VOYAGE. AUCKLAND, Oecembe,- 19. Tho Maheno eailed at 8.30 p.m. for Wellington. Two deaths occurred during tho voyage. Two days after leaving Colombo Staff Nurse L. Lind, who had been invalided back to New Zealand, died from consumption. Her mother resides in Wellington. During the ship's stay at Albany Staff Sergeant-major M'Kenzie, whilo returning to the ship in the local launch, was accidental!,? drowned by the swamping of

the launch. Deceased, who was formerly on the household stali of bis Excellency the Governor, has no relatives in New Zealand.

ARRIVAL IN DUNEDIN. The hospital ship Maheno, which reached Port Chalmers early on Saturday morning from Auckland, via Wellington and Lyttelton, was met by a good number of Dunedin and Port Chalmers residents, the majority of whom had assembled to meet a friend or a relative among those on board. The Mayor of Port Chalmers (Mir T. Sfcollay) boarded the vessel a few minutes after she had been berthed and extended a welcome to the returned men on behalf of tho residents of the borough. Cr Green, in the absence of the Mayor of Dunedin, addressed a few words of welcome to the soldiers, telling them how proud the people of the dominion were of the exploits of the New Zealandcjrs at the front.

Among tho returned men was Captain O. G. Jorvis, who had his right leg amputated as tho result of a wound received in Gallipoli,. but who has been provided with an artificial limb that almost defies the detection of a mishap having occurred. Most of the men, however, were able to walk about. There was little opportunity afforded anyone to interview the men, but from the brief conversation possible the impression gained was that they were thankful to get homo again; at the same time they would not like to have missed tho experience. Trooper Walter Blacklock was sent to his home at Oamaru by the second express for Christchurch. while Sapper F. H. Bath, Private A. Grant, Private C. F. Miller, and Rifleman W. E. Smith were taken charge of by tho secretary of the Patriotio Association (Mr J. Stewart Wright) and cared for until they left for Invercargill by the afternoon express. Tho Motor Club at short notice rendered valuable assistance in the despatching of the men to their respective homes in the city.

Lieutenant W. Downio Stewart was brought fiom Port Chalmers in his motor car and taken to his home by his sister. Lieutenant Stewart has had a very severe time, and although much improved by the voyage, is not yet able to receive any friends. Acting on medical advice, Miss Stewart had been compelled to refuso numbers of requests for interviews with her brother.

The severe cases on the ship were Trooper R. Heads, Private E. A. Heath, Private C. T. Layton, Private H. G. Jacobs, and Private A. E. Poulter, all of whom were sent to the Dunedin Hospital. None is regarded as a dangerous case, the worst being that of Private W. Grant, of Invercargill, who is suffering from the effects of a bullet in his spine. As Captain M'Lcan had been granted leave in Auckland, the Maheno was brought from Auckland by Captain Reid, who is well known as the result of his connection with the Paloona and Mararoa. The hospital ship is to go into dock at Port Chalmers immediately after the Christmas holidays for overhaul. She is expected to sail again on January 6 for Lyttelton, and in the meantime her present staff will " stand by," pending the appointment of the staff for her third charter. During her last charter the Maheno steamed 52,229 miles, and carried 15,822 patients of all ranks, including 12,065 Imperials, 996 Canadians, 1079 New Zealanders, and. in her runs across the English Channel. 936 German prisoners. She left Port Chalmers on May 6, and on her outward voyage left Dublin on October 19 and Southampton on October 29. calling at Port S'aid. Suez, Colombo, and Albany, thence on to Auckland.