THE HOSPITAL SHIPS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2631, 29 November 1915, Page 6

THE HOSPITAL SHIPS

■' » —— ■ THEIR FUTURE MOVEMENTS CHANGES IN PERSONNEL

fiis !fexoollency the Governor has received .information that the hospital slip Maheno left Egypt for New Zealand on November 25. TJhder these circumstances the vessel should arrive fn the 'Dominion about January 3 or 4, 1916. , Bio Imperial Government have further notified the Governor ' that they ■greatly appreciate the action of the New Zealand Government in placing both the Marama and Maheno unreservedly.' at itheir disposal, and.they will see tliat the best interests of the New ' Zealand troops are provided' for in/arranging ■ their several itineraries. The Secretary of State for War informed His Excellency that he had under consideration a programme whereby two Australian and two New Zealand hospital ships would ,be employed, on tho AustraliaSuez and New Zealand-Suez routes 'respectively, but that. .this course- would not interfere with th'e employment of the. vessels .in the Mediterranean. In deciding the> plan for employment. of these vessels, the Army Council, however, must be -primarily guided by the numbers of sick and wounded ivhich have got to be transported, back to Australasia, and. which the Imperial Government desire carried back ■ at-the-earliest opportunity.' ■ < Tlie Anny Council has arranged the wounded and sick into three classes, the first being, those who are able to'return in empty transports, and the other two those to-be brought back in hospital ships. .•..■•

- From experience it has been found essential that there shall be , two personnels available for each hospital snip, relieving one another at periods of approximately every six months. By this method the ships are always kept at the Maximum 'state of efficiency. Surgeon-General Henderson desires to say. that this is the course which is Usually adopted and 'most essential for tho efficiency:of all hospital ships. "The work on hospital ships is very strenuous, and it is absolutely necessary that the whole staff should always bis fit and in thejr top form. Already :in the Maheno there have been cases of illness among the personnel—not serious hases, hut pointing to tho strain- -which has been placed on the nurses and men. In practice it las been found desirable on recommissioning to let the old personnel have.the opportunity of resuming their civil occupation until again re,unreel, but ir there are any_men who desire to continue their .duties, arrangements have already been made, as to their employment, until_ they resume! their positions on the hospital ships. In any case leave will bo given to'the men on the return of each ship.

. Tho • New* Zealand Government, through His Excellency the Governor, it'sked. the Imperial Government if it was their intention to keep the Maheno in the ''Mediterranean,,-until Hie arrival of the Mararaa, or longer, and received- a reply that such a ; course would not be convenient or suitable, and that tho iilrmy Council preferred that th« curriculum a« arranged should he-adhered to, iind therefore gave directions for 'the Maheno to proceed to N'ow Zealand at onrewith sick and wounded.

' Tho Governor desires to place. on record the fact that ■ he has -received rmmerous private communications from officials in authority, amongst them one from Field-Marshal the* Lord Methuen, eulosrisins the work which has bpen accomplished by the Hon. Colonel Collins, the officers, nurses, and personnel of the Maheno.