SECOND DIVISION

Evening Post, Volume XCV, Issue 44, 20 February 1918, Page 9

SECOND DIVISION

STATEMENT BY DEFENCE

MINISTER

The Hon. Sir .James Allen (Minister for 'Defence), replying yesterday afternoon to a question as to the present posi-. tiqn with regard to reinforcements and the postponement of the, calling up of th,a Second Division, said:—:"So long as the war continues Dne Government will do their duty in regard to providing thtf necessary reinforcements, even to thn j SEjiding of Classes B a,ijd C Qf the Second | Division. I hope, however, that it will not even be necessary to call up A CJass. We are putting off the calling up of the Sspond DiYi&ion as long as possible by cleaning up the First j and getting "fit. men out'of Cl camp;; I and that if is our duty to, do. I prepared. ! a memovahdum with regard to Class A, whicb vyas, pu.blished some.t.ime ago, and I have, lit) w;a.spn, to. ajter. it. They go into cam|) about April. I have seen sonic of the Seront! Divijion men in the South j Islfjmi,-and their feeling is that, though th.ey- hn,ve Ing vesponsibilities.and would be glad, to get out of going, when the tims comei) to gq they wi.l au. knowing ■jthat they are-fighting for the.v/ cq\intry j and their people.

"I may say that -vye 1 are in a yery strong position, as we always have a large number of men in training at Home as well as in this cp«TXiry. Even ■when a man ie called in?- cam|:, it will be practically pine mo.nths before,'lie goes into the firing line He has'hisfoiir W.O.wftV . training We,..two. mquths on the voyage, and a three months' further training at Horria before-he is sent into tho treficoes. None of the Second Division men, therefore, will go into the firing line this year."