SOLDIERS’ RETURN.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19800, 18 November 1919, Page 7

SOLDIERS’ RETURN.

ARAWA’S DRAFT. LEFT ENGLAND DURING STRIKE. A draft of 229 men arid nine wives, who arrived at Auckland on (Saturday hy wio transport Arawn, camp down from Wellington by tlio ferry steamer Manuka this morning. Included in the di aft wore 120 men and 7 limbless cases for Canterbury, ami 8 officers, 18 limbless men. 80 other ranks, 4 wives and children for Otago, The Christchurch men wore conveyed to their homes by members of the Cantorhurv Automobile Association, and the men for the south left hy the express. the Arawa left England on October <, at the time that the big railway strike was in progress. The men stranded in London embarked on the vessel at Tilbury, and she then left for Southampton, whore n large party of men from Sling Camp were taken on hoard, having been brought down from Sling camp in motor-ears. The next stop was Torquay, where the limbless men and the married men and their "'L’cs joined the transport. Remarkably nno weather was experienced throughout the trip and the men wove well satisfied with their conditions. Colon was reached on October 21, and a stay of one day was made, the soldiers and wires being splendidly entertained hy the Y.M.C.A. and the American residents, who arranged trips into the .1 angle and provided ample fruit, cigarettes and magazines. Shortly after leaving Colon a man was lost overboard, this being tho only exciting incident on tho trip- Voluntary education classes were conducted on the trip out, but, apart from these, the troops had nothing to do and spent their time playgames and in reading. The men state that owing to tho railway strike several men on leave who had reckoned on coming out by the Arawa wore unable to get back to Tendon or Sling, and consequently missed the boat. Tho men at London, Sling and Torquay were, howover, all conveyed to tho' boat without great difficulty. Tho strike was still in progress when the vessel left Torquay, and was cansing a considerable amount of inconvenience.