THE CHUPRA'S DRAFT

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 259, 29 July 1919, Page 6

THE CHUPRA'S DRAFT

ARRIVAL AT LYTTELTON

HEALTH OF THE TROOPS By Telesraoh—l'rosa Association. Christchurch, July 28. The transport Chupra was berthed at iioon and declared a clean ship. The Chupra left Tilbury Docks on June 8, and had a fairly good trip until Port Said was reached. The next port of call was Colombo, and about halfway ■ across the Indian Ocean the vessel ran into a monsoon and all on board had a ■' fairly bad time for three days. The' Chupra is a vessel of about 6000 "tons, (belonging to the British India Company, .and possesses no refrigerator * bpsce. This fact was given as a reason '"why she came out. via Suez, instead of s ".through' the Panama Canal. ' "They are the most* contented and ' best behaved lot of men I ever had any- . thing to do with," said Major. J. Evans, 31.C., officer commanding the troops on board The vessel is most unsuited 1 for a troopship, as there is practically no 'deck space, but the men made the most of ; their time and contrived to get a good deal of pleasure out of the voyage. There was no sickness on board, and the ■ food was stated to have bedn good from -lEohdon to Port Said, and from Colombo 1 to New Zealand; but between Port Said . and Colopibo <he meat was affected by the heat, aiid the men could not eat it. Apart from this, the men had no ; ..complaints, except that, they did'-sot >.like the way they yore cooped up, witli '. practically no opportunity for getting any exercise. Before reaching Colombo Major Evans 6ent a wireless message, asking arrangements bo made to entertain tho troops, and tho result was that tho Ausralian Y.M.C.A. made great preparations

to give the men a good time. Tho Government ran a special train out to Candy, a' 68 miles, free of charge, and the Y.M.C.A. made arrangements to supply the men with meals. About ,350 men • took part in the trip, and they state that they had a thoroughly enjoyable time. , The remainder stayed at Colombo, where they were looked after by the Y.M.C.A. authorities, who provided entertainments and meals and took many of the men ; for drives through the town, and to the ' surrounding villages. Before the Chupra left Colombo the Australian Y.M.C.A. put on board a quantity of fruit, magazines, cigarettes, etc., which were greatly ; appreciated. : ■At Fremantle the men were given one ■ day's leave, and the Australian peopie - - gave them a right royal time. After - leaving Fremantle the Chupra had a 'straight run to Lyttelton, and bad ' weather was experienced while coming % through- tho Australian Bight. The quarters and acoommodation on the Chupra were suoh that n.c.o.'s, num- < bering 64, are forwarding petitions to tho ■Minister of Defence and General KichardBon asking that in consideration of the . conditions, under which the sergeants

were placett on/bourd the boat each member .'oi the mess should receive a sum of money representing the difference between charge for a second and a third-class passage.