TRENTHAM CAMP INQUIRY

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2515, 17 July 1915, Page 2

TRENTHAM CAMP INQUIRY

ROYAL COMMISSION TH]E CAMP COMMANDANT'S EVIDENCE EMERGENCY CALLS MADE/CAMP SiTE po J^LL Tlie Royal Corfimission appointed to inquire into the general .conditions which existed at. the r ir6nt'luim ,Military Camp, causes leading up to. the recent epidemic, opened sittings to take evidence the Accountants' Chambers yesterday morning..: -Tho Commissioners .were Mr.. Justice Hosking; (chiarman), Mr. W. Ferguson, MJ.au., and. Dr. A. A.. Martm. Xhc Solicitor-Generar(Dr. Salmond JC.C.) represented: the .CrowA •in neutral inter* ests; Mr.; GV I\ : Skerrett;;K.C.,'appeared uv the interests of .those who had : .any charges' or complaints to .make, and Mr. A.', Owty, IkC., appeared in tho interests ..of. those who might bo involved in charges, or against wliom complaints or charges were.made.- ■ Mr. Skerrett said that he -understood his duty was to preparo and place ■ properly linder the Commission's notice ■ any charges which, might bo brought to his attention.. ,With ; regard' to tne general matters relating to control ,of the camp, system of sanitation, etc., he had nothing to; do. No initiative duty : .wa's .cast .-on him, but he suggested - that ih'e; secretary; should notify tho;public that any-person desiring to make: a complaint\conld.com-: niunicat© with him:(Mr...Skerrett); ifthe : complaint' was trivial it .could be left to. the-complainant tojb'ring it.- .. . i The chairman" suggested that a deputy should be appointed.to,assist, aid particu-' lats. should bo 1 ' advertised. ; It was decided that the foir centres and Palmerston North- would be'the places for the advertisement. to appear;. ' Gamp Commandants Evidence, Lieut.-Colanel H. R. Potter, Commandant at Trentham Camp, was the first witness called, and he was examined by tho Solicitor-General. Ho gave evidence that he had occupied tho position of executive officer at.the. qamp eince Ootober. ■ There were no troops there before that date, but tho Rifle Association buildii.gs were up. There were no other military buildings. Witness stated tho previous experience he had in camp control. Ho was A.Q.M.G. in tho Auckland distriot for eighteen months, and Assistant Adjutant for the Canterbury district for five years, when he controlled the arrangements for every camp held in the district during that time. As Brigade Major of the Wellington Infantry Bi-igado he had tho arranging of the camp for.five battalions of infantry for Sir lan Hamilton's inspection. Witness had complete control over the Trentham Camp, with tho exception of the medical administration. That was under the principal medical officer in camp at the time. Dr. Salmond:' Have you any' control as to how tho sick were treated? . Lieut.-Colonel Potter : I have not. Further, witness said that if an application came for buildings for the sick lie would forward it to headquarters. /The Imperial Field Service Regulations, Part 11, laid down certain duties of control.. That was the official text-book for Now Zealand. Also the Manual of Military Hygiene of the British Army was worked under- here. Witness detailed his per-' manent staff alt the camp, and the changes sinco tho commencement. The present adjutant, and chief executive officer, was Major N. Adams. Tho Camp Quartermaster was Captain M'Chrystall, who had control of clothing, equipment, sanitation, etc. Captain M'ChrysiaU' had held the position from the time tho camp was formed. "There had been changes in the medical staff. Colonel Morice was the present; P.M.0., and had been appointed since. Dr. Valintine (took control. Major Stout'was P.M.O. before that for a'few weeks. Major M'Ara was before that,from; May 19 to June 12, when .ho left with the Reinforcements. Major Maguire, Major Fife, Major Holmes, and Major M'Killop had'been the. other P.M.O.'s They were only occupying the position while getting their reinforcements ready. The Director of Medical Services (Colonel Purdy) was in control over the P.M.O.'s in camp, and although he did not sleep in camp he visited three or four times every week. The Director-of Medical Services came Tinder the Adjutant-General's department of the Defence Department.

