TROOPS FROM FRANCE AND EGYPT

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 269, 9 August 1919, Page 6

TROOPS FROM FRANCE AND EGYPT

ULIMAROA AND MATATUA BEACH AUCKLAND, „ By Tclesraph-Pras Association Auckland, August S. J'he transports llatatua mid Ulimaroa have arrived at Auckland, Hie former this morning and tho latter last night. On tile. Matatun were 682 KoCdiera from France, while the Ulimaroa brought WL troops from Egypt. 'J'lie JlatatiiA anchored in Hip. stream until tli is morning, when sho berthed at 0 o'clock. Although tho ship was pretty crowded, sho was not uncomfortably so for a-troopship. The food was remarkably gogd right through. Too voyago on t.h'a Alatatua was an uneventful one. Tho vessel left Tilbury Locks on .Tune .'2B, and the only port of call was Colon, where the soldiere wore ashoro for a few hours at night. During tho trip educational classes have been carried on. At* tendance st Hie classes was compulsory, except for about 25, per cent, of the soldiers, who were engaged on fatigue duties. The numbers attending tlio various classes were as follow:—Economics, 31; English, :18; mathematics, 7; surveying and applied mechanics, C; book-keeping, (i 2; advertising, 13; live stock, 117; bee* keeping, lil; cabinetinaking and design, M. Tho health of the troops has been good except for a few cases of mumps. Amusements of various kinds helped to' kill tliu monotony of,the voyage, and the' presence on the transport of the New Zoaland Artillery Band considerably helped m this direction, The band has returned' as a unit, after playing at a number of depots m England. The officer commanding the troops ie Major A, B. Williams, 1 Tho men for southern towns among the Matiatua's draft wore transhipped to the Ulimaixa, in which they will leave for 1 their homes. The Ulimaroa left Suez on June 30, and except for the tail-end of a heavy monsoon in the Indian Ocean, *nid a heavy swell in the Australian Bight, the weather wag fine. ' Two days were spent at Colombo, where tho ship took on water, and enough coal to carry her tb Now Zealand. The men were' allowed ashore both days, and earned the thanks of the General for their excellent behaviour.