RETURNING SOLDIERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3398, 30 April 1919, Page 37

RETURNING SOLDIERS.

ARRIVAL OF THE MAHENO. FOUR DEATPIS ON THE VOYAGE.

AUCKLAND, April 22. The Maheno finished her career as a hospital ship to-day, when she arrived at Auckland with the worst oases that remained in English hospitals. The Maheno brought 22 officers, 4 nursing sisters, and 366 of other ranks. At the commencement of the voyage the cot cases numbered 250, and at the conclusion they were reduced to 55. Several of these ore in a critical condition, and others require treatment for come considerable tim.3. The patients were embarked at Avonmouth on March 10, and the vessel sailed for New Zealand the same evening. The passage across the Atlantic was a very stormy one. Although influenza was raging in England when the hospital ship left, and many of the orderlies_ were down with the disease, the epidemic on board was speedily stamped out by means of an inhalation chamber, which, was in constant use. On the ship strict isolation was maintained, and none of the,patients contracted the disease. The massage department was particularly busy, a largo number of patients requiring orthopaedic treatment, which will be continued in New Zealand. There were four deaths on the voyageviz., Lance-corporal G. Graham (Awahuri), Private T. Renfrew (Auckland), Private T. O'Connell (Christchurch), and Driver'P. P. Johnston (Gisborne). The last-named was given a military funeral at Colon. The others were buried at sea. The Governor-General boarded the Maheno and welcomed the men, and after disthe Auckland troops she sailed for Wellington. THE CORINTHIC. - CHRISTCHURCH, April 22. The transport Corinthic arrived in Lyttelton Harbour at 6 a.m. to-day. She has a draft of over 1000 troops on board, also 42 women and 18 children. Of the troops 398 are for Canterbury, 27 for Nelson and Picton, 40 for West Coast, and 436 for Ota go. The vessel was found to have on board 15 cases mumps and one cot case. After an inspection of the ship had been carried out, Dr Cheseon, District Health Officer, said the Corinthio would be placed in quarantine for 24 hours. There were one or two little matters he wished to consult his head office in Wellington about, but parsonally he was satisfied, and thought the vessel could berth to-morrow, at 6 a.m. The oases of mumps are to be taken to the Christchurch hospital. The Corinthic had an uneventful trip, and there was very littl-a sickness aboard. The passage was a smooth one until a week ago, when fairly heavy weather was encountered. Many of the men showed keen interest in the educational classes, particularly shorthand. The men speak most enthusiastically of the wairm-heartedness' of the residents of Colon. A small paper (the Corinthic Mail) was published five times during the voyage. • ~.■•'- 'WELCOME IN. DUNEDIN. ton ex Corinthio on Tuesday morning, the 22nd, .arrived in Dunedin by special train on Wednesday afternoon. The train was originally scheduled to arrive at 5.30, but the Defence Department was notified, that it would reach > Dunedin ah hour earlier, and all steps possible were taken to announce the fact to the public. Apparently the bulk of those interested were informed, since a largo crowd collected out'side the station shortly after 4 o'clock, in readiness to welcome the men back. The motorists of the city again came forward in large numbers, and gave the use of their cars willingly for tho conveyance of the troops to' their homes. ARRIVAL OF THE lONIC.' AUCKLAND, April 24. The transport lonic, which arrived in the harbour last evening, was berthed this morning at the Queen's wharf. She brings 49 officers, 18 nursing sisters, 644 other ranks, 168 soldiers' wives, and 61 children. A seaplane from the New Zealand Flying School at Kohimarama flew over the transport and dropped messages of welcome on board, and" liberated a sack full of confetti as a special tribute to the soldiers' wives. The lonic left London on March 24, and came to New Zealand via Panama \Canal. The chief incident of a smooth and uneventful journey was the reception given to the troops in the canal zone, where American residents, despite the frequent and numerous calls on their hospitality, showed the New Zeaand soldiers every consideration, and attended to their comfort with unflagging enthusiasm. The health of. the troops was good throughout the voyage, there being only three cot cases. The use of an inhaling chamber successfully prevented the advent of influenza. After doing splendid work in France tho tunnellers have returned as a complete unit under Captain R. H. Daldy, M.C.

