THE RATE OF REINFORCEMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2540, 14 August 1915, Page 3

THE RATE OF REINFORCEMENTS.

_ Sir,—ln view of tie pending compilation of a National Register and in order to secure hearty public co-operation in the scheme, would it ho possible to; obtain,.per medium of your columns, some statement, however brief, from an authoritative source, to the effect that the completion of the register is'not likely to be followed by any Ministerial abandonment of the carefully-planned system of reinforcements recently submitted by the Hon. J. Allen, in . favour of that more ambitious though probably less feasible programme continually advooated by some enthusiasts, of sending a large army at the first possible moment? While all New Zealanders may be equally patriotic, there is considerable diversity of opinion a-s to the most effective method of aiding the Motherland. Some urge sending all availablo men as soon as practicable; others consider that a well-sustained, carefullyplanned effort in sending moderate wumbers of reinforcements will be in the. long run more effective—and this latter plan, be it remembered, of husbanding resources and gradually wearing down the enemy ha 3 so far been practised by the Allied commanders. " General Godloy voices, 1 believe, a widespread' uneasiness when he expresses the hope that the raising of new units will affect neither the quality nor the regularity of our reinforcement drafts. The. Hon. J. Allen sounds a furthor note of warning when lie says that we must look ahoad one or even two years. Without being pessimistic, it is safe to say that no one here can at present predict the duration of the war; it may be ©von more prolonged than Lord Kitoliener has led us to expect. Meantime I venture to suggest that much unnecessary apprehension may be allayed and a more settled, and hopeful feeling engendered in the public mind 1 if it bo widely known that our Government, wdiile listening to the promptings of valour, will not turn a deaf ear to those of its better part, discretion, and that the country will not be hurried by reckless enthusiasm into a gigantic effort, only to realise later that it has not materially hastened tho conclusion of the war, but has (in vulgar parlance) "bitten off more than it can chew."—l am, etc., HATAITAI. Wellington, August 12, 1915.