TROOPSHIP SCANDALS

Gisborne Times, Volume VIII, Issue 507, 21 August 1902, Page 3

TROOPSHIP SCANDALS

COLONEL LYSTER’S EVIDENCE. By Telegraph—Pre33 Association—Copyright Sydney, Aug 20.

Colonel Lyster made many statements conflicting with those of previous witnesses. Ho upheld the conduct of the troops and laid stress on the point that irregulars should not be controlled by rigid regulations under which discipline is enforced on trained soldier.s. He stated that he went round and inspected the decks with the captain every morning, and found them beautifully clean till they got near Sydney. He characterised tho statements alleging insubordination as absolutely untrue. It did not occur to him that the ship was overcrowded till they got out to sea, and saw the men lying about sick. Fifteen hundred untrained troops were plenty to carry. There was considerable illicit drinking, and it interfered with discipline. All efforts to find where the drink was obtained failed. AVitness did not think that tho regulations applied to the conditions. He had tried to apply common sense. Ho admitted that he asked Dr. Shields to alter Jiis report, because he thought it extreme and exaggerated, as the result of the doctor’s inexperience. After reading Dr. Shields’ evidence before the Commission tie thought he ought to have been very different to the men on tho ship to what lie was. STRONG LYING SOMEWHERE. TWO MORE DEATHS.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Sydney, Aug. 20. Captain Fullerton, ono of the medical officers of tho Drayton Grange, said he considered there wero sufficient doctors, Thero was no lack of essontial drugs up to the time the vessel reached Albany. The point was that there had been a phenomenal outbreak of sicknesß. There was a lot of good luck in having only 12 deaths. If they had been able to isolate thoso eases probably thero would havo been less °ickness and fewer deattis. Tho primary cause qf the sickness was the infection brought aboard amongst such a large body of men. It never struck him that the vessel was particularly dirty, though it was not a clean ship. The men wore not a very clean lot. During the voyage between six and seven hundrod wero on tho hands of tho doctors. He considered that Doctor Shiolds took too many duties upon himself, and declined the offer of other doctors to relieve him. He did not think any good would have been done by landing tho sick at Albany. Colonel Lyster, recalled, said that the men made every effort daily to keep the decks clean. He had formed the opinion that Dr. Shields was nervous and unable to meet tho extraordinary condition of affairs. He had the same opinion about tho captain. The steamer hurried away from Durban before its time. He had no timo to go into affairs. He only realised that tho vessel was crowded when they got to 6oa. The shortage of drugs was not reported to him until a couple of days before reaching Albany. Two more of the Drayton Grange troopers have died in the hospital. At the Drayton Grange enquiry Lieut,Colonel Carrington, commanding the Third Bushmen, in his evidence, said that the conduct of his men aboard was excellent. It was absolutely impossible to carry out tho regulations, owing to the want of deck spaeo. Nothing could possibly bo better than their discipline. Dr. Shiolds was incapable of expressing an opinion on discipline. Drunkenness was largely caused by the ship’s people supplying liquor. After tho second day out nono of the troops were able to got above the regulation beer through the- military autliorities. Other officers commanding units gave similar evidence, and a denial of insubordination. They also declared that they regularly and effectively cleaned tho decks.

Wellington, last night. Tho Commission of Enquiry into the allegations concerning the condition of tho troopships Britannic and Orient has. examined several of the officers in charge of the troops. Over 50 witnesses have offered to give evidence. Thames, last night. Sovoral Thames troopers who returned by the Orient state that much exaggerated accounts have been published as to the state of affairs on board. They state that beyond tho fact that tho food was not of the best, though it could not be called bad, and the sleeping accommodation scarcely sufficient, there was nothing to cavil at. If the boat was dirty in places tho principal fault was the neglect of the troopers to do thoir duty and keep the ship clean.