ON DEMOBILISATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17533, 27 January 1919, Page 2

ON DEMOBILISATION

notes fob the troops, expectation est england. (Fbom Otra Own Coebbbmikdkii*.) LONDON, December 10. Since tho signing of the armistice the S'l m , 0 l t T , sole to? 10 oi discussion of tho N.Z.E.F., both, in England and in Franco, has been tho arrangements for tho approaching demobilisation. The fact that tho shipping authorities have placed a number of vessels at tho disposal of tho dominion, and that these have all beon despatched fully loaded with hospital patients and low category mn»i, has produced an atmosphere of movement and excitement in which it is rather difficult for our soldiers to remember that demobilisation itself does not como into operation until tho peace has been signed. in order to inform and assist all on active service, Brigadier-general G. S. Richardson has just issued a circular memorandum on tho subject of demobilisation, the terms of which will probably bo of interest in New Zealand,

Tho pamphlet, . Circular Mornorandtrin, U.K. 214, says:— 1. DemoMisaticm of tho N.Z.BJF. will commence at tho earEest possible moment after peace has been ratified. The number of New Zealand troops to be repatriated is approximately 50,000 in France and United Kingdom and 3000 in Egypt. 2. During the armistice officers (and other ranks who are in a lower category than "A" will all be returned to New Zealand., if sufficient ships axe available. 3. Pivotal men—Le., officers and other ranks who_ are urgently required in their civil capacity for the purpose of national reconstruction in the dominion, will be repatriated on the cessation of hostilities; individuals concerned can be Teleased only by the authority of the New Zealand Govern ment.

4. Wives and families will be returned, if possible, during the armistice. Those not returned during that period will be sent back in turn, according to their class, when ships fitted with suitable accommodation become available. Where the husbands precede their wives to New Zealand, a written statement, on Form XFD7, from the wife, agreeing to this procedure, will be forwarded to Headquarters,_ N.Z.E.F. Married men with wives in Now Zealand will, if possible, be returned at the head of the class in which, by reason of their length of service overseas, they aro duo to return.

5. Three classes of ships will be used— viz.: Transports (for "A" category men), ambulance carriers (for "B" or "C" categories, who do not require special hospital treatment), hospital ships (for serious cases). " 16. The mrmber of ships to be allocated has not yet been decided. AH ships are under the control of the Ministry of Shipping, which is responsible for allocating ships to be used to tho best advantage. The New .Zealand Government will not have control over New Zealand shipping during demobilisation.

7. The demobilisation period for the N.Z.E.F. cannot be accurately predicted, until it is known how many ships will be available, but it is anticipated that there will be sufficient shipping to get the whole of the N.Z.E.F. back to New Zealand withih nine months from the commencement of demobilisation.

8. Order' of return will be determined by the length of service, those men who leftNew Zealand in 1914- being the first, and: tho Forty-fourth Reinforcements the last "to return. Tho N.Z.E.F. will not, except as in (9) return by units. All ranks, including nurses, will be repatriated m far as possible in tho order in which they left New Zealand.

9. The Maori Battalion will lulum as a unit.

10. A Territorial group of officers and ■other rauks f onr.ed by drafts, according! to length of service, from various units,■■; will bo returned in each transport. Ships going to Auckland will tak«« only men belonging to the Auckland province. Ships destined for Wellington will cake only men for Wellington, Marlborough and Wehtland. 11. Troops in France will embark from a northern port in France, and proceed direct to New Zealand; probably via Panama. 12. Troops in-United Kingdom will embark from Plymouth or London. 13. If it can possibly be arranged, "A" category men in England will not be returned more quickly -than the men in France. This will be arranged by allotting more ships for the troops in France than for United Kingdom.

U. Married men in France whose wives and families are in United Kingdom, will be transferred to England. They will be. assembled at Torquay previous to embarkation.

