NEW ZEALAND’S FORCES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLV, Issue 3966, 26 June 1915, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND’S FORCES.

AX AUCKLAND VIEW. (By Telegraph—Special C' respondent.) AUCKLAND, June 25. The: ‘■'Star” says: “Something in iJte way of a sensation has boon produced by tho statement of the Federal Premier that the British Government has appealed; to the Commonwealth for ‘more men, with or without equipment.’ We may further point out that the request suggests that the British military authorities are now in a position to supply a larger number of men than before with arms and ammunition, and that tlie crisis in the supplies department lias passed its worst stage. This is distinctly encouraging, and it should entirely nullify any apprehension that might otherwise be caused by the call for larger contingents from the oversea Dominions'.”

On the subject of recruiting in New Zealand, the “Star” says: “If the war should fulfil Lord Kitchener’s first expectations and last three years, by the end of that time, following out the plans now adopted,_ we will have put in tho field and trained 66.000 men, but we have still to consider that tho casualty list has been umxceptionally heavy. In one month our infantry' brigade alone has sustained 2000 casualties, and, if this average is kept- up, the total of over 20,000 casualties per year will render it necessary for New Zealand to raise her monthly quota considerably above 15 per cent, of t-lic effective field force. All this means that on the lines -already laid down New Zealand has committed itself to an extent far in excess of tho 50.000 men that- Mr. Myers and those who share his views advocate. At- the same time, we must take into account the difficulty of finding arms and l accoutrements and supplying ammunition for such large bodies of recruits. For these reasons it does not seem desirable to extend our present scheme of recruiting and training unless more urgent necessity arises.’,’