NEW BRIGADE FORMED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16500, 28 March 1917, Page 6

NEW BRIGADE FORMED

REQUEST BY WAR O FFi CE| J

DRAFTS IX ENGLAND USED " NO EXTRA KEINFORCEMEKTs | [BY TELEGRAPH. CORRESPO^^f WELLINGTON, Tuesda , An important, announcement regards '\M New Zealand Expeditionary Force made by the Minister for* Defence '■ James Allen, to-day. Some hint' ■■ * . - UUiUB Hint tt. t given a few days ago about the poJy ' strengthening of the New Zealand feat the front. Sir James Allen «pS what has actually been done. ' The War Office was ten- >„,• said the Minister, "to utilise tlieT'" Zealand division, and as many other X* Zealand troops as were available f or £ "big push" in the summer camp > Tbey asked us to allow them to pit fv' accumulated reinforcements in En 1 « into a brigade. We agreed to theV* posal on the understanding that the \T brigade was to be attached to the /'* Zealand division, and not used ekewhe and that no additional reinforcement' more than we are now tending should 'b« forwarded from here. ' _ "Owing to the casualties being Ifou in the period of partial inactivity dun the winter, there were considerable accf mutations of reinforcements in EurfZi and in France. Wo are not touching reinforcements in France to make up & new brigade. It is being made op mi f of men available in England. This briy a / will remain with the division and willT available to reinforce the division bLbU it fall beiow strength." The present establishment of the Ke ff Zealand Division serving in France com prises three brigades of infantry, yM. other services in proportional strength. 4 fourth brigade of infantry has now been added. ?a