A CONTRETEMPS.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16434, 30 January 1919, Page 6

A CONTRETEMPS.

LANDING OF THE BRITON'S

SOLDIEBS.

A serious hitch occurred in con- ( nexion with the disembarkation of the soldiers on board the transport Briton in Lyttelton harbour yesterday. it was disobvered by Captain liite, local ordnance officer, that there was a short-age of something like £200 in equipment aboard. A Court of Enquiry selected from the military officers on the ship was set up, and at a later hour Lieut.-Colonel Holdemcss, officer in charge of the troops, announced that no men would be allow ed to land until the equipment was replaced. The record work undertaken by the local military authorities had long been finished, having been completed at 4 p.m., when tue men were l'eadv to land. Feeling sore at the 24 hours' delay already imposed upon them by the Health authorities the soldiers oil board were in no mood to obey this edict, and some 150 of them swarmed on to the tender waiting alongside. Discipline still held its binding tie, however, for as the result ot a peremptory order from their commanding officer they returned 10 the ship. Lieut.-Colonel Hoiderne&s then letired to his cabin, and as soon as his back was turned the men rushed tho tender agaiu. North Islanders and South Islanders were inextricably mixed, and after some parleying the tender, with about 150 men j aboard, was allowed to depart. Some I of these men were for the North Is-1 iand, some for Christchurch, and some for further south. Twenty of them boarded the train which arrived in Christchurch at 6.35 p.m. Half a dozen more arrived by the train which drew in a little over an hour later. Instead of 230 North Islanders catching the Mararoa for Wellington only a fow succeeded in doing so. The prohibition against landing until the missing kit was replaced was rescinded, but it had already resulted in considerable muddle and delay. Good work on the part of Captain Robertson, the landing officer, and his staff however, made good much of the leeway, and the troop train, with 300 soldiers aboard, steamed into the Christchurch station at 8.5 p.m. instead of 7.40, tho scheduled time. North Islanders and Otago m©n. who should not have boon on the train, were, however, with them, whilst Canterbury men were left behind. The officers and several remaining Christchurch men arrived by a train which reached tho city shortly after 10 p.m. ORDERS NOT CARRIED OUT. Colonel Chaffey, officer commanding the district, in a statement to a "Press" reporter last evening, on behalf of his staff disclaimed ail responsibility for the contretemps, which he alleged was duo to the orders issued to the officer oommanding tho troops on board tho ship not being carried out. ".My staff worked splendidly and loyally in connexion with the record and disembarkation work," declared Colonel Chaffey. They started at 8 a.m. and finished at 4 p.m. There were 1200 men aboard, and this works out at 150 men per hour. The time allowed is 100 men per hour. The record work was finished at 4 p.m., and the officer commanding the troops receivod instructions, from me to disembark the men at tho scheduled time a.nd not detain them because of tho loss of kit." Colonel Chaffey pointed out that he deficiency in kit could have been ascertained weeks ago. and there was no reason why the officer commanding the men could, not have held an enquiry long before the vessel reached • Lyttelton. It was, Colonel Chaffoy said, too much to expect the men. after reaching home, to stay aboard under the circumstances existing. The value of the missing kit did not compensate for tho great cost of delay in disembarkation to the Defence Department, the upsetting of arrangements in connexion with the departure of the Otago and Southland men, and the inconvenience to the relatives and friends of the men. THE RECORD WORK. Although the quarantine restrictions in connexion with the transport Briton were raised at 8 a.m. yesterday, the soldiers were obliged to remain on the vessel, which was still anchored off Camp Bay, near the Lyttelton Heads, w'hilst the necessary medical boarding of each man was carried out. Two Boards were se£ up for this purpose, under the direction of Lieut.-Colonel Hogg and Captain Kidd. Captain Nowoll acted as dental examiner. A cold, drizzling rain fell throughout tho day, and the majority of the ,men wero anxious to go ashore. The staff of officers and N.C.O.'s engaged, to carry out the work prior to disembarkation wore under the supervision of Captain Robertson, Military Landing Officer, and they had a busy time. In order to expedite the work on the vessel the troops passed through the inhalation chambors on their way to the rooms prepared for the use of the medical, records, and pay staffs. On arrival of the first batch at Lyttelton. at 6 p.m., a fairly large crowd met the men who landed at the water front, and they were officially welcomed by Mr W. T. Lester (Mayor of Lvttelton). The soldiers wero also visited during the dav bv the Mayor of Christchurch (Mr H. Holland). Hie launch made a return trip to the anchored transport, and brought the majority of tho men composing the Christchurch quota, and these were entrained for Christchurch. ARRIVAL AT CHRISTCHURCH. The Christchurch station was packed with relatives and friends of the returned soldiers. There was also a band in attendance. In the roadway adjoining there was the biggest fleet of motor-cars that t has over probably been seen at the one place in Christchurch. Outsido the station precincts was a huge 1 gathering of the public. A few soldiers . arrived by early passenger trains, and were warmly welcomed. When the j troop train arrived shortly after eight , o'clock there were scones of excitement. The soldiers were placed on board the ■ waiting motor-cars,! which drove them home, passing first through the dense throng, which heartily cheered at the station gatos. Shortlv after ten o'clock the remaining Christchurch soldiers arrived, and'woro warmly greeted, , and there wero motor-cars in attendance to take them to their homes. > OTAGO QUOTA. The Otasro quota of the troops re- | mained on the Briton overnight. Tho 1 vessel is to be berthed at Number 6 ; wharf at 5 o'clock this morning when . the disembu kation of the Otago troops will take place. " j No advice has been received regarding the future movements of the Briton. ( Tlie Christchurch men of the draft , will be entertained bv the local branch of the Returned Soldiers' Association this afternoon. Tea will be provided . by the Women's National Reserve, and a good musical nrocrrarrme has befe'n ar- ; ran trod. The Junrhron will last from 2 o'clock until 6 o'clock.