NEW ZEALAND FORCES.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15132, 29 January 1917, Page 7

NEW ZEALAND FORCES.

REPLIES TO LORD NORTHCIIFFE. (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Jainary 29. Inquiries regarding the criticism by Lord Northcliffe of the New Zealand Division in France show that to carry out tne suggestion of shorter training here would mean the speeding up of the departure of existing reinforcements in camp. In other words we should be sending three drafts, comprising 7500 men ahead of commitments. This, however, is impossible of achievement, because transports are unavailable. To apply the proposal to succeeding drafts here would mean that they would receive less training in New Zealand without reaping any advantage in the war zone, tie reason being that to meet existing commitments they would not arrive in England a day sooner. It would mean only that the, date of their mouiiisation here would be postponed, not that the date of thir arrival in England would be advanced. On the other hand, to provide training further for all future drafts in the war zone by curtailing the period here would mean calling up all drafts earlier, and tieir departure correspondingly sooner. The effect of this would be that according to the length of curtailment New Zealand would be required to raise one, two, or three extra drafts in addition to the 'undertaking. This would mean an extra 1500, 5000, or 7500, according to the number of drafts. As New Zealand is committed to raising 100,000 if the war lasts a full three years this extra obligation cannot be undertaken lightly. ~

It is pointed out that the New Zealand system should be judged by results, also that a big percentage of instructors at Trentham and Featherston are officers wbb have returned from the front. Further, instruction in the new system of bayonet fighting has been in progress; at Trentham since September last, and the first draft receiving the same arrived in England this month. The system has since been more fully developed, so that this complaint in future should be removed by the arrival'of succeeding drafts.