THE SECOND DIVISION

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXVII, Issue 9079, 29 August 1917, Page 3

THE SECOND DIVISION

FIRST BALLOT IN NOVEMBER

A YEAR'S SUPPLY OF MEN IN

SIGHT.

WELLINGTON, August 28

It cau now be regarded as practically certain that the first ballot of members of the Second Division will be taken in November, and that the selected men will go into camp two months later.

There are. 109,000 members of the Second Division, and it may bo taken for granted that the great majority of these belong to the first five classes, the majority of fathers of larger families being over the present military age.

The true position cannot yet be accurately gauged. When it is, in the course of a few days, an official statement will be made. Sufficient, however, is known to give ground for the statement that the early classes of the Second Division will bo stronger than was <it one timo anticipated. Classes B and C will be particularly strong, while, contrary to the general belief, it is now considered that Class A will provide two reinforcements. Though all doubtiul casos have- been placed in this cl.iss, which will probably lead to many successful appeals before the Milit.ny Service Boards, it will, nevertheless, be much stronger than was at one time anticipated.

It is estimated that after eliminating men rejected as medically unfit for active service, and those necessary to maintain essential industries, the proportion of which in the latter class, at least, will be much larger than that in the First Division, only 20,000 members of the Second Division at the outside will be available for active service. When the Second Division is called up, however, the reduced rate of reinforcements—lß2o a month—will be in operation, so that the probability is that the Division will last for at least a year, without taking into consideration the number of youths reaching military age during that period, and tho return of members of the Main Body, after their furlough, to the front as reinforcements.

It is understood that to make good the deficiency in the fighting forces by the return on furlough to New Zealand of part of the Main Body, a larger proportion of First Division men is being called up in the ballot just taken.