LIFE ON A TROOPSHIP

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2840, 3 August 1916, Page 6

LIFE ON A TROOPSHIP

* —- QUESTIONS IN PARLIAMENT ; Questions have "been asked in the House suggesting ■ that the last outward voyage of a certain troopship was eventful. ■ Mr. Payue asked the Minister of Defence whether it is u. fact that a man committed suicide on the on her last trip as a" transport troopship, and was the man a' German, and* what was the nature of the contents of his box? The Hon. J. Allen (Minister of Defence) replied:—ln reply to the honourable member, I have to stato (a) that the man in question, a steward, shot himBolt' with a revolver two days out from tho first port of call on tho outward voyage.on the last trip of tho transport referred, to, aud was buried at sea; (b) that ho was not a German, but an Englishman, and a native of tho South of England; and (c) that his belongings comprised, in addition to clothing, a fewcarpenter's tools, such as a hammer, gimlot, etc., a few cartridges 'belonging to the revolver used, books on shorthandwriting, together with several books on "botany, including some continental works, presumably to assist him in his studios of that subject. He is stated to have been a very, quiet man, who performed his duties, and was in overy way satisfaction. The ship's quartermaster, with whom ho came in constant contact, Btates that at'no time was ho found to have any German tendencies. Ho gave no indication that he premeditated suicide, but had complained frequently of pains' over the heart, and it is fcue opinion of those who came in toucli with him that this preyed on his mind. It is further understood that ho offered himself for tlio Expeditionary Iforce, but was rejected owing to the condition of his heart. The honourable member imprest assured that there was,nothing sensational about the man except his unfortunate end. Mr. Witty (Biccarton) asked the Minister of Defence whether ho would state ■what wasi tho nature of the-trouble on the on her last trip us a troopship, oiying to tho faultiness of tho food supplied to the troops, and how tho trouble culminated; and whether it is a fact that the troopship was held.up for six hours at Colombo by tho action of the troops in order to call attention to the food complaints? The Hon, J, Allen (Minister of Defence) replied: There is no foundation for any allegation that trouble was occasioned on tue last trip of the transport in question by faulty food being supplied miring the voyage, and no complaint was received througu tho proper channels as to either the quantity or quality of the food issued. On one or two occasions meals were late, owing to shortage 01 steam, but matters in this connection were rectified as promptly as possible by . the ship's engineers. The' delay referred to in coaling at way-port was not the culmination of complaints regarding food, but was caused by a certain section of the troops who had been on shore the first day in port,, and who, on finding they could not go ashore the second day, cut the ropes of tho coal-barges, and pelted coal at the coolies, whom it naturally took some time to reassure when order had been Tcstorcd. The orders governing leave of visiting troops are issued by the General Officer Commanding locally. Under these, only half the troops on board ships,' are pormitted ashore at'onco for route inarches. The honourable . member will recognise, I think, that the publication of this matter serves no good purpose; rather it is more likely to be harmful to discipline; but as he has placed on public record tho fact that soino trouble had occurred I am left with no option except to state the facts of the case. If in such instances honourable members will place tho allegations received, by them before me I will have full inquiry made, and place them in possession of tho facts as known or elicited by fhc Department, ■when they will bo in a better position to decide wjicthcr any good purpose can 'be served by publicity.