15. Personal effects have been removed from all base kits, and wfll be forirarrded to next-of-kin.

"16. Base kit bags -will be supplied to every man before embarkation. 17. Officers' base kits will be forwarded to them, or otherwise disposed of as they desire, after peace has been ratifiedIS. Personal equipment and rifles will be carried by each man on embarkation, and will be handed into ordnance during '.the voyage. _ , 19. A medical examination of every soldier will be_ carried out before embarkation. This win_ be a very thorough examination, with, a view to ascertaining if the soldier's health has been impaired by aptive service. 20. -A dental examination of every soldier wfll be carried out, and as far as possible every man will be made dentally fit before discharge. 21. Before disembarkation in New Zealand each_ soldier will receive a railway warrant to, his home and an advance from his pay account of £5. If proceeding direct from the ship to hospital he will receive an advance of £1_ He will retain his uniform, except great coat, which will he handed in before disembarking. 22. Twenty-eight days' leave, with;:pay, "willvbe. granted to every soldier' ifr6rh ; \'date of disembarkation in New Zealand. '•..'■' 25. A war gjratuity has not yet been authorised, but under consideration. The following war gratuities are being made to British officers and other ranks who have perved overseas: — OiiKsers: 124 days' pay for first year or portion thereof; 62 days' pay for every subsequent year or portion thereofj ... Private:. £5 for first year, -with. 10s per month in addition after first year. Corporal: £6 for first year, with 10s per month in addition after first year. sergeant: £8 for first year, with 10s per month in addition after first year. W.O. 2: £12 for first year, with 10s per month in addition after first year. . W.O. 1: £15 for first year, with 10s per month in addition after first year. 24. Resettlement Committees have been established in the dominion to assist returned soldiers to obtain employment, eta 25. Discharges in the United iiingdom will be allowed only in the case of members of the British Section and special cases authorized by tho New Zealand Government. The same concessions regarding leave, etc. granted to men discharged in New Zealand will be given to soldiers discharged in the United Kingdom. 26. Leave in United Kingdom may be granted in the following cases, if railway and shipping facilities permit:—(l) Ordinary privilege leave, when entitled to same, and railway and shipping facilities permit—l 4 days. (2) Sick leave, if reconimended by tlie _ medical officer, on discharge from hospital—l 4 days, with ration allowance. (3) Special leave for repatriated prisoners of war—-28 days, with ration allowance; to be extended to two months, if required. (4) Special business leave—2B days. (5) Special educational leave—2B days. (6) Patients in hospital will, if possible, be given leave before embarkation, but if they are unable, j owing to their medical condition, to travel before required for embarkation, their relatives will be granted' a free railway warrant to visit them in hospital. Any additional leave granted will bo without pay. • 27. for commissions ceased from the date of signing of the armistice, 28. Substantive promotions will not be granted after demobilisation commences, except for Cadets undergoing training for commisfwma, aajd promotions of second lieutenants to lieutenants after 18 months' service.

29. Men undergoing imprisonment will be the last to be. repatriated. Where an amnesty has not been granted, the prisoner will be returned to New. Zealand under sentence. -

20. Transfers to British or Indian armdes will bo permitted during demobilisation. 31.. Now Zealand officers and other ranks serving in the British army will be repatriated at the expense of the Imperial Government.

32, New Zealand staff officers and W.O.'s and N.0.0.'s of the Now Zealand Permanent Stafft will bo returned to New Zealand during the armistice to act as demobiliaers in the dominion.

33. Civilians who hay© been employed in New Zealand insfcrbutions for more than 12 months, and who have been attested for Bervico with tile N.ZJB.F. as V.A.D.'s or Now Zealand Red Cross .workers, will be repatriated to Now Zealand, and wiD. be required to do duty on tho voyage All other New Zealand woman will bo "ranted ihe concession of a. passage to New Zealand at troop rates. 35. Bands •will return as coraplcto unite. 36. Horses on chargo to tho N.Z.E.F. m United JGtagctett will bo-sold under-arrange.

mcnts made by Headquarters, N.Z.E.F. With tho exception of a low special hearses, being returned to 'New Zealand for senti mental reasons, all the horses and mules in Franco and Egypt will be disposed of by the Imperial authorities. 37. Guns, vehicles, and regimental equip ment will be returned to ordnance by units. Instructions re drawing now guns and equipment for the post bellum army ,in New Zealand will bo issued later.

38. Dogs from France or Egypt must not be embarked, as they will not be allowed to land in tho dominion under any circumstanefs. Dogs irom England will be quarantined on arrival in Now Zealand for six months.

39. Prisoners of war will bo given priority in repatriation.

40. Disabled soldiers requiring artificial rjmba will be retained in the United Kingdom until wtiKfactozilj fitted with duplicate limbs.

4-1. In order to provide for the care and traji.-rorialion of horses, vehicles, and regimental equipment until buch time' as thoy ore handed over to tho various army de parfnvnts concerned, a of speciallyselected oifieers ana other rank 3 will bo detailed in each unit to form a cadre. No cadre will be demobilised until the whole of the equipment, stores, etc, of tho unic have been disposed of in accordance with instructions.

42. Educational classes will be formed in every unit to facilities for all ranks to improve their education, and to .help them in their work after they leave the army.

43. Students who have not- completed their course of education on enlistment, and apprentices who have not completed their training, wilL if possible, be given facilities for . further instruction during demobilisation, either -n the N.Z.E.F. or at educational institutions and workshops in the United Kingdom, If such facilities cannot bo arranged, the men conrx-rnod will be granted priority in demobilisation. 44. Soldiers 5 wills will be returned to New Zealand and forwarded to the various testators on their discharge. 45. A regimental assets board will ho formed in each regiment to deal with questions concerning the disposal of regimental property.

.46. Tho N.Z.E.F. Canteen Trust Board .will deal with all accumulated profits of canteens and administer them in the best interests of the troops during demobilisation.

47. A N.Z.E.F. Board for Disposal of Surplus War Material has been formed, to deal with the disposal of all surplus war material on charge to the N.Z.E.F. in the United Kingdom. France, and Egypt. 38. Officers and otlier ranks desiring to return to New ZealtiPd via America should forward applications to Headquarters, Is Z.E F., which -.vill be transmitted to New Zealand for pppnml. If approval is given they wfll be discharged from the N.Z.E.F.' and will make their own arrangemews for passage.

48. Two demobilisation groups will bo formed in United Kingdom—viz.: "A" Sling, for "A" category details; B" Group, Codfoni for low-category personnel. Low category personnel, other than hospital patients sent fcom France to England for evacuation will be accommodated at Codford while awaiting embarkation. 50. An embarkation camp wHI be formed both in Franco and Egypt, where details will assemble previous to embarkation. Only 'A" category personnel will embark from France.