Item 11: General William Holmes papers, September 1914-January 1915 - Page 131
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[Page 131]
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The Medical Officer of the military detachment informed me yesterday that the principal danger he feared was from the spread of typhoid. There are, he informs me, twelve carriers of typhoid among the troops and, though he is doing his best to render this detachment immune by inoculation, he will be unable to inoculate more that a small per centage. We have hitherto been free from typhoid and its introduction may be followed by disastrous results.
(v) The climate of Port Moresby, especially during the wet season, which will begin in a few months. The climate is, I understand, at no time in any way superior to that of Rabaul and Herbertshohe, and if, for some reason, it is impossible to transport the sick and wounded to Australia, there would seem to be no object in removing them from the Bismarck Archipelago to Port Moresby.
5. I enclosed herewith a memorandum on the subject by the Chief Medical Officer.
6. I wish again to emphasise our eagerness to co-operate in every way with the Naval and Military authorities, and to assure you that if, on consideration, it is still considered desirable to send sick and wounded to Port Moresby, the Government and residents will spare no effort to provide for their accommodation and attention.
I have etc.,
(Sgd) J.H.P. Murray,
Lieu-Gov.