THE DOMINION'S PART.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 November 1915, Page 6

THE DOMINION'S PART.

WOUNDED MEN COME HOME. RETURN OF WILLOCHRA. OFFICERS BY THE APARIMA. By Telegriph.—jPre»« A»«oci*tioa. Dunedin, Oct. 30. The Willoehra reached Dunedin wharf at 10.30 a.m. The condition of the men showed the sanguinary nature of the fighting by the New Zealanders early in August, many cases being the result of the night charge. There are 124 cases requiring hospital treatment and 24 cot cases more or less serious. Ten of these were brought ashore. Three deaths occurred in the hottest stretch of the voyage, two of scarlet fever and one of dysentery. Their names are Private Patterson (Canterbury), Private Williams (Wellington), and Corporal Nichols (Dunedin). There are sixteen crippled men, but none have lost limbs. Two cases are fairly bad with paralysis, one man having lost the power of both arms. The Willoehra had an excellent voyage, and as a result the condition of the men showed marvellous improvement.

Wellington, Oct. 29. The Defence authorities furnish the following list of officers and other ranks (exclusive of patients) who arrived at Port Chalmers on September 16 in the troopship Aparima:— Major S. J. 1 Pastrick (Auckland) in command; Staff Captain E. L. Siddall (Opotiki), .veterinary officer; Lieutenant Chas. N. Mitchell (Wellington), ship's adjutant; Lieutenant T. L. Kenion (N.Z.M.C.), medical officer. The following orderlies were furnished by the Medical Corps:—R. W. Napier (Cardiff, Wales), E. B. M. Laseron (Auckland), A. 13. S. Shakeshaft (Widnes, Lancashire), I. J. Wiler (Gisborne); furnished by the Artillery, J. 11. D. Collard (Blenheim); furnished by the Auckland Battalion, W. A. Oldham, W. J. Murphy, A. N. Morrow (all of Auckland). The following formed the escort with tlie prisoners:—Auckland Battalion, Sergt. A. H. Bamvell (Bristol, England), Privates F. G. Randall (Staines, England), W. H. Rhodes (Amberley, Canterbury) ; Artillery, Gunners C. Crawford (Pahiatua), A. Brand (Norwich, England), Mounted Rifles, F. H. Hurley (Christchurch); Otago Battalion, Charles Storie (Galashiels, Scotland).

A SIGNIFICANT ANNOUNCEMENT. COMPULSION jOOMDCG. Dunedin, Last Night. To-day the soldiers were taken in motor-cars to the Drill Hall at Kensington, where they were tendered luncheon by the CSty Council. Afterwards a civic reception was held, and speeches' of welcome made by the Mayor, Hon. J. Allen, and Hon. G. W. Russell. Captain Short replied on behalf of tlie men. In the course of his remarks, Hon. J. Allen said he knew the strong fueling there was in this part of New Zealand with regard to one topic which had not come prominently before them, but which, he believed, would yet come before them. He referred to the feeling that it ought not to be left to the men who had volunteered to go to the front, and said that there were some who had not volunteered to go, but who ought to go, and could go, but would not. He made no claim for the alteration in the present system, hut he had been surprised, since he had been in the South to find an almost unanimous feeling that existed in the community with regard to compulsion (Applause). "I would, we could go through without it," he added, ."but if we cannot, all I can say is that I believe my colleagues are ready to face the question when the need comes." (Applause). ' Mr. Allen thanked the people of Dunedin for the fine reception they had given tlie soldiers. The Canterbury contingent left by special train at 2.50 p.m., and the North Island contingent by the Monowai. Hons. Jas. Allen and G. W. Eussell left by the soldiers' special train for Cluistchurch.