CRUISE OF THE MAHENO.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 January 1916, Page 8

CRUISE OF THE MAHENO.

MANY PORTS ViSlTKl'. OVKR MOO PATIENTS CARRIED. INCIDENTS OF THE VOYAGE.

The Maheno left Wellington on July H, l!) 15. She was bound for Suez, and in addition to the medical staff (here were on board 70 nurses, some of whom were going to Suez, some to Cairo, and the remainder to Port Said and Alexandria. During her voyage she travelled 32,837 miles from'the time she left Wellington until her arrival back in Auckland Harbour. The intervening ports of call and dates were as followsJuly 11, Wellington; July 17, Adelaide; August 5, Colombo; August 16, Suez; August 17, Port Said; August 19, Alexandria; August 25, Lemnos and Anzac; August 30, Lemnos and Anzac; September 3, Anzac and Lemnos (called Kephalo Harbor); September 6, Lemnos and Anzac; September 9, Lemnos and Anzac; September II Malta (left 15th); September 17, Anzac; September 10, Lemnos; September 22, Malta; September 2S, Lemnos; September 2!), Anzac, October 5, Alexandria; October 14, Gibraltar (arrived); October 17, Southampton; October 30. Southampton (left); November 0, Malta; November 10. Mudros; November 11, Anzac; November 15, Alexandria; November 20, Malta; November 24, Port Said; November -2(i. Suez; December 9, Colombo; December 22, Albany; January 1, Auckland; January 3, Wellington. ' For three days after leaving Wellington the ship proceeded slowly, but afterwards full steam ahead was ordered. It is interesting to note that when the wounded were on board exceptionally fine weatl-.er was experienced as a rule, but gales were frequently encountered when the Maheno was running light. Shortly after Colombo was left behind on August 5, heavy weather was encountered, and, at the entrance to the P 4 ed Sea, before Perim was reached, a very strong south-west monsoon was experienced. Very rough weather prevailed until Suez was sighted 10 days later. Leaving Suez, after the nurses had disembarked, the ship headed for Alexandria. Mudros Bay, Lemnos, between which port and Anzae most of the work for which the ship was intended was accomplished, was first reached on August 24. Instructions were then received to proceed to Anzac, about 00 miles away. Lemnos was the centre for the hospital ships in the region, and a base was established on the island. The only incident of an exciting character before Lemnos was sighted was the discovery of three derelict collapsible boats, a number of life-belts, and ii quantity of wreckage. The engines were stopped and Captain Maclean sent a boat to make an examination. The boats, it was ascertained, had not been used, and were without any identification marks. The plates containing tho names of the builders were removed by the sailors of the Maheno. The only conclusion arrived at was that the collapsible boats belonged to the Royal Ocorgc, a transport which had been torpedoed about 100 mile 9 from the position in which the wreckage was found.

ANZAC SIGHTED, The rugged shore oj Arizae was sighted on August 25, and the anchors were let down within a mile from the beach. Wounded soldiers were immediately Uken on board, and after waiting until relieved by another hospital ship—one had,always to be in the vicinity—the how was directed towards Lemnos. The sliip was more or less constantly engaged in this service for a number of weeks. iOn no occasion did the enemy ever attempt to fire on the ship, and the conduct of the Turks forced everyone to corns to the conclusion that they were brave, clean fighters. Warships near at hand were constantly firing at the Turks' position, and the shrieking of the shells and the sound of the shots fired in reply were In themselves unnerving. Stray bullets very frequently struck the ship's sides and decks, whilst shells at times came dangerously olose.

FIREMEN STRIKE WORK. Orders to proceed to Malta resulted in the Maheno being in that port on September 22. The Instructions were that she was .to leave two days later. When the time ararnged for the departure arrived one of tho firemen had not returned to the ship. The other firemen refused to proceed to sea until he returned or a substitute was found. They maintained this attitude despite the fact that the captain offered to take off one boiler. Capain Maclean then instructed the chief engineer to take the ships out to sea with his own slta.ff. When the Maheno was just outside the three mile limit the firemen were again interviewed and asked to return to work. They still persisted in their refusal, however, and a message wa,s despatched to the shore stating the position. In reply instructions were received that the ship was to return to Malta at daybreak on the following day, September 20. On entering the harbor at six' o'clock the. following morning, the civil police came on b.aard, and the firemen who refused duty, numbering about 2fi, were arrested. * They were next day sentenced to 12 weeks' imprisonment with hard labor. \ complement of Maltese fireweii, who were found to be much inferior to British firenipn, was 'taken on board, Sailing between A.ty«ie and Lemnos were continued up to October 3, when the Maheno headed, fpy. Alexandria. On reaching there twfi days later orders to proceed, to Kngknd were received and complied with on tho Bft. a stop of two hours was made at Gibraltar, and Southampton. Vas reached without mishap m very foggy weather on October 17. the ship, was detained at Southampton, for a general overhaul until Octibev 3ft. fn the meantime one of the atteratkms made was the installation of air-shoots to the men's quarters, which were rather far down, in the ship. The men had com.plainect of the lack of ventilation,. 0n October 30 the ship was headed for Malta, a new of British firemen having to the meantime been obtained. The Maltese who were replaced, wove shipped as passengers.

HURRICANE IN BAY OF BISCAY. | Heavy weather was experienced in the Channel and there was a perfect humcan experienced whilst crossing ( - lle Bay of Biscay. Malta, was icached on November B, and, in accordance with instructions, the ship left that day en route for Lemnos. Late in the afternoon a S.O.S. call was received from a transport stating that she was being pursued hy a submarine and was being shelled. As there was a distance of 246 miles between the Mahena and the transport, the hospital ship did net alter her course. About four houra later a message was received stating that all was well and th*t the subgwnfie had disappeared, ■ .- •