ORDERS FOR HOME.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16429, 24 January 1919, Page 5

ORDERS FOR HOME.

NOTES FOR THE TROOPS. I EXPECTATION IN ENGLAND. (FROM OCR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) LONDON, December 10. Since the signing of the armistice tho almost sole topic of discussion of the N!Z.E.F., both in England and in France, x has been the arrangements for the approaching demobilisation. The fact that the shipping authorities have placed a number of vessels at tho disposal of the Dominion, and that these have all been •despatched fully loaded with and low category men, has produced an atmosphere of movement and excitement in which it is rather difficult for our soldiers to remember that demobilisation itself does not coihe into operation until the peace has been signed. In order to inform and' assist all on active service, Brigadier-General G. S. Richardson lias just issued a circular memorandum on the subjcctof demobilisation, the terms of which will probably be of interest in New Zealand. The pamphlet, Circular Memorandum, U.K. 214, says:— 1. Demobilisation of the N.Z.E.F. will commence at the earliest possible moment after peace has been ratified. The number of N.Z. troops to be repatriated is approximately 50,000 in France and United Kingdom, and 3000 in Egypt. 2. During the armistice officers and other ranks , who are in a lower category than "A" will all be returned to New Zealand if sufficient ships a\e available. 3. Pivotal men, i.e., officers and other ranks who are urgently required in their civil capacity for the purpose of national reconstruction in the Dominion, will be repatriated on the cessation of hostilities;- individuals concerned can be released only by the authority of the New Zealand, Government. 4. Wives and families will be returned, if possible, during the armistice. Those not returned during that period will be sent back in turn, according to their class, when ships fitted with (suitable accommodation become available. Where tho husbands precede their wives to New Zealand, a written statement, on Form XFD7, from the wife, agreeing to this procedure, will be forwarded to Headouartersr, N.Z.E.F.' Married men with wives in New Zealand will, if possible be returned at the head of the class in which, by rereon of their length of service' overseas, they are due to return. 5. Three classes of ships will be used, viz.: Transports—For "A" category men. Ambulance Carriers—For "B" or categories, who do not reouire ep"cial Ijospital treatment. Hospital Ships—For 6erious cases. 6. The . number of ship 3to be allocated has not yet been decided. _ All ships are under the control of the Ministry of Shipping, which is responsible for allocating ships to be used to tho best advantage. The New Zealand Government will not have control over New Zealand shipping during demobilisation.

I 7. The demobilisation period for the j N.Z.E.F. cannot be accurately predicted, until | it, is known how many ships will be available, I but it is anticipated that there will be sufficient shipping to get the whole of the | N.Z.E.F. bnck to New Zealand, within nine ! months from the commencement of dei mobilisation. I S. Order of return will be determined by the j length of service, those men who left New : Zealnnd in. 1914 being the first, and the 44th Reinforcements the last to return. The N.Z.E.F. will not, except as in (9) return by units. - All ranks, including nursos, .will be repatriated a? far as possible in the order in which they left New Zealand. 9. The Maori Battalion will return as a unit. 10. A Territorial group of officers and other ranks formed by drafts, according to length of service, from various units, will be returned in each transport. Ships going to j Auckland will take only men belonging to j the Auckland Province. Ships destined for j Wellington will take only men for Wellington, i Marlborough, and Westland. j 11. Troops in France will embark from a northern port in France, and proceed direct to New Zealand, probably via Panama. 12. Troops in United Kingdom will embark from Plymouth or London. 13. If it can possibly be arranged, "A" category men in,. England will not be returned more qniclclv than the men in France. This will be arranged by allotting more ships for the troops in Franco than for United Kingdom. 14. Married men in France whose' wives and families are in United Kingdom will be transferred to England. They will be-assembled at Tornuay previous to embarkation. 13. Personal effects have been removed from all baso kits, and will be forwarded to next of kin. 16. Base kit will bo supplied to every man before embarkation. 17. Officers' base kits will be forwarded to them, or otherwise disposed of as they desire, after peace has been ratified. 18. Personal equipment and rifles will be carried by each man on embarkation, and will be handed into ordnance during the voyage. 19. A 'medical examination of everv soldier will be carried ont before embarkation. This will be a veTy thorough, examination, with a view to ascertaining if the soldier's health has been impaired by active service. 20. A dental examination of every soldier will be carried out, and ns_ far as possible everv man will be made dentally fit before discharge. 21. Before disembarkation in New Zealand each soldier will recei*? a railway warrant to his home and an advance from h'g pay account of £5. If proceeding direct from the ship to hospital he. will receive an advance of £1. He will retain his uniform, except Ereat-coat, which will be handed in before disembarking. 22. days' leave, with pay, will be granted to everv soldier from date of disembarkation in New Zealand. .-£• A war gratuity has not yet been authorised, but is under consideration. The following war gratuities are being made to Bri-

