DEMOBILISATION WORK.
NEW ZEALAND TROOPS. RETURN TO DOMINION. COMPREHENSIVE SCHEME. DELAYS TO BE AVOIDED. (“N.Z. Herald” Correspondent.) LONDON, November 14. The detailed arrangements for the return of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force from Europe to the Dominion were carefully worked out between General Richardson, commanding in the United Kingdom, and General Russell, commanding the division, months ago, and everything is in readiness as soon as the troops may be withdrawn. Thougli the authorities at this end have not much to do with the actual dispersal of troops on their arrival in New Zealand and with their resettlement in civil life, th.o scheme for their return from Europe has taken cognisance of both these aspects of the demobilisation. and provides for a groat deal being done before arrival in New Zealand to promote the other sides of demobilisation. As soon as possible after the declaration of peace the Now Zealand troops in each of the theatres of war and in the United Kingdom will be concentrated in suitable camps, where arrangements will be made for carrying out the education scheme. This important side of post-war settlement has. up on the present, been in charge of Captain J.’ E. Kirk, Wellington Regiment, who before the war was a solicitor in Gisborne. Captain Kirk is now returning to New Zealand, and is being succeeded by Lieutenant-Colonel H. Stewart, D.5.0., M.C., Canterbury Regiment. Colonel Stewart is a Master of Arts at Cambridge, and is Professor of Classics at Canterbury College. He has been on active service throughout the war. During the demobilisation the existing education scheme will bo further developed to provide for (1) agricultural training' at Torquay; (2) completion of apprenticeships and technical courses of colleges and universities; (3) instruction in the duties of citizenship and the problems of public welfare, with special reference to New Zealand; (4) general education. All animals, vehicles., equipment and ammunition—except personal arms and equipment—will bo returned to Ordnance as soon as possible after the declaration of peace. The Issue of demobilisation cards to all ranks of the force commenced as soon as the armistice was signed. SHIPPING TRANSPORT. It is hoped that a certain number of ships will be placed definitely at the disposal of New Zealand for the whole period of demobilisation, thus enabling the authorities to maintain a constant stream of returning soldiers. It is expected that all ships used for transport will return to England with full food cargoes. General Richardson estimates that in addition to 400 New Zealand troops in Egypt, there will be 60,000 in France and England, together with 1000 civilian war workers, 2000 dependants and wives of soldiers, and a thousand or two New Zealanders who are serving in the British Army and Navy. The personnel of the Y.M.C.A., New Zealand War Contingent Association, and the New Zealand Red Cross will be repatriated as circumstances permit. Officers and other ranks of the Royal New Zealand Artillery and New Zealand Staff Corps, will be returned to the Dominion as demobilisators there. The period of demobilisation will, of course, vary according to the number of ships available. If six sailings a month are possible, the period will be twelve months or ten and a-half months to the final departure from England. If only four sailings are allotted, it will extend to 164 months. The force in Egypt can be removed in four months, including the voyage, if two ships per month are allotted. It is pointed out that New Zealand has sent to the war a larger percentage of its population than anyother portion of the British Empire, and therefore her need for returning them rapidly is most urgent. Six ships per month consequently appears to be a minimum number. ORDER OP PREFERENCE. For the purpose of demobilisation ranks have been classified according to their length of service overseas, and to the territorial districts to -which they belong. Thus, a soldier of the Auckland district who enlisted in 1914, is classified as “A 14”; one from Otago who enlisted in 1916 as “016, ” and so on. All who joined in England and wish to take their discharge here are classified “E.” The 1914 class will be returned to New Zealand first, and each succeeding class will be demobilised in turn. The whole of the troops on each ship will belong to the same territorial district, and, if possible, ships will proceed to destinations in the following order. —Auckland, Wellington, Lyttelton, Dunedin. If shipping is available, one thousand men will be brought from Prance to England every week. At the present moment, and during the rest of the armistice, all the ships going to New Zealand will be used for taking ivalids, other than cot cases,, low category men, and wives and families of men of all ranks whose early release has been asked for from New Zealand.
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Bibliographic details
Manawatu Times, Volume XL, Issue 14096, 3 January 1919, Page 5
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805DEMOBILISATION WORK. Manawatu Times, Volume XL, Issue 14096, 3 January 1919, Page 5
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