FUTURE REINFORCEMENTS.

Northern Advocate, 20 July 1917, Page 1

FUTURE REINFORCEMENTS.

POSSIBLE REDUCTION,

DEFENCE MINISTER'S STATEMENT.

According to the Parliamentary correspondent of an Auckland newspaper successive Ministerial statements on the subject of future reinforcements are creating the impression among members that those who doubt whether the present rate of enlistment should be maintained will be well satisfied with early developments. They are led to anticipate that the Imperial Government will suggest a greatly-reduced percentage in the monthly drafts, thus eking out the First Division and delaying the calling up of the Second Division. An extremely interesting statement on the subject was made by Sir James Allen when answering requests that Main Body men should be returned to New Zealand. He mentioned that there were 20,000 New Zealanders in the fighting line, and from three to four thousand as a first reserve. The statement in the Press that the percentage of reinforcements which had been cent was 12% was incorrect; it varied for different units. The present percentage of reinforcements for the infantry was 15, as fixed by the War Office. With regard to the 7% per cent suggested in the infantry manual when the war broke out the Government got information from the "War Office that the Manual would have to be amended, as experience showed the percentage was wrong.

"It was altered to 12%," continued Sir James Allen. "Then came Gallipoli, and, I regret to say, 12 %per cent, was not sufficient. Our Main Body fell to a deplorable state."

"Our stiff-necked autocratic, hidebound Minister for Defence has no. sympathy," declared Dr. Thacker, commenting on Sir James Allen's reply to the request that Main Body men be returned to New Zealand, which was to the effect that the proposal was not practicable, as it involved the lose of efficiency in our forces at the front. Dr! Thacker said New Zealand had 42,000 soldiers in England and France, so Main Body men could be easily spared. If the Minister would not unbend, he must be got rid of. Mr Okey declared that he didn't agree with Dr. Thacker. He didn't believe one Main Body man wanted to come back. Why should we bring back trained men who had made a name for themselves, and be obliged to replace them with married men? The Minister for Defence declared he couldn't understand where Dr. Thacker got his figures, because they were incorrect. He felt sorry the Government was unable to bring back the remnant of the Main Body. Nobody would be more delighted to see thij than himself, but the House must recollect that these men, with all their training and experience, were a very valuable asset to the New Zealand' Division. If they were invited to come back a large percentage would say: <r No, thank you; we will stay till the end." There were 20,000 New Zealanders in the fighting-line in Prance, with three to four thousand men in the first reserve. The good work done by the Division was due to its realisation that every man who fell would be immediately replaced.