The batch of bonnie English girls .who have come to New Zealand as wives of soldiers created a very favourable impression, and the spectacle of many of the "diggers" proudly carrying babies in their arms fired the enthusiasm of the waiting crowds. The young wives Were quickly made to feel that they were truly welcome.

The southern quota of the contingent was entertained at luncheon, and in the afternoon were given a motor trip round the icity and suburbs. All of the soldiers disembarked at Auckland. Five of the babies on the transport were suffering from measles when the vessel arrived at Auckland. They were all taken to the General Eospital. One of them was stated this afternoon to bo in a critical condition.

A returning draft of about 60 men, ex the lonic, arrived at Dunedin in the charge of Major Chisholm, by the 5 o'clock express on Saturday night. The members of the local portion of the draft wero conveyed to their homes by motor cars provided for the purpose, while the Southland men, in conjunction with several lases from the hospital ship Maheno continued on their journey the same evening.

ARRIVAL OF MAHENO. WELLINGTON, April 24. The hospital ship Maheno was berthed at 9 a_m. to-day, and the Monowai, with the northei*n men of the Corinthic's draft, a quarter hour later. Both drafts wero met by large numbers of next-of-kin, who gave

the men a rousing reception. The Auckland men left by the Main Trunk express at 12.45 p.m. The Taranaki and Hawke s Bay sections will leave by the express trains to-morrow morning. The Nelson men left at 5 o'clock to-day, and the Picton men will depart at 1.30 p.m. to-morrow. The Maheno left for Lyttelton and Dunedin at 3.30 p.m.

The troopship Maheno, with 65 Otago and Southland men aboard, which was expected at Port Chalmers at 6 a.m. on Saturday, did not arrive till 7.10. Lieutenant Garden accompanied the men from -Auckland, the draft comprising 29 men for Dunedin and 36 for south of Dunedin. The men arrived in Dunedin by the 8.45 a.m train, with the exception of 11 cot cases, who came on by the 11.30 tram. As usual, the Otago Motor Club supplied motors to convey men to their destinations. The southern men left for their homes by the 5.55 p.m. train . BHAMO AT AUCKLAND. . TWENTY-THREE CASES OF MUMPS. AUCKLAND, April 24. The transport Bhamo arrived in_ the stream at 8 o'clock to-night. # She_ will be berthed early to-morrow morning if she is found to be a clean ship. AUCKLAND, April 25. The transport Bhamo arrived at Auck- ' land this morning with 775 men of all ranks, 9 nurses, 14 officers' wives, and 4 children. The health of the troops has been good, except for mumps, of which 23 cases were removed to isolation quarters to-day. There was a slight outbreak of influenza early in the voyage, the last case on March 28. TWO MORE DRAFTS EN ROUTE. WELLINGTON, _ April 23. Official advice has been received of the departure of two moro steamers from the United Kingdom with New Zealand troops aboard. # . The particulars are:—Pakeha (returning draft No. 251) left the United Kingdom on April 12, due at Wellington on May 27. This draft comprises 1373 troops. The Tofua, with returning draft 254, left the United Kingdom for Wellington and Port Chalmers, and is expected on June 2. The draft comprises 520 troops, 5 civilians, 4 women, and 2 children. This makes the number of New Zealand troops at present afloat and homeward bound 10,242. TRANSPORTS TO ARRIVE. Arawa, at Lyttelton, with 588 men, of whom £531 are for Otago, May 12. Carpentaria, at Lyttelton, May 14. She brings 575 men, of whom, 245 are for Otago. Tofua, due at some South Island port about June 2. The draft comprises 49 officers, 436 other ranks, and 13 Imperial details. About 254 of the men are for Otago.