The Troopship Scandals

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 245, 21 August 1902, Page 4

The Troopship Scandals

Sydney, August 18

Ai the Dnymn tiuiu-.! enquiry, laptain Hunett, miyojr of the vessel, said t.iai, ha .lid not know .ha exact 11 .tinbar ou board, approximately they were paid for 1810 men and 11 officers. He believed that there were a number of stowaways. He considered that there was -ample sleeping, latrine and lavatory accommodation and ventilation. The men insisted upon closing the ports at night, which was against the rules. He attributed the largo amount of sickness to the uncleanly habits of the men. They maliciously destroyed the shower-baths and electric lamps. The troops were half their time in

a state of semi-mutiny, and they were a most insubordinate lot. Officers and everybody else had the utmost difficulty in handling them. He believed that had the officers gone to the extreme and arrested some of the men (here would have been open mutiny. His remarks applied to the great majority of the men. There was a lot of drinking on board, and some of the officers were guilty of excess in this direction. Witness mentioned that the | New Zealand troops which were jtaken to the (Jape in the vessel had the sam*-* hammocks, space, and messing provision as on the present

voyage. The second officer considered that if the officers had exercised taoro authority early on tbs voyage thing? would have gone much more orderly, and they would not have had so much trouble. The sickness was just one of those epidemics which will break out among a large body of men. The third officer said that he had sailed in ve-sels carrying the New Zealand troops, who had no more room in proportion, but there was discipline, and consequently no trouble. He asserted that there was much laxity on the part of the military officers and a lot of drunkenness amongst the August Is. The chief officer of the Drayton Grange gave evidence to the effect that the troopers prevented the putting up of berths intended for the sick. They seized the timber,

and threatened to blanket him. He had the greatest difficulty in getting clean quarters, bometimes they were not touched for days, and the commanding officer’s aid had to be obtained. There was a great lack of discipline, and the men used filthy and abusive language to the ship’s and their own officers. The chief steward’s account disclosed a heavy liquor consumption on the part of the officers. Colonel Lyster, the commanding officer on the Drayton Grange, in the course of his evidence, said that the ship was duly inspected. The troops had been shipped by the transport authorities at Durban. He was not furnished with a report of the examination committee. Owing to the exceptionally heavy weather experienced for a week after leaving, nearly all the troops were seasick. He considered that the

upper deck accommodation was

totally inadequate. Owing to the crowding it was impossible to keep the decks clean and properly exercise the men.

Wellington, August 18. Trooper J. H. Lunn, of the Britannic, died yesterday.

The death roll of the Britannic has already reached sixteen, including one who died at Auckland, and three at sea.

The smallpox patient continues to make improvement, but is kept strictly isolated at Mahanga Bay. Dr Mason, Chief Health Officer, resumed duty to-day, having recovered from the effects of overwork while attending to the Britannic and Orient troopers. It is understood that he v/ill give evidence before the Commission, which starts w 7 ork to-morrow, and where he and his assistants “ can a tale unfold ” regarding the discipline, or rather, want of discipline, among the troops while on the Orient, and on the quarantine island. The sickremaining on the island have been shifted into new quarters. There are still several men seriously ill, and two or three are unlikely to recover.

August 19i The Commission to enquire into the alleged overcrowding of the troopships Britannic and Orient opened to-day. Sir W. Russell announced that they proposed to examine Colonel Davies, Surgeon-Major Fearless, and Captain Lewin in that order, and as there might be an implication of laxity of duty and want of attention on their part, they would be allowed to remain throughout the proceedings and cross-examine witnesses. The Commissioners decided not to admit the press to the proceedings, but to have full shortrand notes taken. A witness would not then know what previous witnesses had stated. About a dozen troopers were in waiting to give evidence. Christchurch, August 18. Forty officers and men received their discharges from the Bottle Lake Camp yesterday, and were supplied with tail way passes to their homes by the Defence Office. Another officer reported himself at camp yesterday. Several men will receive their discharges from camp to-day. Dunedin, August 18. The Orient men on Quarantine Island will probably bo liberated to-morrow, all being well. A largo number of troopers, who were in camp at Tahuua, left for :he north and south this morning,