TROOPS ON THE TIDE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2436, 15 April 1915, Page 3

TROOPS ON THE TIDE

WORK OF EMBARKATION THE WAY OF THE ARMY IN WAR TIME Few people who are not actually connected in some way with the military system can have any idea of the vast amount of work involved in the embarkation of those troops who have been and are being ferried- over the seas to fight the good fight for King and country on foreign soil. The average citizen gathers perhaps that several hundred troops are to go in this or that vessel, and as he reads his morning paper at the breakfast table doubtless remarks that they'll need "a tidy bit of tucker for that lot." It is in making a casual iuquiry into that branch of the work that one begins to realise what a field of labour exists in the dispatch of troops' for a long ocean voyage. In the first place it must be lemembered that New Zealand has to provide for a voyage of at least twice as long as any other country that is supplying troops, _ barring Australia, and even in comparison with our sister Dominion the voyage is roughly about six days longer. The New Zealand quota means a kick from the outermost post of the Empire. In comparison with the vast numbers of troops that the cablegrams have accustomed our eyes to, it may only be a small kick, but we will leave it to our enemies to say how hard it is when the proper time comes.

System at Work. When the order goes forth to prepare ship for ■ the embarkation of troops, forms are given to the embarkation officers detailing how many troops that ship is to carry—so many staff officers, company officers, non-coms, and men — so many horses, guns, and limbers, engineers' wagons, etc. With that list before him tKe ship's embarkation officer, with plans of each of the vessel's decks showing all the available accommodation, pores over the task of fitting everyone .and everything in place, bearing m mind all the time the respective rank and duties of the officers and men. So ivith a little practice and a deal of exploration in the bowels of the ship he learns that he can place so many men on the lower deck, so many in the 'tween decks, so many in the bunkfitted smoke-room, leaving so many deck cabins for the officers, so many spaces to be used as orderly rooms; learns the best location for the canteen, the dispensary, and the hospital, until his plan of campaign is fairly complete. He can never quite complete it first shot, as a hundred and one things are continually cropping up for consideration, -which are labelled with a big "must," when be has to screw and twist and contrive until it is all plain sailing;

The accommodation is, of course, a, big job, but it is not the only task tnat falls to the lot of the embarkation officer. He has to see that the ship is properly provisioned in every department. Requisitions have to be made to headquarters, tenders called for and approved by the Quarterriiaster-General, whilst the camp equipment goods and. stores are similarly attended to by the Stores Department, and sent down to the ship with invoices detailing the contents of every package. These have all to be carefully checked- over, and after that stowed, and the place where they are stowed is shown on a manifest, so that when -anything is wanted at sea or required quickly at a way port before the final destination of the ship is reached, it can be located with ease and expedition,

It is absolutely essential that a correct list shall be kept of all souls on board. This is arranged by allotting each man a number which corresponds with his berth, so that every man going on board—they march on board in companies in alphabetical order—knows exactly where to go. The names are most carefully checked and rechecked as the embarkation goes on, and even after that when the vessel pulls out from the' wharf into the stream there is a final tally made of the men on board before thei official list—a copy of which is kept on board—is sent ashore to the Minister of Defence. By this system of treble check it is hardly possible for a mistake to bo made, and the sleeping location of every man in the ship is known to the authorities on board. Gifts and Comforts. There have in the past been _ regrettable misunderstandings respecting gift goods to troopers, which matter has been satisfactorily cleared up. There can now be nothing of the kind. Each troopship has been provided with what is known as a gift store', provided for the convenience of the men. Anyone' who sends gifts to one of the ships, for a private individual, a company, or for the Reinforcement, can rely ,on its carrying true. Not a drop of liquor is taken on board the troopships save that considered necessary from a medical point of view, and no cigarettes are allowed. The pipe and cigars are permitted, but the nerv&destroying cigarette has been banished. The pipe is considered a much more healthy smoke, and lashings of pipe tobacco figures on the supply list of the dry canteen. Cordials may be had in canteen hours, and no one can be over or under-charged, as price-lists are posted in all parts of the ship. In most cases the goods are listed at cost price or just a trifle over. It pays the Government to keep the troops fit and well, and as far as can be managed the com-, fort of the men is religiously, studied.