Colonel Purdy's Position. Dr. Salmond: Is Colonel Purdy occupying the same position now? Colonel Potter: No, Colonel Valintine is doing now what Colonel Purdy was doing. A new office was formed, and Colonel Valintine; was Director , of ..Military Hospitals. He was under control of the Minister of Public Health... Colonel Purdy wa'a still Director of Medical Services, as far as witness was aware, but hia powers wero limited, and- he was no longer responsible for the medical administration of the camp. The change was made about three.weeks ago. The only other medical officers were those appointed to go with, the Reinforcements, and the number varied from four to twelve. Dealing with the men in camp, witness aaid that tho approximate number thero when the camp broke up was 7000. That was the largest number (that had been there. About 2000, were there when tho camp opened, and tho average from the Thii'd Reinforcements was about 1000. The average time, the men stayed in camp was four months, and during that time Ithe men were allowed soven complete dayo at their homes. • If a man had any special business on he was allowed a day or a half-day off, and 15 per cent, got leave every night, and 30 por cent. Wo nights in the week.' 1 man could get to town two or three times a week. Dr. Salmond: Do you consider tho camp big enough .for 7000 men? .. • . Colonel Potter: "It would . be if the buildings were complete." The huts took up less Toom that the tents, and tho area would be sufficient if huts were used. If tents alone were used the site would not bo sufficient. - - Do you consider ithat the camp has been lovererowdod?—"l ' don't think bo for the time we have had it. If .we had to remain there it .would become too small." . . „ • ' It-is too. small for a camp of 7000?— "Yes, if wo remained there for any time with that number." . The chairman: Even "with huts?—' Yes, I think it would become too small. It was intended that over 2000 men should- go out in August. As a temporary expedient ■ ha ' thought it served tho purpose as to. the nature of the ground, it was the finest that could be got for a camp. The climate was excellent, except for ,fogs in. the morning during the winter. It was a bracing climate. The fogs were inconvenient as far'as drills were concerned, but he did not speak from a medical point of view. A Good Deal of Mud. Dr. Salmond: I supposo there is a good deal of mud about? Colonel Potter: "Ye 3, in wet weather." Since the occupation of the huts, about the end of May, he had had fatigue parties of 200 men making roads, draining, etc. Before that the two main roads had been formed with river shingle, but the traffic had been too heavy on them. Roads wero being laid down to the huts, and if they were completed as laid dowa by Captain .Teckell, borough engineer of Palmerston North, lie was certain that there would be uo mud. Ho had consulted Mr. W. H. Morton (City Enginer), and Mr. Loucli (Public Works Department) as to the possibility of tarring the roads, but was told that it would be impossible to tar the roads in the winter. All that was left was to lay the shingle. He thought a further two months would havo been required to complete the roads and drainage. They wore handicappod by the weather.

Was there any roason why tho. work could not havo been done before then ?— "I don't see how it could have been done with the tremendous amoiint of traffio and building material there." The water supply was ample and excellent at the ca.mp[ : and it had been tested by the Gov-, eminent Analyst. v Dr.

wluch .von would like to criticise the camp?—" Well, that rather jmts me in an awkward position." He said he would like to consult his superior officers, as any criticism by him would bo a reflection on them. '

Tho chairman: Wo are tho superior officers now. Wo want your candid opinion. Continuing:, witness said that thp camp had been in every way suitable, but tho additional 2200 men who caino- in at the end of. Hay mado it too small as a permanent camp. When tho extra men came in they were put in tho liuts. Wit' ness explained the method of dealing with camp refuse.. Two men were permanont sanitary men in every squadron (100 men) and in ovpry company (200 men). No< thing; was buried that had not been burnt. Permanent latrines wero piit in during December last. Prior to that the night-soil was buried daily where tho latrines were. The residential portion of tho camp had never encroached on that used ground. It was at least 50 yards from tho nearest tent?. By tho now system the night-soil was removed every night, and buried in deep pits in a field at. the. rear of tho camp. Special sanitary police looked after the latrines, which were washed down with a disinfectant every morning and every midday. TJi-ero was "a system of drainage to the burial pits. About 450 horses were always in camp, but wore kept right away from tho main camp, and wero no source of danger as regarded tho sanitation of tho wimp. They lfad not been troubled with flies at'tho camp, but during the summer they used kerosene as a spray. All wast© water was ran into pits , covered with manuka. Tho wasto water ;from the cook-houses was filtered through manuka, which was put down fresh each day. When reinforcements came'in they'were lectured on the sanitation'of the camp, and there were few breaches of tho' regulations. Ablution benches wero provided, for tho ordinary washing of ft,t> men.' . There 'were about a' dozen showers, and two; compulsory, bathing parades were held : Mich week. A : report wag made daily by the medical'men to the P.M.O. A file' of all reports from the P.M.O.'s was -available to the Commission. Hot

