A STRICKEN SHIP

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 309, 18 September 1918, Page 6

A STRICKEN SHIP

' EPIDEMIC ON TRANSPORTS " I A HEAVY DEATH ROLL . One of the saddest pieces of news that has been made public about Josses in the New Zealand Kxpeditiona.-y Force has just been released by the Minister of Defence. On the troopship carrying the Fortieth Reinforcements an epidemic broke out while the vessel was at sea, and the epidemic must havo been of extreme severity. Not only the New Zealand ship but the others in the convoy were affected; but the New Zealand ship fared worst of them all. The death roll up to the present numbers 74, and 65 of the men were buried at sea. A considerable number of siiferers are still unwell, but they are in the United Kingdom, the ship having arrived at her destination while the epidemic was still raging. By the greatest good fortune there were ten nurses on the ship and two medical officers, so that the patients must have received every care and attention that it was possible to give then on the stricken ship. It is the New' Zealand custom always to fend some nurses in transports, but on this occasion an •unusually large number were being sent to reinforce the New Zealand Nursing Service.

Sir James Allen stated that it was known that the ship had touched at two ports of call, for of arrival at these ports the Government had been advised. At the second port of call the ship was reported "Health good." It was after that time that the outbreak occurred. It was possible that the chip had touched at another port, of which no advice had been received. On this point he was making inquiries by cable. The deaths were due to acute, influenza, with pneumonia and acute bronchitis in some cases. It was quite certain that the epidemic did not take,;Jts origin from any conditions prevailing when the ship left New Zealand. The Minister said that he- had a report made by the Director-General of Medical Services here on the epidemic. The report was as foljows: "During the period of their training here there was very little sickness among the Fortieth Reinforcements, only one infections case—of scarlet fever—having occurred among them. At the first two ports of call we had reports from the ship, and up till then the health was good. From this it is'obvious that no infection was .carried from New Zealand, since in the five weeks that elapsed from departure to the port of call any outbreak would have had full time for development. Nor can there have been anything inherent in the sanitary condition of the ship, otherwise the, effects would have been apparent before\reaching the port of call. The earliest death occurred nearly three weeks after .leaving that port of call"

THE DEATH ROLL , Following are the names of seventy _of the '74 soldiers, including the officer, who died: — WELLINGTON DISTRICT ARTILLERY, Ross, Ftr. G. M. (E. M. loss, 13 West Ed., Northland, m. Bopt, 41. Doney, H. C. (H. E. Doney, 93 Mitchell St., Brooklyn, m. Sept. 5). Middloton, V. (J. G. Middleton, 85 Warlpori St., Wfrten. Sept. 5). Gibbons, H. P. (J. D. Gibbons, 88 Nairn St., Wgton,, f. Sept. 6). Andrew, K. J. (I. Andrew, 16 Kensington St., Wston., m. Sept. 8). A COMPANY. Stanley, T. J. (A. L. Stanley, Upper Hutt, w. Sept. 4). Oarglll, R. (J. Cargill, 24 Buiok 6t„ Potone. m. Sept. 5). Saundori, Sgt. N. G. (N. O. Saunders, Hotel Windsor, W|?ton., w. Sept. 6). 'b company. Dooley, R. G. (D. Dooley, Wanganui River, w. Sept, 2). Golder, /L. B. (J. Golder, Upper Hutt. m. Sept. 3). Ireland, 0. J. (M. Ireland, Carterton, w. Sept. 4). Pritchard, A. E. (O. J. Pritchard, Takapau, w. Sept. 4). Hodges, J. (J. Hodges, Ngntoro, f. Sept. 5). Anderson. N. (A. Andei'Bon. Palmerston N., m. Sopt. 7). Bulliman, W. (M. D. Bulliman, Lower Hutt, w. Sept. 8). Barson, H. J. (W. Wakely, Featherston, sis. Sept. 12). C COMPANY. Burke, E. P. (,T. Hird, Napier. Sept. 3). Hansen, W. J. (H. M. Hansen, Strathmoro. Sept. 2). Bmith, A. (A. Smith, Normanby, w. Sept. 3). Laurenson, G. S- (J. Laurenson, Viow Ed., Melrose, b. Sent. 4). September 5. Fersnson, J. (J. Siemonek. Carterton). Hoddle, W. J. (V. E. Hoddle. Raetihi, w.). Power, J. (J. Powor. Ireland, f.). Eowßon, S. (A. G. Rowson, Stratford.»m.). Hansen, L. G. (H. M. Hansen,. Strathmoro, f. Sept, 11).

E COMPANY. Carnes, J. F. (F. Carnes, Wanganui, m. Sept. 4). Mullauy, V. M. (S. Mullany, Main. Ed., Lower Hutt, m. Sopt. 4). Curry, 2nd Lt. M. G. (M. Curry, PalmerBton N., w. Sept. 5). M'Oloary, H. (B. M'Cleary, Taranaki St., Wgton. Sept. 7). SPECIALIST COMPANY, Barns, C. A. (L. M. Barns, Wanganui, m. Sept. 6). '