N.Z. DIVISION.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16159, 13 March 1918, Page 6

N.Z. DIVISION.

MESSAGE FROM GENERAL GODLEY. (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) AUCKLAND, March 12, The Minister of Defence has received tko following cablegram from General Sir A. Godley: — "Summary of work or tho New Zealand Division: —During Fobruary the division remained in the firing lino on the samo front. Small raids were • carried out, rosultinc in tho capture of a- few prisoners. The division is now out of the line, and is engaged in training. There is nothing further to report." Asked if the information that the New Zealand Division was out of tho "lino, training, had any special significance, tho Defence Minister replied that it had not. Tho in common with others, had periodical rests from the trenches, and tho time was being spent in training. \ STAGNATION DAYS OVER.

Mr Gordon Gilmour, special correspondent on tho West front for the Australian and New Zealand Press Agency, cables to the Australian papers under date of 2nd insfc:— "The stagnation days of winter must be considered ended. It ought to be said that the Australians and New Zealanders had a comparatively easy time during the. winter months. Those who experienced the Somme conditions have been grateful for the bettor times which prevailed this winter. The- casualties were infinitely less, and there, was also a mnrkod diminution in sickness. "Upon stopping ashore at the port which has become one of the front doors to the war, I was immediately among the Australians, and visited a tic Australia hospital, whowj empty beds told plainly enough that the front was nuiet. The hosoital, which during tho Passchendaele fighting was full to its envn'-ity. now only had a few patients. Quite a largo proportion of these were neither Australians nor New ZeaJanders. The doctors said that the ether hospitals were able to make equally gratifying reports. "Re=rfird : urr our forces at this he--pita 1 . I hnd fresh evidence of the soirit of <'re troops. People are sometime 5 sfentir-nl when they read that wonndel men nre A o return to the front, but one of the eld hands—a Queensland farmer wearing the forties—expressed to me hi* earnest -wish to be rid of his nni n s and aches, so thr.t he could get back 'up the line among his pals.'"