AUSTRALIAN-TRANSPORT.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 December 1918, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN-TRANSPORT.

OUTBREAK OP INFLUENZA.'.. ■ / SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS. London, N0v.;21: _ The Australian naval-authorities are' instituting an inquiry 1 into conditions aboard the troopship., Baramlia, sviiich lias arrived at London, j; She carrier! over IGOO men from • Victoria arid. South Australia, the majority infantrymen, also ft railway .section, and about: 100 sailors for Jho Australian navy. Overcrowding gave rise to serious complaints. The deck accommodation was such that the men below were only able for short periods to take exercise and play games ou the deck in instalments. The bath accommodation was deficient, and there was frequent shortage of washing water, Influenza broke out after leaving Capetown. The epidemic swept the entire ship, 800 being sick at one time. The hospital accommodation was limited, and patients were lying everywhere ou the decks and hatches. During six days between Capetown arid Sierra, Leone the outbreak was at its height. There were 25 deaths, six occurring on one day. The chaplain held a funeral a day. Medical supplies were inadequate, and were quickly exhausted. The, two doctors worked manfully. Many men in the medical sections became ill, and volunteers attended the sick. Conditions were speedily ameliorated after arrival at Sierra Leone, where the vessel remained a week awaiting escort. Fresh supplies of drugs were obtained. Within two days most of the sufferers were convalescent The Baramba continued her voyage with a large convoy under escort of , the cruiser-destroyer Britannia. She picked up a flotilla of destroyers in the Bay of Biscay, upon which the Britannia left for Gibraltar. The Britannia was torpedoed and sunk an hour later. Men aboard the Baramba state that the vessel was .in a filthy condition before she left Australia. The planking covering the iron decks was ao uaaiy laid and the interstices filled with dirt, that it was impossible to clean it. Meat was cut up on the deck. When some of the planking was lifted a seething mass of maggots was found. The vessel was quite unsuitable for 800 men to sleep in her single 'tween decks. The following naval official statement is published in connection with the foregoing message:—The actual number carried in the Baramba on this voyage was 997, The vessel has previously carried 125S without complaint, and is one of the best troopships in the service.