The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. FRIDAY, JULY 16, 1915.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLV, Issue 3983, 16 July 1915, Page 4

The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. FRIDAY, JULY 16, 1915.

The* return to New Zealand of the f>.s. 33'illoehra with

Tha Heme -coming of our Wounded Troops.

273 wounded officers and men aboard

was fittingly celebrated in the Empire City yesterday. It would seem that the vessel had, on the whole, a splendid voyage and, the fact that no fatality was experienced during the passage, is also a matter for the highest gratification. As far as can be gathered, there is only one man among the returned troops who has been so unfoitunate as to lose a limb, and in his case it was found necessary to amputate his right arm. Some it would seem are suffering from a form of paralysis, though showing no wound?; whatever. This phenomenon is explained by the fact that injuries were received merely from concussion. One man, for instance, explains that a bullet struck the barrel of his rifle, and the force of the impact utterly shattered his nerves, leaving him a mere shaking, half-paralysed mass. Another who bears a long black line like a bruise across his stomach is paralysed from his hips down, and yet he says he does not know what struck him at the time he was incapacitated. And so one. Such cases as these, so sav the medical men on board, will probably result in complete recovery. Rut unfortunately there are many of the men suffering from bullet and shrapnel wounds who will for the rest of their lives remain partial cripples. The men, it will be seen, are naturally glad to be back again among thenkinsfolk after the terrible experiences through which they went in assisting to secure for the Allies a firm footing on the Gallipoli Peninsula. How hard was the lot of the Colonial troops will be gauged by the fact that among those who have returned wounded are some who had been on shore only a matter of a few hours when they were struck down. Alas, some of their comrades-in-arms were not permitted to got oven that far, being killed either in the boats or in the. water whilst trying to get ashore. Exactly how many former residents of this part of the Dominion are included among- the returned troops is not known, hut it would seem that at least two, Private F. C. Price and Private E. C. Evans, are among the number. The invalided troops will find that everything possible will bo done for them by the Government and the people generally. No other country, indeed, is more proud of her troops than this Dominion and it is not surprising therefore that from all sides offers of residences as convalescent homes, and of money with which to buy comforts for the wounded men arc. being made to the Government. What one and all will re-echo is: All honor to our bravo wounded men who have been returned to this Dominion and may neither time, trouble nor expense bo spared in looking after thorn so that as many as possible may once again bo brought back to normal health and strength.