Those who go to war must expect to rough it, but on a peaceful ocean, secure from the enemy, and in a modern passenger ship, it should be possible to provide food which does not imperil those who consume it, and also to ensure reasonable comfort.
With reference to the defects of the ship it should be said that when the Kyarra was chartered Australians had not realised the colossal nature of the war, and had not begun to think on a large scale, and those responsible had neither tradition nor experience to guide them. Furthermore the commander and officers of the Kyarra courteously did their best, but it was evident they understood the difficulty of transforming a coastal steamer into a Hospital Transport.
The Geneva Convention does not seem to be fully understood, and experience shows what complicated conditions arise, and how easy it is to commit an unintentional breach of the Regulations. But in war there can be no excuses.
CHAPTER III
ARRIVAL AND SETTLEMENT IN EGYPT—DISPOSAL OF THE HOSPITAL UNITS—TREATMENT OF CAMP CASES—THE ACQUISITION OF MANY BUILDINGS—WHERE THE THANKS OF AUSTRALIA ARE DUE.