OUR HOSPITAL SHIPS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2903, 16 October 1916, Page 4

OUR HOSPITAL SHIPS

No satisfactory reason has teen forthcoming to. explain the return to the Dominion of our hospital ships'. These fine steamers wore equipped at heavy cost and stint where they would be used to the best advantage for our wounded. They, are said to have served their purpose in that respect admirably. Why, then, are they being brought back here? They were not intended to transporfTwounded soldiers from England to New Zealand. That was not the purpose for which they were chartered and equipped. It is in fact a shocking waste to bring these specially-equipped vessels all the way back to the Dominion when they might be doing so much more valuable service near the scene of action. The reason advanced for bringing them out here again is that it is necessary to relieve the hospitals in England of some of our wounded. On the face of it this explanation is difficult to accept. How many men is the Marama bringing 1 Apparently some score or so cot cases. But supposing there were 100 or 200 such cases, or even more, it is asking too much to expect anyone to believe that the position in England is such that it is necessary to hurry these men away at the expense of losing for so long the services of a hospital ship near the scene of action. While these comparatively few men are being transported hero, how manyi thousands of poor fellows might have had the benefit of • the service for which the hospital ships were intended? When inquiry is made aa to who is responsible for the hospital ships wasting time on these long voyages, bringing back a few of our wounded and going away again empty—for that is practically what it amounts _ kn-tho reply is vague and unconvincing. The matter wants probing to the bottom.