THE SECOND DIVISION

Evening Star, Issue 16352, 19 February 1917, Page 3

THE SECOND DIVISION

STR JAMES ALLEX EXPLAINS

POSITION.

f Special to ihk ' Star.'")

C'HRISTCHURCH. Februarv 19. i( Sir James Allen said the other'dav : "It is not expected that nnv call need be made on the Second Division for four or five months yet," This pronouncement has caused considerable Perturbation, ns it was thought from calculations made that the call on the Second Division was a good deal fiVther off than was indicated by Sir James. Interviews! last night. Sir Tames A/Jen explained that his statement war; onlv approximate, lint it was based on past experience, and he considered it fairlv near the mark. It was probable that the Second Division would be called in about six months' time. "I base mv estimate on the following figures." <nH'Sir .fames Allen. " There, are 84,000 men. in round figures, m the First Division. Of the*" about 18.000 have already been drawn in the ballot. From past experience we estimate that onlv about 25 per cent of the balance of 66.000 men will be available for active service. That means, in other words, that we will have available for active service about 16,000 men. We need approximately 2.600 per month for reinforcements, r.nd on Jie=e ficrurcs the available First Division men will' be used in six months. There are some voun--rr.en coming of military of course' hut they will be balanced" more or lew hy men who are getting over age. and may be practically disregarded 0 The estimate of six months mav not be absolutely accurate, but 1 think it will be found to be fairly near the mark. Second Division men who think they still have eight to ten months to go before being called had better revise their c;l [. dilations."