N.Z. ARMY AT HOME.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 21 November 1918, Page 3

N.Z. ARMY AT HOME.

THE JOURNEY'S END. REINFORCEMENT ARRIVES IN ENGLAND. CHARACTERISTIC HAPPENINGS. [By H. T. B. DREW, 2hd. Lieut. at request of N.Z. Government.]

OUT at sea, a few miles from the low, misty English coast, darkness slowly enshrouds. a fast-steaming, strangely zigzagging convoy of large ships. Around them, low-set in the water, dart, in a scurrying whirl, small venomous shapes that look like mammoth hungry fish seeking prey. The long journey of the troopships from those distant farewells many days back over the waters is drawing to a close. To-night they should anchor in calm, safe waters. But these last few knots of sea hold dangers greater than any that have lurked in the thousands of billowy leagues. It is here the enemy's submarines lie in wait. Vigilance and full-speed movement alone can baulk them.

But the torpedo-boats, circling round and twisting and turning here and there, are stealthy aggressive vigilance typified and on each troopship also a ring of armed, silent sentries peer ceaselessly around for those signs on the water which periscopes give; and they also watch that no betraying lights are shown inboard.

On the morning of the same day there have arrived at the coastal city which is the port of disembarkation for this Reinforcement the General Officer Commanding the New Zealand Forces in England, General G. S. Richardson, C.8., C.M.G., and the Landing Officer attached to the New Zealand Staff. From the camps tv which the Reinforcement will have to go have also come two Conducting Officers. And, though this is wartime, and the time when most things are uncertain, between these officers in their comfortable quarters in their hotel that night and the ships in peril at sea exists a fairly accurcte knowledge of what each will require of the other on the morrow.

When morning dawns, eager eyes, peering out of the portholes and over the bulwarks of the transport, see strange unfamiliar sights—that, no doubt, is what should be written, but any one acquainted with the real facts knows that very little khaki is moving aboard a transport newly come to anchor "when morning dawns," for the reason that in the danger-zone for days the strain has been so great, the rouuds of deck guards so constant, and sleep so broken, that everyone is glad of a long rest in security. Besides, by the time a New Zealand transport reaches England especially by way of , men are tairly weary of new sights, and cease to look,, with wonderment at each new port.

And so, when, in the case of this particular Reinforcement, General Richardssn and the Landing Officer— and in this case also the Hon. Colonel R. Heaton Rhodes—arrived unexpectedly alongside by an early tug, and climbed rather unceremoniously up a swinging ladder, only yery few of the thousandodd soldiers aboard w>re on deck. It was an excellent chance to look round and see things as they were.

"Things as they were" showed no muddlement or disorder—fortunately, shall one say, since the General had come aboard? The ship looked trim and yet showed orderly evidence of preparation for immediate disembarkation. To New Zealanders it is not necessary to describle a troopship arriving at its destination. Troopships arrive in England very much as they leave New Zealand, only perhaps neater and trimmer. Plenty of men are available on the voyaga, and fatigue parties have to be kept employed, and sea painting and scraping go on oontinually, and when the ships arrive they show no signs of the weeks of travel. The last few days put also, all surplus papers and voyage accumulations are thrown overboard (though not so as to indioate any route of travel to submarines), and only that retained which should be taken to camp. This troopship was a good specimen qf her kind, —Soenes on Board— "Good morning, lads," was the General's greeting to the first group of men he met. ■'* Had a good trip over ? Fine all the way, eh? That's splendid ! Quarters good ? Some black bugs ! Well, you will show me them soon. Food all right V Bread a little sour I Take me down and get me some."

The party descended and the bread was brought—white bread made of New Zealand flour—quite a rarety. It was smelt and tasted. " Any of you fellows possess cameras?" Several said they did. " Well," with a smile, '• later on you boys take this bread on deck in the sunlight and get as mauy snaps of it as you can, because it is the last white bread you are going to see for some time !" In regard to the complaints about insects, to some extent it is impossible to avoid vermin en troopships where wooden bunks such as those which are characteristic of New Zealand troopships are fitted. In spite of care and daily inspections, and all possible cleanliness, little corners and crannies haye their small accumulation o f dust-bearing-bacteria. Another disadvantage of wooden bunks is tho large amount of space they occupy ; they are permanent, whereas under the system adopted by the Americans all sleeping-space can be utilized as cleared deck daring the day, after the manner of old Indian troopships.