WELCOME TO SOLDIERS

Otago Witness, Issue 3383, 15 January 1919, Page 37

WELCOME TO SOLDIERS

ARRIVAL OF THE TAHITI. LARGE CROWD AT DUNEDIN STATION. The troopship Tahiti, with 920 men on board, reached Port Chalmers early on Sunday morning. The Duncdin Headquarters Staff, .which went down to on Saturday evening, commenced itiT*work in connection with the disembarking of the men shortly after the vessel had been berthed. The Mayor of Port Chalmers (Mr J. Tait) and the townspeople turned out in good force and a warm welcome was accorded the warworn heroes.

The Deputy Mayor of Dunedin (Cr J. B. Shacklock) motored down to Port Chalmers, and on behalf of the citizens extended a hearty welcome to the men, expressing the hope that they would soon recover from the effects of the strenuous life they had been leading since leaving- New Zealand. Lusty oheers were given for the soldiers. A special train left Port Chalmers at 3 p.m. with 160 men, arriving in the city at 3.35 p.m., or about an hour and a-half later than it was originally times to arrive.

in Anzao square the soldiers were given an enthusiastic welcome. The St Kilda Band greeted them with "The Conquering Hero," as the train drew-into the station, and while the men were leaving the train they were cheered heartily; in fact, it was the most demonstrative welcome that has been extended to troops returning home. The St. Kilda, Maori Hill, Kaikorai, and 4th Regimental Bands took up positions outside the station and rendered patriotio selections in turn. The Regimental Band rami) from Port Chalmers with the men after giving a series of appropriate selections at tho Port. Members of the Otago Motor Club and other owners of cars were on the scene, and no difficulty was experienced in quickly despatching the men. As each car left the square with one or two soldiers and their friends; the crowd of citizens outside the enclosure cheered lustily. It was a spirited welcome and one which will not be readily forgotten by the men and their friends. Mr J. J. Clark (Mayor of Dunedin) and Mr C. E. Statham, M.F., were on the platform. The Tahiti left Liverpool on December 3, and anchored off the Otago Heads on Friday night, the trip thus occupying 40 days. With the exception of a few rough days shortly after leaving Liverpool, fine weather was experienced throughout the voyage. The men are loud in their praises of the treatment they received from the people at Panama. They were entertained rirfit royally, and they will long remember the welcome they received there. In order that the relatives of the soldiers might find handy shelter at the wharf, in case of rain, the waterside workers left their shelter shed open for the use of visitors. The Soldiers' Club Rooms in Beach street were also placed at the' disposal of the relatives. ALLEGED MISMANAGEMENT. , While the welcome extended to the men v/as marked by commendable spontaneity on the part of the public, it is unfortunate that the same remark does not apply to the arrangements governing the disembarkation and subsequent care of the soldiers. From what-can be gathered from the men, general mismanagement seems to have prevailed in several directions. There was no serious attempt at tho maintenance of order, and tho soldiers made their own arrangements as to 'when they left the boat. Interviewed by a reporter last night, one of the men stated that it was understood that a launch would reach the vessel off the Heads at -4 a.m. yesterday with the staff necessary to attend to the men's papers. There was no appearance of the . launch, and attention was not given to the papers and pay of the men until an hour after the vessel had berthed at Port Chalmers. When the vessel was made fast the men went ashore without the semblance of order. According to our informant, the men were not advised of the order in which they were to leave for their respective homes, and men for other destinations than Dunedin boarded the train originally intended to convey only Dunedin and suburbs men to the city. Those who were unable to catch, the train reached Dunedin by means ot. the ferry boats, and thus it was that a number of \them who reached Dunedin missed their relatives and friends, and had perforce to seek accommodation last night at any available hotel or boarding-house. As lodging-houses are nearly all full at present, difficulty was experienced in a number of cases in finding a bed for the night. Asked why some of the men were still at Port Chalmers, a soldier stated that they had to remain because they did not have their papers and pay. in time to enable them to reach Dunedin. The soldiers state that the attitude taken up by some of the shore military officials did not servo to inspire the men with any degree of confidence in the preparations made for their care after leaving tho ship. ONLY NINE COT CASES. WELLINGTON, January 8. In three drafts, comprising 2380 invalided soldiers who are returning to New Zealand during the course of the next few days, tho Defence Department is advised that there are only nine cot cases 'and 54 cases of general sickness which will require hospital treatment. This is an unusually small percentage, and is regarded as distinctly satisfactory. THE LATEST ARRANGEMENTS. WHEN NAMES ARE AVAILABLE. Closo to the shores of New Zealand, or to bp on the water by February 10, are 10,500 New Zealand soldiers returning from England, There are also three ships en route ixoja. Egypt with NfiK. Zealandexp,.

carrying about 1400 men, and due about the end of this month.

Publication of these facts usually results in- tho Base Records Department being deluged with inquiries from the relatives of soldiers as to whether their particular kinsman is on board one of the ships. This is' a vain and fruitless task, disappointing to the relatives and also to a department anxious to oblige them with news, for the information is not available until a short time before the arrival of the transport, and immediately it comes, it is sent out to the next-of-kin. It is always possible to forward embarkation state of a transport ahead of the ship, and the information arrives in ample time to enable relatives to make arrangements for tho reception of their soldier friends. But until tho Base Records Department receives the embarkation state, It is in no better position than the relatives to say whether particular men arc on any ship. Fourteen days before the probable_ date of tho arrival of a transport, a notice _ is sent to the soldier's next-of-kin, 6tating that he will arrive within the next fortnight. Relatives should await the arrival of this notification, for earlier inquiries will produce negative results, simply causing congestion of work in a busy department. Finally, from the first port of arrival of the vessel, a telegram is sent to tho next-of-kin stating that he will reach his home by a particular train, or if immediate hospital treatment is advisable, the telegram will give the relatives this information.