THE HOSPITAL SHIP

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2669, 15 January 1916, Page 11

THE HOSPITAL SHIP

REASONS FOR RETURNING OFFICIAL STATEMENT. The Prime Minister (the Right Hon. »V. 1. Massey) made,the following statement yesterday in regard to criticisms winch havo been made regarding the hospital ship Maheno "Since it appears that there is some misapprehension about the position of the hospital ship, it is well tliat it should bo clearly understood that both the Maheno' and Marama have. been placed unreservedly at the disposal of the Imperial Government, and the Imperial Government have notified the New Zealand Government that tlio Government of the Commonwealth of Australia have agreed to a like course. The Maheno proceeded to England in October with a full complement of British sick and wounded. On arrival back pt Malta tho New Zealand Government telegraphed that they hoped the Maheno would romain in the Mediterranean, if it was the wish and desire of the. Imperial Government, to w'hch a reply was received that in view of the fact. that there were a largo number, of sick and wounded which must be evacuated from Egyp.t as soon as possible, it was desiritblo for her to proceed to New Zealand. The selection of cases to travel by both hospital ships rests with the Imperial authorities. "The Director-General of Medical Services (Surgeon-General Henderson) has received a communication from the Director-General of Medical Services in Egypt stating that he was most anxious to use tho Maheno for convening invalids to New Zealand, as the ordinary transports not suitable, otherwise they must remain in hospital until well, This-means that unless a hospital ship is available,-a large, number of cases must lie occupying beds which are urgently required, and the Director of Medical Services in Egypt points out the urgent necessity. of-having these removed at suitable intervals. Every voyage of the hospital ship can clear bad cases as well as lighter ones, arid this will enormously relieve the congestion of the hospitals in -/Egypt and tend to an earlier Teturn of many .'to I the firing line. ,' "In embarking a large number of con-' yalescerit enteric cases, Surgeon-General Henderson says it is far more suitable that those who may be .'carriers,'- or about whom there may be suspicions of being 'carriers.' shall be placed on a hospital, ship rather than on a transport. On a hospital ship these can be properly segregated, kept under strict' observation, and prevented from being a danger to others. "As the Maheno returned to New Zealand under these circumstances" it was iiatural _to_ disinfect her thoroughly, aiid recommissum her here. The recommissioning of the hospital ships, whether here or • elsewhere, must necessarily depend on the conditions prevailing at the time.' "It-must be remembered that while on active .-'service and apart from the patients brought back to New Zealand, the Maheno carried approximately 4000 sick and wounded, and thai opportunity was taken during a cassation of the fighting to send the hospital ship to evacuate sick and wounded ill Egypt, and convey them back to New Zealand."

6TATEMENT BY COLONEL INCLIS. By Telegraph—Press Association. . Auckland; January 11. , Replying.to certain allegations published in the Dunedin "Star" regarding tho hospital ship; Maheno, Colonel Tracy. Inglis, second in command of that vessel, states that though, he -i|d not git to - Dunedin oh the Maheno, he "knows' that while, she was in commission everything iwas .clean ,an board, - and operations wei e : carried oii; which could only he done under perfectly clean conditions.;; In regard to the statement tl:at esprit, de corps was not a - inarked feature,iColonei Inglis says diis is contrary. to fact.. 'The Maheno wasia completely Lapp} home, and there • were neyer_ any disputes. As :o whether tVe captain was n aster of the vesviil, it was realised that the --ailing orders dished in certain rospei's with the standing orders. By am* ill musent the matter was referred t*ie- Admiralty:' The only point raised was that thi> captain' should confer a'ith 'tho'medical, officer in charge 'inirespect-. to' matters affecting; tho .hospital work. • Colonel Liglis. denied that portions of , the nurses' accommodation were commandeered by. the medical-; staff. On the contrary, the medical staff gave up a single cabin to which they were entitled ..because the accommodation for the nurses was insufficient. . ■ 1 Colonel Inglis also contradicted the statement that there were excessive entertainments on the Maheno at Anzac. When, they left' the Mediterranean ihey were specially complimented oil the harmonious working and general efficiency of the ships bv Sir James Porter, Chief Hospital Transport Officer. A similar compliment, was p;-id tho staff, by General Donovan, Chief Medical Officer in Charge, at Southampton.