tish officers and other ranks who have served overseas Officers—l*24 days' pay for first portion thereof; G2 days' pay for every subsequent year or portion thereof. Privates—£s for first year, with 10s per month jn addition after first year. Corporal—£6 do. do. do. Sergeant—£S do. do. uo. W.O. 2—£l2 do. do. do. W'.Q. I—£ls do. do. do. 24. Re-settlement Committees bavo been established in the Dominion, to assist returned Boldiers to obtain employment, etc. 25. Discharges in tho United Kingdom will be allowed only in tho case of members of tho British section, and special cases authorised by the New Zealand Government. The same concessions regarding leave, etc., granted to men discharged in New. Zealaud, will bo given to soldiers discharged in the United Kingdom. 2G. Leave in United Kingdom may bo granted in the following cases, if railway and shipping facilities permit •. — (1) Ordinary privilege leave, when entitled to same, and railway and shipping facilities permit, 14 days. (2) Sick leave, if recommended by the medical officer, on discbargo from hospital—l 4 days, with ration allowance. (3) Special leave for repatriated prisoners of war—2B days, with ration allowance; to be extended to two months, if required. (4) Special business leave —28 days. (5) Special educational leave—2B days. (6) Patients in hospital will, if possible, bo given leave before embarkation, but if they are unable, cwing to their medical condition, to travel before required for embarkation, their relatives will be granted a free railway warrant to visit them in hospital. Any_ additional leuvo granted will be without pay. - " 27. Nominations for commissions ceased from the dato of signing of the armistice. 28. Substantive promotions will not be granted after demobilisation commences, except for cadets undergoing training for commissions, and promotions of 2nd-lieutenants to lieutenants after 18 months' servico. 29. i Men undergoing imprisonment will bo tho last to be repatriated. Where an amnesty has not been granted, the prisoner will bo returned to New Zealand under sentence. • . . 30. Transfers to British or--Indian Armies will be permitted during demobilisation. 31. New officers and other ranks serving in'the British Army will be repatriated at tlio expense of tho Imperial Government. 32. New Zealand etaff officers and w.o.'s, and n.0.0.'s of the New Zealand permanent staff will be returned to New Zealand'during the armistice to act as demobilisers in the Dominion, 33. Civilians who have been employed -in New Zealand institutions for more than 12 months, and who have been attested for csrvice with the N.Z.E.F. as V.A.D.'s or Now Zealand Red Cross workers, will be repatriated to Now Zealand, and will be required to do duty on the voyage. All other New Zealand women will be granted the concession of a passage to New Zealand at troop rat<». * 35. Bands will return as complete units. • 36. Horses in charge of the N.Z.E.F. in United Kingdom will be sold undor arrangements made by Headquarters, N.Z.E.F. -With the exception of a few special horses, being returned to ' Now Zealand for sentimental reasons, all the horses and mules in Prance and Egypt will be disposed of by the Imperial Authorities. 37. Guns, Vbhicles, and regimental equipment will be returned to Ordnance by units. Instructions re drawing new guns and equipment for tho Post Bellum , Army in New 'Zealand will be issued later.

38. Dogs from France or Egypt muet not bo embarked, aa they will not bo allowed to land in the Dominion under any circumstances. Dogs from England will be quarantined on arrival in Ucw Zealand for six months. 39. Prisoners of war will bo' given priority in repatriation. 40. Disabled soldiers requiring artificial limbs will be retained in the United Kingdom until satisfactorily fitted with duplicate limbs. 41. In order to proyide for the care, and transportation of horses, vehicles, and regimental equipment until such time as they are handed over to the various Army departments concerned, a number of specially selected officers and other ranks will be detailed in each unit to form No cadre "will be demobilised until the whole of the equipment, stores, etc., of the unit have been disposed of in accordance with "instructions. 42. Educational classes will bo formed in every unit, to provide facilities for all ranks to improve their education, and to help-them in their work after they leave the' Army. 43. Student 3 who have not completed their course of education on enlistment, and apprentices who have not completed their training will, if possible, be given facilities for further instruction during demobilisation, either in the N.Z.E.F. or at educational institutions and workshops in the United Kingdom. If suck facilities cannot be arranged, tha men concerned will be granted priority in demobilisation. U. Soldiers' wills returned to New Zealand and forwarded to the various testators on their discharge. 45. A Kegimcntal Assets Board will ' be formed in each regiment, to deal with questions concerning the disposal of regimental property. . „ _ 46. The N.Z.E.F. Canteen Trust Board will deal' with all accumulated profits of canteens, and administer them in the best interests of the troops during demobilisation. 47. A N.Z.E.F. Board for Disposal of Surplus' War Material has been formed, to deal with the disposal of all surplus war material on charge to the N.Z.E.F. in the United Kingdom, Franc©, and Egypt# 48. Officers and other ranks desiring to return to New Zealand via America, should forward applications to Headquarters, N.Z.E.F., which will be transmitted to New Zealand for approval. If approval is Riven they will be discharged from the N.Z.E.E., and to make their own arrangements for passage. 49. Two demobilisation groups will be formed in United Kingdom, viz. •—' A'' Group, Sling—for "A" category details. B Group, Codford—for low category personnel. Lowcategory personnel, other than hospital naticnts sent from Franc ® ?". sla ? d *° r evacuation, will bo accommodated at Codford while awaiting emb "kation. 50. An embarkation camp will be formed, both in France and in Egypt, where details will assemble previous to embarkation. Only "A" category personnel will embark from France.