N.Z. TROOPS.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16470, 13 March 1919, Page 7

N.Z. TROOPS.

DEMOBILISATION NEARLY COMPLETED. (From the Official War Correspondent.) March 4. Demobilisation proceeds apace. Tho disbandment of the following units has been completed:— Tho First, Second, and Third Brigade Headquarters, Divisional Ammunition Column, and Brigade Ammunition Column. Nos. 2 and 3 Field Companies, Nos. 1 and 3 Companies Divisional Train, Nos. 1 and 3 Field Ambulance, mobile Veterinary Section, Nos. 1 } 2, and 3 Light Trench-mortar Batteries, Artillery Brigado, and Signal Sections. Following are tho units now remainDivisional Headquarters Signal Company, Headquarters Engineers, No. 1 Field Company, Headquarters Divisional Train, Headquarters Company and No. 2 Company Divisional Train, No. 2 Field Ambulance, one company of Machino-gun Battalion, North Island Battalion (Liout.-Colonel _ Turnbull), South Island Battalion (Lieut.-Colonel Stitt), llifle Brigade Battalion (Lieut.Colonel Jardine), and Artillery Cadets. Two hundred artillery remaining aro at Tcutz, opposite Cologne. The rest of the division is now concentratcd at Mulheim, a few miles further north. All are comfortably quartered, mostly in German housos.

All animals, oxrepting a few awaiting shipment to New Zealand, have boen disposod of. Three thousand wero sent to Dieppe and Rouen for shipment to England, tw-o hundred were evacuated sick, and three hundred and fifty were killed locally for meat. Permission w ; as obtained for the mon accompanying the animals to the base to bo demobilised there, by which moans six hundred of all ranks were cleared.

Practically all vehicles, harness, saddlery, and ordnance equipment have already been handod in in good order. To-day another draft heads for home, reducing tho strength below one thousand. The remaining artillery leave on tho 18th, and a draft on tho 2oth would seo us practically all clear from Germany. The Artillery and Rifle Brigade Bands are still with us, tho others having been despatched. Demobilisation from this end has proceeded smoothly, and the conduct of tho men during the occupation of German territory has been good! Thcro have been very few complaints, and these not of a serious nature. Most of tho equipment purchased in England for the rocreation scheme has been disposod of, and the remainder will' be purchased by the Y.M.C.A. A sodawater plant and other oddments have been sold. The historic printing press, which_ has done much cxcellont work both in the battle zone and in Germany, will be retained for the war museum.