THE REINFORCEMENTS.

Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 13729, 18 March 1915, Page 5

THE REINFORCEMENTS.

ORGANISATION AND TRAIN ING

Auckland, JVlarch 15. . The organisation of reinforcements for the New Zealand Expeditionary Force is proceeding smooth!y, and m discussing the matter the Minister of Defence expressed his complete satisfaction with the progress of the scheme. >; "Recruiting is quite satisfactory, said Mr Alien. "The new system oi enrolling volunteers by means °f registration cards is working very well. It was thought that there might be some difficulty in obtaining horses for the mounted "infantry,.but there has not been any difficulty m securing sufficient horses to meet the requirements ot the Forces, and, though those provided for the main force were quite satisfactory, the Remount Department is now obtaining animals of even higher standaVhe Third Contingent for the reinforcement of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force was despatched some time ago. "We have news about this force which oenerally is quite satistactory " said Mr. Allen. "There was, of course the unfortunate illness oi Major' Peacock, who contracted outenofever and had to be left oehinji at. the hrst port of call. Wv- hw n^'l^n advised iJmt a mcMM^r. ot li»Contingent has died.

•'The system of sending a reinforce-1 ment contingent every two months will ■ be continued until the end'of the war," i iwiid the Minister. "There' are vow two contingents in ta-aining at Tretitham, and the present scheme of training two drafts, one' with two months' istart of the other, will be continued. A: longer period of training is now being given to each draft than formerly, and officers and non-commissioned officers art* receiving* more training than the men. Those for the Sixth Reinforcements are alroadv in camp, and the men for that contingent will be assembled in about a month." In preparation for the winter months, permanent accommodation is to be provided at Trentham. A sample hut for officers and another for men had been erected, and these were inspected by Mm on Saturday. Some alterations in the original design v-ere considered necessary, and when those had been determined specifications would be care-; fully prepared, and a contract would be let for tthe erection of huts ,to accom-, 'taodate 4000 officers and- men. A complete system of drainage was being installed, and generally the camp was being made comfortable for the more severe conditions of winter. Referring to the scheme for the erection of a hospital at Trentham, Mr. Allen ssid that plans had been prepared but had not yet been finally approved as he had referred them to a board for report It would contain 16 or 18 b^d.s n^d a staff of throe or four nurses would be appointed: Mr. Allen said that siiiHciciu funds had already, he beJieved. been subscribed to cover the whole cost of erecting and equipping ihe hospital. Many people were anxious to contribute* towards it 3 equipment, and in order that their assistance might be usefully employed, he had asked for details of'tho equipment necessary for the institution. As soon as he received .the report he would make the mtorma■Jion pub'iic.