"NO DIFFICULTY IN REPLACING N.Z. LOSSES"

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 165, 2 April 1918, Page 4

"NO DIFFICULTY IN REPLACING N.Z. LOSSES"

STATEMENT BY SIR JAMES ALLEN By Telegraph—Press Association. Christchurch, April 1; Seen late to-night with referenco to Mr Llovd George's message to Mr. Massey,' Sir James Allen, Minister of Defence, emphasised the fact that New Zealand had her Ml supply of reinforcements at the front, and there would be no difficulty in replacing losses. At the same time the Dominion might be called on to make a rtill greater effort, but as the Prime Minister had stated Cabinet would go into the matter. "I am thankful to say,' Sir James Allen went on, "that right through we have been sending the full percentage of reinforcements asked for by the Army Council, and there is at the present time a good supply of men both in France and Britain. If necessary, even though the Easter leave- has upset things a. bit, we could send forward the next reinforcements a bit earlier, but, of course, they would have to do with less training. We may be asked to send more men than before—it may be that the losses in recent fighting have exceeded anticipations, and it may therefore be necessary to alter the strength of our quotas, 'but I have no knowledge that the losses have been greater than was anticipated. Even if wo were called on for moro men I have no doubt New Zealand would respond. One of the chief difficulties in that event would bo the securing of transports. I do not wish to boast," 'concluded bir James Allen, "but so far New Zealand has never once failed in her duty as far as reinforcements are concerned."