THE N.Z. DIVISION.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 February 1919, Page 5

THE N.Z. DIVISION.

F.ND OF ITS "WATCH ON THE RHINE"

DEMOBILISATION PROCEEDING {STEADILY.

(From N.Z. Official War Correspondent.) London, Jan. 28-

'Demobilisation of the uivisiun has been proceeding steadily lroiu Germany; 3300 have already lel'i, siud in about nine weeks, ii iul gue» well, tile JSFew Zealandere' "v.atcii on the Khme" will have ended. As demobilisation progresses units are reorganisLd and amalgamated, infantry reinforcements are being gradually reduced by a protess of amalgamation that will preserve their identity, till linally there will be ay amalgamation of those remaining in the AuclMink. and Wellington units to form a North Island Battalion, aud those in Canterbury and Otago to form a South Island Battalion. Similarly the Rifle Brigade is being r«' duced to one battalion. Otlier units are being dispersed by process of reduc tion and amalgamation- The Maori battalion, which was demobilised as <v unit, is already en route to New Zealand. In tlie Divisional Artillery the battene? are being gradually reduced. The ligli*' Irench-moruir batteries are being disbanded, and the medium trench-mortar batteries have been absorbed in the 31.AC. Horses and vehicles are being disposed of here. Equipment for the New Zealand Post Bellum Defence Forces, including field guns, trencii-mor-tars, and maehine-'guns, will eventually be sent to New Zealand, but in view of present shipping scarcity, this will take a considerable time- Demobilisation is being carried out on the basis of length of service. Officers and others desiring it can obtain their discbarge in EnglandFour pierrots companies and thirteen bands are being demobilised as units, special arrangements being made for the eusU-dy oi the valuable sets of instruments that have been acquired. A Canteen Board has been formed in the Expeditionary ?orce to deal with the accumulated profits, which are considerable. in the interests of the troops gen erally during demobilisation, or to ]>e hr-id on account oi particular units, demobilisation will most probably continue to be from English ports, a fortnights leave being granted before departure. Evacuation ot the camps and hospitals in England has already commenced. The Field "Artillery Depot at Boscnmbe have already been evacuated. Approximate dat"s for the evacuation of other* are. - I Machine-gun Depot, Grantham, Janunry 2»: lVnckenbmvt Hospital, January 31; Rifle Depot, Brockton. February -1- Convalescent Hospitai, lfornehurch. February Auxiliary and General Hospital and Motor Transport Section, Oat-ands, I'Vsnwrv 2-i: G Group. Torquay, March Ii; OffioorV Convalescent Hospital TVipMmi March IS: Nurses' Home, Brighton. March 25; P. Group. Codford. Hospital. Codford. April 0; Hospital. Walton, and A Group. Sling. June 1; London, August: Motor Transport Department. Weviirdge. August Theie dates will depend largely on thn amount of shipping allocated for demobilisation, and mi "lit be iletriirientallv affected by the ttriV'-s of en# I '"irers or transport wo'-kcrs in Great Rritain. Tn the final stnees Codford will be a. receiving depol, Slinrj a re-or'/anising depot and Torquay a discharge depot. 'Various officers have been selected to proceed, to New Zealand in connection with the demobilisation there.