OUR SOLDIERS RETURNING

QUICKER THAN EXPECTED. ICDCISTKK'S IMPORTANT STATEMENT. {By Tc.ypgTaph.— Special to "Star."! this d*y. " I should imagine that the btdk of the sick and wounded witl be all 'back by the end of February," etatcd Sir James Allen to your correspondent to-night. This led to an important general State* ment regarding the policy of returning fit men. *" There -will be some sick who cannot return immediately, but the hospital ships will not require to run long," continued the Minister. "We have aeked the British Government to expedite the return of coal-miners and men who have apprenticeships to complete, and I am communicating with "the Minister for Public Works about returning the engineers required to prepare work for discharged soldiers. Cases of epedil hardships are being considered, cable instructions being cent to return these men if inquiries here show the case to be bona fide. After these categories we return everyone in the order in. which he enlisted*

Arrangements have already been'made for the return of the Maori Pioneer Battalion and the Karotongans. If shipping continues as at present, and the Imperial Government will release aB our men, ■Wβ shall get them back quicker than waean"ticipatea.- v, depemii on whether they want them for service in Germany until peace is declared, and everything is 6ettled. We haven't any definite decision on. that point, but are asked for expedition in Tetuming New Zealanders, as they have so far to go.