THE MAHENO.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 January 1916, Page 5

THE MAHENO.

WHY SHE CAME BACK. MR. MASSEY'S STATEMENT. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. Mr. Massev made a statement to-day in answer to criticism regarding the return of the hospital ship Maheno. He said it should be clearly understood that both the Maheno and Marama were placed unreservedly at the disposal of the Imperial authorities. The Maheno proceeded to England in October with a full complement of British sick and wounded. On her arrival back at Malta the New Zealand Government telegraphed that they hoped the Maheno would remain in the Mediterranean. A reply was received that in view of the fact that a large number of sick anil wounded in Egypt must be evacuated as soon as possible, it was desirable that the Maheno should proceed to New Zealand. The selection of patients to travel by hospital ships was made by the Imperial authorities. The Director-f.ieneral of Medical Services in Egypt urged the use of the Maheno to convey invalids to New Zealand, as an ordinary transport was unsuitable, and the (iovernment had no optiou but to comply.

Several rumors relative to incidents connected with the hospital ship Mahetio are in circulation. One is (says the Otago Daily Times) that on various ocasions officers in high command at the Dardanelles went out to the ship and were entertained on board, and that by some means this fac-t became known to the Turks, v.-ho at once notified the captain of the ship that if such visits were to be allowed they would five on the vessel—that they would respect the Maheno as a hospital ship, but would sink her if she was to he a restaurant! Another story is that during one bombardment by the "grey birds," as the warships are called at Gallipoli, the bombarders came in too close behind the Maheno, which was promptly signalled to by tile Turks to clear out. or they would not be responsible for the consequences. Some people, also, are asking why (he hospital ship, which all observers state did invaluable work in carrying the wounded from Anzac, was allowed to come back to New Zealand with soldiers who could, no doubt, have been brought over by other vessels, and that if it was absolutely necessary to relit her, why this could not have been done at a port nearer to Gallipoli? It is said in this connection that when the doctors on board the Maheno saw the visible traces of strain and overwork on the faces of the doctors attached to the fighting forces, the thought appealed to them that it would have been a first-class idea had some of these doctors been transferred to the hospital ship, and their places taken by the staff of the Maheno. A reason given for the return of the Maheno is that there was was considerable friction between the seafaring staff and the medical staff, and that when the vessel was in England a definite announcement was obtained from the Admiralty as to where authority actually rested.