FROM THE FIRING LINE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2662, 6 January 1916, Page 6

FROM THE FIRING LINE

■ RTJAHINE'S MEN AT AUCKLAND. I By Telegraph.—Pre6s Association. ' Auckland, January 5. ! The Ruahine arrived at 11 o'clock last night, bringing six officers and 201 ' N.C.O.'s and men, who boarded the vessel at Plymouth. All are convalescent. The majority were wounded in the early lighting., a large proportion holonging to tho Main Body, though tho Reinforcements are represented up to the otlis. Many men ivlio were wounded in the chest were sent to England for special treatment. The men had a good voyage, and met with a very fine reception at Cape Town, where the GovernorGeneral extended a personal welcome. All the men were taken on motor excursions and entertained at the clubs, etc. They speak very highly of their treatment at the hospitals in Great Britain. Most of them were given free railway passes and rediiccd fares to enable' them to go sightseeing in the towns. . . The southerners go south by the Ruahine. A largo proportion will shortly be fit to return to the front. Caj)tain Wallingford is among the returned men, .wl.o were entertained at a civic reception and luncheon. Oil the voyage but the men were treated_ as third-class passengers without being subjected to 'unnecessary reThe officer in charge, Lieut. Myers, said the trip was very enjoyable, most especially the call at Cape Town, where they were royally entertained by the populace, and treated to a motor drive through the hills, a civic luncheon (ind 'theatrical entertainment. The call at Hobart also was exceedingly pleasant. On the voyage the conduct of the men had been exceedingly good. Lieut. Myei>» hails ; from Invercargill. lie landed in Gallipoli on April 25, but soon had to ho invalided to England. "The people of England," he said, "are exceedingly kind to the wounded soldiers, and especially to colonials. The women are doing their utmost, and as far _as we could judge a distinctly optimistic note prevails with regard to the final issue of the war."