HOME FROM THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 204, 17 May 1918, Page 6

HOME FROM THE WAR

TWENTY COT CASES FOR WELLINGTON

"HOSPITAL BLUE" ABOUT

Transport No. 159 arrived in Wellington Harbour at 11 a.m. yesterday, and was alongside the King's 'Whurf half an hour later. She brought 142 men for Wellington. Colonel Cook was tho chief medical officer commanding, and .his senior officer was Major Hardwicke™ Smith, of Wellington, who returns in eood health.

Of tho 142 men for Wellington twenty were cot cases, and a large proportion of the others are still unable to get about without crutches or sticks, through the effect of wounds or "trench feet." There were a few shell-shock cases, and a num. ber who are still suffering spasmodically from gas-poisoning, which is a most insidious form of war sickness, as a man might appear to be quite well one day or lor several days on end, after which he might havo a really bad time. Gas-poison-mg gives a man a greyish complexion and a dull, listless eye, any ..fM men should not be encouraged in excesses of any kind.

Some day the Defence Department, in I conjunction with the Naval Adviser, the | Embarkation Officer, the Harbour Board, ] the Director of Base Records, and the | police will perhaps be ablo to devise 601116 . plan which will give more satislaction I in regard to the disembarkation of returned drafts than their efforts of the past few weeks havo given. It will be remembered that in March two big transports packed with men arrived in Wellington and berthed at the Queen's Wharf. Tho general public was admitted to tho wharf, and though there was a very large number of people on the wharf there was not a great'deal of confusion, and the men were given a lively welcome home. Yesterday the orders were completely reversed. No one was allowed to go on tho wharf at all ujiless he had a special pass signifying that he was theTe on business. Tho next-of-kin passes only admitted to a space between the outer and inner gates, and the general public were kept outside on the' road. The result of keeping tho next-of-kin—only somo 200 people—off the whan was that the vessel, berthing at the outer end, came alongside an empty wharf. Not oniy was there no crowd to give a welcoming cheer, but the faces of the loved ones of the wounded were missing. Only hard officialism v. as represented. And alter all tho new arrangements did not facilitate the disembarkation very much, as tully half an hour elapsed before the first of uho returned men came struggling down me iicaerced wnari singly and in pairs—the cynosure of all ej\s bohind the barricade «t tho foot of the wharf. "Had the next-ot-km only )>eeu allowed on the wharf the home-coming would havo been givtn a. touch of sentiment that is surely not out of place in the case of these men, oveu if they were not ablo to produce volleys of ringing cheers. As it was, no colder, more formal, and bevere home-coming could possibly have been devised by those responsible, and complaints among the next-of-kin were frequent and free. The Motor Reserve was far bettor organised than usual. The cars took up assigned positions at the foot of the wharf, and each driver was given a distinguishing number to faoilitate tho work of conveying men to their destinations in town. Captain W. Pryor was in charge, with Mr. H. J. Stott as his lieutenant. Those who lent their cars were Messrs. J. S. Barton, W. H. Boyd, 0. Beere, J. Dwycr, T. W. Hislop, J. T. Horn, W. H. Lloyd, W. H. Morris, A. C. Mitchell, Leonard Nelson, L. E. Partridge, F. Townsend, C. A. Waddle, Lieutenant Smith, Mesdames Cameron, J. Chcesoman, and Misses Cooper and Shirtcliffe.

Tho sick and wounded men landed at Wellington came ashore in khaki. Thoso who proceeded south last evening by tho vessel were given shore leave for the afternoon, and were to be seen alxmt tho 6treets in "hospital blue."

Although the most warmly imaginative person could not by the widest stretch call yesterday's home-coming, an enthusiastic one, the men who arrived never tired of relating the story of the great, receptions which had been given them at ports of call.

Tho Minister of Defence stated yesterday that suggestions are being prepared for the milking of regulations to provide that soldiers undergoing hospital treatment shall not be 6ervcd with liquor. At present there is no regulation to this effect in New Zealand. There is one in England under the Defence of the Realm Act, and any person who so much as offers intoxicants to a soldier uivkrgoing hospital treatment is liable to a fine of £100. '

The Minister said that in Auckland when tho ship arrived tho hotels were declared out of bounds, but there did not seem to be the same strong reasons for taking this step in Wellington, in view of the smaller number of mon who were to. come here.

ANOTHER DRAFT REACHES AUCKLAND SOUTHERN MEN LEAVE BY TEAIN TO-NIGHT. By Tclegraph-Prcsa Association-Oopyright Auckland, May 16. Transport No. 160 reached Auckland this morning with 835 officers and men, 9 nurses, and 18 passengers. This is thelaigest draft to return for some time. The vessel made a remarkably fast trip. Tho men on the whole look very well. Tliero is a percentage of maimed, men, but practically no cot ca-ses. The general health of the men improved greatly on tho voyage, which was a particularly happy one. The one stop on route was made memorable by the most lavish hospitality of the citizens. Anzac Day was celebrated on tho ship, on which thero were no fewer than 102 Gallipoli men, Tho draft is commanded by Colonel Plugge, of Auckland. It contains many decorated men, including wearers of French and other decorations. The trans, port will berth to-morrow morning, and the southerners will leavo by rail at 7.10 p.m. The statement that 200 men returned with: wives is incorrect, no men having done so.