.n-ater.'wasiriiot 'available for' the men to wash.,.in, 'bat when an offer was made by the;-Patriotic-Society of money for ■ hot showers, arrangements were mado to have:the;.work put in. hand. The men had opportunities .'for getting' hot baths in the city. .No caso' had been brought to his knowledge of' sickness arising ont of the'lack ; of hot Water for washing. Tho men could wash their clothes at the Tiver, or place them in the laundries, two depots of which' were' ill tho camp, ■ ,No Drying Arrangements. No, arrangements were made for drying the. boots and clothes, but men were not paraded in the wet. The men had two uniforms. In addition to what was given the men the. first day they could keep their own. mufti, and in moderation the men oould buy any extra clothing they desired. The second pair of boots would be issued during the first week,, but when the boots were not available the men had to wait for the second pair. A suit of denim was supplied the first day, with underclothing, and a uniform and second sot of underclothing was given during the first week. He believed the shortage of boots was because the extra reinforcements put a strain on the sunply. Requisition for the boots was made to tho Stores Department, and due notice of- the number of reinforcements was given to Stores Department, and it was the duty of Headquarters to notify the Stores Department of the reinforcements. Tte extra 2200 men of the Trentham Regiment was a sudden call which was not expected. Koughly-17,000 men had pass.ed through the camp, and the. mortality up to July 2 was eighteen from all causes, roughly one per' thousand. He did not know the exact number of deaths since July, 2. but could complete the file. Mr. Ferguson: We want to find out the ordinary death-rate before the epidemic began, as that has an important bearing os to whether the camp is sanitary;or not. Witness 6a}d that they did not detain any man in camp when he should have been in hospital. He saw no overcrowding in the huts or the tents. The only complaint made to him was in respect to wet boots, but no complaints were made to him about wet clothes, although lie had heard that there were sorft& -He had heard no 'complaints about 'the men l having •• had- to sleep. under wet blankets. An ordinary, private eou.Ul demand to come before witness, and this had been explained to tho men. The only men who came .before Mm, however, appeared on personal matters. Steps had been 'taken to put in braziers for drying clothes, and a marquee for each company with a brazier had been supplied for tho last fortnight. ; . • Dr. Salmond: What, proportion of • the men had only one pair of boots?— The whole of the 7th Reinforcements were without a second pair, and part of the Trentham Kegiment, roughly about 3000 men. They had their own civilian boots, however, and could put them on. . Sir. Fegruson: Are they allowed to. parade in their own boots ?—"lf they have an excuse; and wet boots would bo an excuse." ' Their own boots would be too. light for military use?—"Tho majority would, be."

Dr. Salmond: I understood you to say that the men had-two uniforms; then you said that one was!a denim?—" They only used the lchaki when they went to town. They did all their-training in the denims, but if they got wet no objection would he made if the khaki uniform was used. Every maii got an overcoat the day he entered camp, and there had been no shortage;

No Complaints of Wet Blankets! ' Have you never heard complaints that men ihod to sleep on wet mattresses and under wet blankets?—" No." IS it usual to have drying arrangements In the camps?—"lt has never been customary in New Zealand." The chairman: How long were the meij without the second pair of boots?—"! think about three or four weeks." 'And there was a period of wet weather then?—" That .was tlio wet ;- weather period." , • To Dr. Salmond witness said that from October to June tibo whole camp was under canvas. Only eight men wore put in each tent, whereas the Imperial authorities put sixteen men in tho same sized tents. Personally he favoured l floored tents, but apparently as the weather was bad the authorities decided on the huts. The Gth Reinforcements had'asked to be left in the tents. The chairman: It seems the epidemic began about June 11,- and the huts were occupied about the beginning of June. Of course there is nothing in it, but I only refer to it as a coincidence. ' Potter: The now regiment went straight into the huts, and wore never in tho tents. Dr. Salmond: Have any .complaints beer made about the huts?—" Yes; that they are too draughty.- ' \ The tents have wooden floors?—" All the tents in occupation have. Principally the most serious epidemic cases had come from the huts, and tho most deaths camo from the Second Battalion, Trenthnm Eegiment, in the huts. It had to be taken into consideration that tho men in the huts came in in the middle of winter, and they were not hardened to camp life." Dr. Salmond: Pitting a large number of men to sleep together would increase tho. chances of infection?—" Certainly; I said so from the start."

