NEW ZEALAND TROOPS

Otago Witness, Issue 3244, 17 May 1916, Page 50

NEW ZEALAND TROOPS

TRIBUTE BY GENERAL BIRDWOOD. WELLINGTON, May 10. Favourable comment on the New Zealand troops is contained in letters jnst received by the Defence Minister from General Birdwood. The following are extracts:; — " From my previous letters I think you know my feeling towards the New Zealand troops, and I am so really pleased that they are now once more under my immediate command, or rather will be so when we arrive in France, as at present they are under General Godlcy. Even then I have been constantly round their camps, and have seen them at their training while wo have been together. I have just seen two battalions filing past my quarters here on being relieved of duties at the canal, and very •workmanlike and soldierly did they look. " The Maoris seem to me to be really happy in their pioneer battalion. I have had more than one talk with Captain Buck recently about them, and I gather that he is now perfectly satisfied. "Before they leave for France I am seeing every brigade in turn, and telling them I have not the least doubt whatever about their fighting qualifications, but that I rely upon every man individually to uphold tho honour of New Zealand and Australia in discipline, which I confidently expect them to show when we get to France. "Wo now have the Rifle Brigade complete, and a really lino body of men they are." SOME OTAGO MEN IN FRANCE. OTHERS WITH AUSTRALIANS. HOSPITAL ARRANGEMENTS. (From Our Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, May 11. The. Defence Minister furnished some additional information to-night as to tho ■whereabouts of the mounted mon_ in the Expeditionary Force on active service. One squadron of tho Otago Mounted Rifles has gone to with tho_ New Zealand Division, and the others have joined ■wjth the Australian Light Horse to form a mounted division, which is serving in another theatre of war. Mr Allen also gave such information as he has at hand about the hospital arrangements, concerning which the cable news has been somewhat disconnected and incomplete. " Our first arrangement/' said Mr Allen, "was that all the sick and wounded likely to bo serviceable again at the front were to be sent to hospitals in England, and that those who were not likely to bo fit for active service again, and who were not likely to be harmed by the climate of Egypt, were to be sent to hospitals there. This latter arrangement wo asiced for in order that the men might return to New Zealand by our transports. This* was a provisional arrangement, but things are all very largely in the making now, and quite possibly there may be a change." THIRD BRIGADE BEING ORGANISED. Information has been received in Auckland that a third brigade of the New Zealand Forces is being organised abroad. In connection with this a new Auckland battalion is .being formed, of which Lieu-tenant-colonel W. W. Alderman is in command. The New Zealand Expeditionary Force, as lately constituted, consisted of an infantry brigade, rifle brigade, mounted brifade, artillery brigade, and the ujual special ranches, so presumably the new brigade 2s also infantry. Lieutenant-colonel Alderman left with the Main Body attached to General Godley's staff, with the rank of captain. In Auckland he was acting brigade-major to the Infantry Brigade, and he was on loan from the Commonwealth Military Force to the dominion. He was wounded about the time of the landing on Gallinoli.