THE MAHENO RETURNING

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2719, 14 March 1916, Page 6

THE MAHENO RETURNING

315 SICK AND WOUNDED ON BOARD. The Dcfonco Minister stated yesterday that ho had information that tho hospital ship Muhcmo was returning to New Zealand shortly with 315 sick and wounded men on board. Some of these had come from England having boon conveycd to tho Mediterranean by tho Miu'ama, and the others had como from Egyptian hospitals. Mr. Allen pointed out that this was the most useful purpose to which a hos. pital ship could just now be clovotcd— • the clearing of the hospitals near tho base in preparation for hard fightijig times in prospect. When the fighting begins again the Maheuo should bo back in the war zone, lt should also be remembered, as Mr. Allen pointed out, that the need for hospital ships in the Mediterranean is not now nearly so pressing, nor is it ever again likoly to be so pressing, as it _ was in the days of the Galiipoli oampaign, when wound, ed and sick men had to be evacuated from the battlefield directly into lios. pital ships, or sueli other ships as could bo procured. Sometimes there were no hospital ships in the early weeks of tho lighting. If our men go to light in Thrace, as most people suspect iliey will, it will be possible to give them treatment in hospitals on the mainland, whereas in Galiipoli they received very often only held dressings before being put on shipboard. After .preliminary surgical or other treatment in stationary hospitals behind their new front wherever it may lie, our wounded in future may be brought to the Egyptian hospitals, and for this purpose the M&hono and the Marama may bo , uoeded.