Tho chairman: The large huts prevented isolation on a small scare. You drew attention to'this?

Colonel Potter: I pointed it out to the committee who designed tho sample hut. I went from a training standpoint only,

A Generous Food Supply,

Dr. Salmond: Who is responsible for the food supply ?—"The Supply Officer, under the Quartermaster's branch." Is there a scale of food 1 laid down?— "There is a scale.'

Does it include a regular supply of vegetables?—"No, it does not. Wo are in excess of the English Army scale, I th.ink."

The chairman: It doesn't include vegetables ?—"lt says vegetables. Potatoes and onions are a regular. supply, . but other vegetables are supplied when they are available. The men got green vegetables at least onee a week. A return was kept, and-he would put it before the Commission. About two months ago tho scale- of butter and jam was reduced because of the waste. The scale was too big." The chairman: There has been uo change 6ince tho epidemic broke out?—'"Absolutely none. Thero had beon no complaints about the cooking, and he was convinced that the men wore satisfied."

Dr. Salmond: No complaints about tea? —"There have been complaints about the tea. The camp authorities have been accused of putting salts in tho tea. . An pa ingestion Auxins.

every meal to hear any complaints. Witness and his Quartermaster also went round occasionally. Tho cooking and feeding arangements we.*e to his entire satisfaction.'" Mr. Ferguson: If fivo man leave a tent to go into town, do tho three men left get eight rations, or nono at all?—" Eight men's. Usually, though, tho cook asked how many men, and ho had small and large joints to solect from." As to tho hospital accommodation, there had been no Teal hospital. There was a marquee to place hospital cases in, pending their removal to the Wellington Hospital. Before the epidemic broke out they used the Hospital Ambulance. After the epidemic broke- out . otthnary taxis wore used to remove the men. The taxis then went back and were disinfected.

The Sick Parades. The siok parade took -place every morning and afternoon. la fine weather the men stood outside tho inspecting mar-' quees, but in bad weather they could go 1 into marqueies. To witnsss's knowledge there were always three or four marquees for cover parades. Unless there was a phenomenal sick parade thgro wa9 plenty of cover. If a man was too bad to attend a sick parade he would be removed in a stretcher to the hospital marquee. With tho exception of the inoculation parade, and the sick parade, thero was no system of medical inspection. Dr. Salniond: So if a man had a temperature during tho epidemic he would go to the doctor—the doctor wouldn't go to, him ?—"He would go to the doctor unless ho was too bad." Now these measles patients—did they go to tho doctor?—" Yes." In the middle of winter; how long did they have to wait? —"That I can J t say." Have you seen a sick parade ?—"I saw an afternoon parade, when _ there were sevonty men waiting." Whon ho saw what was Happening lie gave a new hut over to the doctois for inspection purposes. ... . Witness said that the sickness, apart from the epidemic, had been very slight at tho cainp. Ho had no talk with the medioal men about the system of sick parade. It was since the appointment of Colonel Morice that the hut had. been used. i Would anyone know if a man was lying sick in his tent?—'"Yes; the orderly who called the roll would, visit the tent.' If the. man was found sick he would be marched to the doctor. If lie was too. ill to go a stretcher would .be brought to There is no system, by which the doctors go round to the,tents to see if the mon are sick ? —"-No; the orderly wouid report all cases." • There'was no such system' during theepidemic?—"No; except in the case of, the Trentham Begiment, where doctors were attached to tlio regiment. They might go round the huts." Have you any statistics as to tho exj tent of'the epidcmic?—"l can get theai/ i Has there" been any typhoid or diphtheria in'camp?—"Not to my knowledge/' How long' have measles existed in the camp?—"l think the first case broke out with the Third' Reinforcements in February. The .cases were then isolated one 6. Epidemic Becomes Serious. Did • the epidemic suddenly ■ become serious?—" They gradually'increased from tho latter part of April till May." Wasn't it sudden?—"l think it was. That I can get from the returns." Up to a certain, time whole tfents were put) into quarantine camps, and tho tents were disinfected. He oould not say why this isolation was discontinued. The disinfection of the tents continued. Do you know what steps weTe taken of informing the relatives when a man: was seriously }11 ?—"lf tho hospital reported' that a man was seriously ill we sent an urgent telegram to his relatives." The Public Hospital in the early stage of the camp would notify the parents or relatives in the ordinary course when a man was 6eriously ill the military authorities ■ would not notify his parents. When the epidemic took place the whole thing was' undertaken . from the camp. Dr. Salniond: I suppose some of these notices were only sent out shortly before death?—" That I could aot say. '-.We sent them out as soon as we were notified. It suggested that a number of ' !'notice,'that their 'sons were'dying till'they 'were in extremis?— "I understand that there -were eases. Men became suddenly ill. That could bo got from the-medical branch." Has there been an outbreak of 6icknes3, ramong, the; horses?—" There' have been a few. cases of strangles and.ringworm." :

