RETURNING SOLDIERS

Otago Witness, Issue 3397, 23 April 1919, Page 18

RETURNING SOLDIERS

REMUERA'S DRAFT. 141 MEN FOR OTAGO. The Remuera is duo at Auckland on May 5, with 595 troops on board, of whom 141 aro for Otago. Brigadier-general Richardson, who has been G. 0.0., N.Z.E.F., in the United Kingdom, Colonel E. J. O'Neill, D. 5.0., of- Dunedin, and Major J. G. Coates, M.P., are on board this ship. The troops, with few exceptions, are warrant officers and n.c.o.'a. Lieutenant-colonel J.-Hargest, D. 5.0., M.C., of Mandeville, is in charge of the troops on board. The following naval officers, nominated by the Ministry of Shipping, aro returning by the Tainui: —Lieutenants A. Duff, G. Reid, and W. Williamson. Lieutenant "Williamson belongs to Dunedin. The following details of future drafts have been received by the local Defence Office: ■ Kia Ora, arrives Lyttelton May 7, with 979 men on board, of whom 430 are for Otago. ■ „. Northumberland, arrives Wellington -May 9, with 1336 on board, of whom 48 axe for Otago. . , _„_ Arawa, arrives Lyttelton May 13, with 588 troops, 95 women, and 33 children on board} 231 troops are for Otago. __•'•_ ... Paparoa. arrives Wellington May 13, with 597 men (including five Imperial details) on board, of whom 189 are for Otago. Carpentaria, arrives Lyttelton May 14. with 575 men (including two Imperial details) on board. _ Rimutaka, arrives Wellington May if, with 712 men (including eight Imperial details), two civilians, 12 women, and eight . children on board. ARRIVAL OF THE WILLOCHRA. WELLINGTON, April 15. j The troopship Willochra. which arrived last night, was passed as a clean ship, and at 2.15 o'clock this afternoon. Unfortunately the weather to-day was cold and showery. The returning troops, however, were given a hearty welcome. lhe . steamer Duchess this morning conveyed round the transport about 1000 school child- - ren, who sang to and cheered the men. The Auckland men went north by special train this evening, and the southerners left by the Mararoa. The Nelson-Picton steamer was kept back until £3O ,o clock, thus enabling the men for those districts to catch it. ,■ ■' , Officers and men report. that they, experienced an excellent voyage, being accorded the usual hospitality when passing through the Panama Canal. Shortly after leaving England a number of influent* colds were experienced, but these rapidly disappeared, and there was no further sickness. THE KAIKOURA'S DRAFT. „ WELLINGTON, April 19. The Kaikoura, with 1112 troops -Jrom , Egypt, berthed this morning. A large number were serving with the Mounted Division across the Jordan Valley when the armistice was signed*. When the Kaikoura lefV Sue» there were" no signs of native unrest, -except! that the natives were-very cheery. ARRIVAL OF OTAGO MEN. A draft of 142 men for Dunedin and the south arrived by special train on Sunday. Lieutenant-colonel Colquhoun, Cap tarn Dobson, and Lieutenant Williams were on the platform representing the Defence Department, and the Salvation Army provided stirring musio. Each man, as he left* the station, was handed a parcel, containing chocolate, etc., by representatives of the Otago Women's Patriotic Association. # The draft was in charge >of Major Fleming, assisted by Sergeant-major Wheeler, and both spoke in high praise of the behaviour of tho men on the journey from Wellington. There was one cot case, 68,888, Trooper A. T W. Jardine, of Kyeburn. This soldier was suffering from malaria, and was conveyed to the Dunedin Hospital. ' ; The usual arrangements for the reception of the men were made. The Fire Brigade had a triumDhal archway erected m Stuart street, lit by coloured electric bulbs, and the troops' passed under this on their way to their homes. . . , The motorists again turned out m good force, and lent their services to convey the men to their homes. Each man, as he left the station, was conducted to a motor car and the long procession of care drove up' Stuart street ..to .the Octagon, where they diverged to the right or to the left, according to the destination of the soldier. , Cheering crowds lined the way, and gave the men the hearty welcome home which they so richly deserve. " ;_ The 108 men for stations south of Dunedin were accommodated in various board-ing-houses, etc.,. in Dunedin during the night, and left for their homes by the express next morning. Practically all the- men belonged to *i mounted units. THE CORINTHIC. The local Defence Department received advice on Saturday afternoon that the Corinthio, with a returning draft will arrive at ✓ Lyttelton on Tuesday, the 22nd, and that the Otago men will reach Dunedin by a special train which is expected hero at 4.30 p.m. on Wednesday. The men for south of D.unedin will £0 to then: homes the same day. DRAFTS TO ARRIVE, AUCKLAND, April 20. A wireless message states that the Hospital Ship Maheno is a clean ship, and will arrive at Auckland at 7 o'clock on Tuesday morning.