FIRST ANZAC CORPS

Evening Post, Volume XCV, Issue 70, 22 March 1918, Page 2

FIRST ANZAC CORPS

REINFORCEMENT SHORTAGE,

WARNING BY GENERAL BIRD

WOOD

The Sydney Daily Telegraph publishes the following extracts from a" letter received from General Sir W. R. Bird wood, dated Ist Anzac Corps, | France, 14th December, 1917 :—"As , you will probably realise,'with the. small ! number of {reinforcements coming for- ] ward our training establishments at the base' arc being maintained at <m abso-. lute minimum. Such positions are, however, not held permanently,, but'are filled by a constant interchange of officers' from the line at periods of six months, each brigade' in the Held having, to maintain its own training staff. Iji; this" way we are able to provide additional rest for. a certain number of officers and non-commissioned officers, who •are suitable as instructors. For the. same.reason our policy daring the progress of tlie war has been to replace all fit men, wherever it is possible, in our establishments at the base by men who: have been declared unfit lor further servicfe in the line, though. , these are periodically re-examined as fresh combmgs out are made. Indeed, every available man is sent forward, for the reinforcements .at present coining from Australia are not sufficient to replace casualties, and unless more men are forthcoming, the question of disbanding some of our magnificent Australian units will have to be considered. I' have, great hopes that this will not be necessary, but I mention it only to assure you thai men are not retained in England after they have' completed their training, when their services are so badly wanted at tne front."