ire strangles infectious to men?—"l have not heard so.' There has not been one case of mud fever of horses in camp." Do you know whether similar outbreaks of disease have occurred in other camps ?—' "I do know that it has been reported, in Australia and at Home." , Have you been -refused any 'equipment or appliances that you asked.for?—" Yes; a railway siding I asked for: was refused." • .' •

Rather a largo thing to ask for?—"I don't thing 60, seeing that 0110 is going .to be put in."

Cots Suggested for the HiitS. Anything else?—"Tes; while the huts., were being built I suggested that some sort of cots sliould be put in, but was turned down. The suggestion was made when the inspection, headed by the Minister, came to'see the sample hut." Is it not-intended to have.a permanent hospital?—" Yes; it will be completed in about three weeks. _ It was never meant for dealing with epidemics." Colonel Potter explained the difficulties put on the administration by not knowing months ahead what men were coming in to be trained. The extra men, over and above tho 500 a, month, could not be foreseen. This extra demand started in January, when' the Samoan Eeliof Force came into camp; also an extra company of Engineers, a battery of Field Artillery, etc. In- March the stationary Hospital, 116 men, was extra. In April another battery of artillery and an ammunition column of 160 was extra, and the No 2 Stationary Hospital; about 93 men. In May an extra Army Corps (50), Engineers (51), and Hospital Ship men came in, and the Trentham Regiment 2200. In Juno an A.S.C. (25) and Ambulance Corps (30), and 200 extra' mounted The strength of the reinforcements also jumped for infantry from 5 per cent, monthly to ,45 per cent, every two months.- They were not overburdened with staff, and the staff had to work at high pressure, all the time.. During the epidemic they were short of doctors, till extra medical men were sent in.' He put in a Tcturn shoving the date on which he was notified of each extra batch of -men. He was not complaining of tho notice given, but the upsetting of the camp arrangements every now' and then taxed them ■ f . .. The : chairman: -Seeing, that the men wore raised in. emergencies, ca',l you suggest any improvement?—" None that I can think of, except if a large camp had been always available. Tho camp was originally designed for about 2000, and had- increased to 7000.. They took in tte Trentham Regiment on the assumption that all the huts and arrangements would "have been completed. But they were dtlayed. The Public Works Department controlled the erection of the huts." . > - The chairman: Have you had any reports that the sick were neglected ?-"I have not." He had heard unofficially of complaints about the'delay in the removal of the sick. . ' . ' •_ Is there any inefficiency of the staff under you?—"No; I think my staff are highly efficient." ' This concluded the evidence for the day, and the chairman said that it was intended to call the Government Meteorologist (Mr. Bates), to give evidence as to the weather conditions prior to tho epidemic. The Commission sits again to-day, when further, executive officers from- the .camp will be examined.