TROOPSHIP AJARA.

Timaru Herald, Volume CVIII, Issue 16801, 4 April 1919, Page 2

TROOPSHIP AJARA.

HER' WAR CAREER. The troopship Aiana,' which "arrived at Auckland early iast .week irom' Liverpool with a-large number, of troops, has had an interest-Jig -war career. She was in .Manchester, •<*£. the .ship cjtnalj when war was declared, and was immediately requisitioned by the Imperial Government and-sent to Australia, whence she took the first Australian, troops to seat of tiiej war, Ever since the commencement 1 of the war the Ajana has been engaged ! .in .war. work, transporting troops from all parts, of the dominions to the l war zone. . She carried .the • Seventh Horse from Fremantle, and the original Army Medical- Corps. . The vessel" was •later engaged in transporting troops from .American ports, and was further 1 engaged in carrying provisions to hos- : pital depots, including' Lemnos " and! other parts. While engaged in transporting troops the Ajana has been on numerous occasions .subjected to hostile attack, both from vcraft and aircraft. On each occasion, although the attacking vessels managed to approach within a dangerous, distance, the vessel managed to> escape!. On one occasion a submarine got within close range and discharged: a torpedo at the vessel amidships, but by cjever manoeuvring; the deadly missile passed astern. During the time that the -Ajana has he e n carrying troops sh.y has only lost one life at- sea, and that ws during the present, trip, when one mnu was lost overboard. Shore staff officers speak highly of the wnv tl>o arrangements were carried; out o n board, which were referred to as being the