General, Sir John Monash, Personal Files Book 22, 10 April - 1 June 1919- Part 4

RLC

Conference
22/4/19
23/4/19.
1. May shipping - German ships - Added 5000
Failure of former promise - by 13000
promise in writing for May
2. Rennie, & Steved are trouble. -

3. Major ] (Wisdom) & promises for June. 

4. M^cGlinn general draft peronnel

5. Howse - Marathon & one - legged man

6. Kanola - date. -

 

 

RD

22/4/19

 

Barrett

Reuter

Melbourne

 

Confidential entertain strong disinclination sacrifice surrender individual freedom by accepting State appointments ^ any Government office

expected by excepting possibly perhaps federal service appointment national character. -

 

Monash

 

Deferred rate. 

 

RD

4 Copies (3)

22/4/19

 

Minister for Defence

I beg to furnish hereunder, for your information, a brief statement of the past & present position of the Shipping Question.-

 

1.Past Demands and Supplies

Month	Shipping asked for	Shipping actually supplied	Shortage
December	16 000	13 305	2695
January	16 000	13 563	2437
February	16 000	5386	10614
March	18 000	15 814	2186
April	20 000	13 132	6868
	Accumulated	Shortage =	24 800

2. The heavy shortage in February was chiefly due to Strikes.

3. On April March 19, the situation was acute. - As the result of pressure exerted by the Prime Minister & myself, the shipping Ministry promised to provide between that date and April 30, total accomodation for   38 000

This promise has been acknowledged in writing.

The actual shipping provided for this period 

will not exceed, at best, 25 000

Unfulfilled shortage to April 30 = 13 000.

4. I have now demanded that this shortage should be made good during May, and that in addition, the Ministry should provide, for May, a further 22 000. Total for May to be 35 000. -

5. I am expecting from the Ministry a written confirmation of the verbal promise given xxx to provide at least 30 000 for May. -

6. Troops are actually available in England to fill all

above accomodation; and the small balance still remaining in France is being transferred to England at the rate of 5 000 per week. This rate will fall as the end approaches.

7. Family Ships. All above is entirely exclusive of family ships or Munition Worker's Ships. - I have asked for 

family ships for 5 000 for May &  5000 for June. -

________________________

 

The support of the Minister is now desired, to bring pressure to bear upon the Ministry of Shipping.

(a) to ensure realization of the May programme for 

troops & invalids, & viz:- 35 000

(b) to ensure provision of family ships for May

& June for up to 10 000.

____________________________

 

If above programme can be realized, our demands for June, July & August will steadily gradually decline, the reason being that the, by May 31, over 100 000 men will have been embarked, and the residues of units and staffs will take longer to dissolve and concentrate than the main bodies of units, which will by then all have been disposed of. -

 

Lt General.

&c  &c. 

737

This paper is to be used for inter-departmental correspondence.

Repatriation and Demobilisation.

To  Gen Reardon.

22nd April, 1919.

 

On application from wives and dependents for passage a formal reply is sent to the effect that the applicant is put on a "Boat Roll.

The following letter was received from an applicant:-

April 14th 1919.

 

"Sir,

I am righting just a few lines I want to

know what a boat roll is why is it I cant go on a

family ship I dont mind a boat Roll iff it is all

right his it a big boat or what because I have got

a big trunk I dont want to go in any thing mind

something after the rate how big is a boat roll."

Yours trully,

(Sgd) XXXXXXX

XXXXXX   XXXX,  Nr. xxxxxxxx.

R.L.C

D.G.

CHF/EJK

 

MINUTES OF A CONFERENCE HELD AT 54, VICTORIA

STREET, 23/4/19.

 

PRESENT:         Director General.

                            D/Director General.

                            Director Medical Service.

                            Brig-Gen. J.P.McGLINN, CMG.CBE.VD.

                            Brig-General  WISDOM,   CB.CMG.

                            Commander Parker.

                            Major WREN (Repat. of Australians

                            serving in British Army)

 

The Director General called attention to the definite

promise made by Shipping Ministry to provide accommodation for 38,000 Troops during April. Stated that accommodation is required in May for 35,000, (even if 30,000 were shipped during April) in addition to those on the six ships named at last Conference.

 

The Director General stated that the June demands

would probably be 25,000 or perhaps only 20,000, plus 10,000 or 11,000 AUSTRALIANS now in the British Army, making a total of 30,000 - 35,000.

 

Director General instructed 2 D to reserve accommodation in May ships for 1000 Australians in British Army.

 

Direct General enquired reason of delay in providing

the German Ships.

 

Commonwealth Shipping Representative stated that probably this was due to their not yet having been thoroughly surveyed.

 

Commonwealth Shipping Representative stated RUNIC was delayed by a strike of Stevedores. 2 D to send Senior Officer to Liverpool on 26/4/19 if situation was still bad, to effect a settlement or make an arrangement.

 

General McGLINN stated that men had been informed of reason for delay, and further stated that the Camps in Depots would not be choked by block in embarkation.

 

D.M.S. stated that all arrangements in relation to

"KAROOLA" were satisfactory. Stated that some of the limbless men were dodging embarkation, but that steps will be taken to set this right.

 

Stated that despite rumours to contrary, "MARATHON" was well and properly equipped for limbless men.

 

General McGLINN mentioned that disturbance on "ORCA" at CAPETOWN. Director General agreed that in future, whichever possible, Provost Corps personnel should sail in Family Ships or ordinary passenger ships.

 

At this stage Ministry of Shipping telephoned that

LEICESTERSHIRE would be ready to sail on 30/4/19, instead of 3/5/19 and that if not taken up, would be offered to NEW ZEALAND.

P.T.O.

JM

24/4/19

-2-

 

Director General protested against this alteration, as it would be impossible to prepare rolls etc.,

 

Ultimately Ministry of Shipping agreed to make date

2/5/19, that being the earliest possible by which men could be ready.

 

Director General then referred to letter from Ministry of Shipping, relative to accommodation on troopships. It was decided that the matter had now become one of Ministerial policy, and Director General said that he would arrange a Conference

between the Minister of Defence and the Shipping Controller.

 

The Conference then concluded.

 

Brig-General,

D/Director General,

Repatriation & Demobilization Dept. A.I.F.

 

24 APR 1919

25/4/19

 

ANZAC DAY.  1919.

 

1) Reception will take place in the Library on first floor.

 

2) Dancing in the Lower Hall, below the Main Hall.

 

3) Supper and musical programme in the Exhibition Hall, Ground floor.

 

Note:-

Guests are requested to utilise the staircase on the RIGHT going upstairs, and on the LEFT going downstairs.