THE EMPIRE'S CALL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2591, 13 October 1915, Page 6

THE EMPIRE'S CALL

FOR MORE MEN

INCREASED REINFORCEMENTS

TO SAIL EVERY MONTH

THE RESTRICTIONS RELAXED

STATEMENT BY Dl

A most'important statement concerning the raising of our Expeditionary Force and for regular drafts of reinforcements was made by the Hon. J. Allen (Minister of Defence) in the House last night. The Hon. J. Allen said lie had promised to make a statement regarding the forces that had gone away before the Hcuso adjourned, aud ho proposed to make it now. Perhaps it was well, that ho should let the House know the number of men that had been sent away, all fully equipped. The total number that had sailed to date was approximately 28,000. In about 1 ten days' time the number that would have been called up, which would iiicludo those scut away and those in camp, would be 38,000 men. There were a few other numbers which ho proposed to give whicli ho thought would bo of interest to hon. members. Wo had sent away also 187 fully trained registered nurses. In addition to those there were 6onie other nurses who had "one Home on their own initiative, and the New Zealand Government was still trying to have these embodied in the New Zealand Army Nursing Service. In addition, wo had sent away 1.029 medical officers and field ambulance men, and in February wo had to send 130 more, making a total of 1159 medical officers and ambulance. Of medical officers, 95 had sailed and 7 would go in February, making a total of 102. We had also sent special postal units to the number of 20. '

Our Increased Main Body. He would like to call attention to tho fact that although tl)o\ main body sent away from New Zealand only amounted to some 7800 men, the Dominion had added' to this force to date other units which made the main body, in which we should send reinforcements, just up to 14,200 men. In this he included the two extra battalions of the Now Zealand Rifle Brigade. He regretted to announce, that the casualties to September 27 wero:—Killed, 1(117 officers and men; died of wounds, 451 j died of disease, 102; making a total of 1630; missing, G3B; prisoners, of war, 20; wounded, 4327.. Tho total casualties, therefore, amounted to 7145. Of this number thero would be returned to New Zealand by tho end of this mouth somewhere about. 2000 sick and wounded, leaving therefore something liko 2357 men in hospital in England, Egypt, or Malta. A Call for More. Honourable members would realise that it was a fairly largo task for this country to keep up reinforcements on a Main Body of something over 14,000 men, but he did not think that the country would shirk that responsibility, and he was pleased to be able to say that although tho nowspapors reported a shortage in Wellington on account of the quota of one of. the units to go into camp this month, tho shortage was mora apparent than real. 1 There was an explanation for it, and ho could assure members that there were quite sufficient men to make up tho numbers, which would amount to about 6000 men altogether. Honourable members would remember that the porceaitage of vcinforcemcnts per month had been varied from time to time, in accordanco with the dcairo of the Army Council. At the very outset the Government of New Zealand intimated to the Army Council that they desired that .the Army Council should never hesitate to call upon this country for whatever the Council really felt was needed. Recent communications from tho Army Council 110 thought that ho should communicate to the House, because they wero now calling upon tho Dominion, or they would call upon it in 1916, for a higher percentage of reinforcements. Tho Callant Fifths. He would place 011 record some of the correspondence. Oil September 21 a telegram liad been rccoived from the Army Council, as follows:— "Tho New Zealand Government have from tho outset been of opinion that their Reinforcements should bo efficiently trained before leaving tho Dominion. They have been- confirmed in this policy by reports received from Egypt and from tho Dardanelles."

EFENCE MINISTER

"It is fully realised hore how greatly unexpected demands interfere with your arrangements and increaso your difficulties. Every effort- will be made to avoid their recurrence, or at any rate to give the earliest possible notice., The news that the New Zealand Government is arranging to oxpedite the dispatch of Eighth and Ninth Rein-, forcements and to accelerate departure of subsequent Reinforcements is most welcome."

Mr. Allen said ho would pause here to let hon. members know what had been tho practical result of the training as illustrated by tho . Fifth Reinforcements. Hon. members would recollect what tho Fifth had been like when they left New Zealand. "The Dominion had beon very proud of them then, and had still more reason to bo proud of them how. He read the following cxtract from a letter from General Godley:—

"Tho last lot of Reinforcements (the Fifth) arrived wliilo the fight actually was in progress, and Colonel Johnston tells mo that as they arrived to join the Brigade they were at onco dispatched to capture a Turkish tronch, which they did most gallantly and without the slightest hesitation, and hold it to tho end of tfie battle.

They wero Auckland mon."

Mr. Allen said he had read the letter because ho wished mombers to know what the effect of the New Zealand training had been. The Government had been confirmed in its policy by reports received from Eg.ypt and from tho Dardanelles. He would give instances of recognition of the value of the training of the New Zealand troops by very high' authorities in the Motherland, but he did not think tliis was necessary. Hon. members would take his word for it that tho country had every reason to bo satisfied with the work of the training staff and of tho men.

Accelerating Reinforcements. The Minister proceeded with tho telegram to the Army Council as follows: "The New Zealand Government would therefore be glad if the Army Council would give thorn as much notice as possible in order that tlie.y may adhere to this policy. In order, however, to meet tho present emergency the New Zealand Government are making arrangements to dispatch tho Eighth Reinforcements in November instead of December, and the Ninth Reinforcements in January instead of in February. These two reinforcements will receive twelve and thirteon weeks' training respectively. Subsequent leinforcemonts will go through the full eighteen weeks' course of training, but their departure will be accalauted hx. fix weeka."-

Married mon of military age, 79,000, Widowers, 1546.

Mr. Allen added that although tho troops were receiving only twelvo or thirteen weeks' training here, they would get additional training if it should bo necessary in Egypt. He hoped thai the training might be so effective that even with this shorter . period tho troops would be in condition to go to the front. Higher Percentages. A further telegram from the Army Council was as follows:— "lan Hamilton and General Birdwood have considered tho question of reinforcements likely to bo required in 1916 to replace wastage, and we recommend following monthly in advance; infantry, mounted rifles, artillery (gunners only), engineers, 20 per cent, of 1 units, 7 per cent, remainder. This is calculated to meet normal requirements inly. To ensure that exceptional demands are supplied without drawing 011 partially-train-ed men it would be necessary to keep a further reserve of ten per cent, -to meet special emergencies. Had it not been for tho generous offer of the Now Zealand Government to consider tho quostion we should have hesitated to put forward a request for so largo an increase. We shall bo extremely grateful for whatever tho New Zealand Government is in a position to do towards meeting our requirements."

Tho Army Council cabled on another date:

The Minister said that he knew members and the country would not hesitato to meet these responsibilities, because they would feel, as they all felt, that the men of the country would respond. Mumbers_ would assist the National Government'in giving effect to the .desires of the Imperial authorities.. .

Cabinet had considered' tho question of the increaso from 15 to 20 per cent, in the rate of reinforcements, and had agreed to ask the country to provide this increase. With respect to the ten per cent, special further reserve, that also had been under consideration, but, 110 definite conclusion had been arrived at. He had 110 doubt that the Dominion would be able to make arrangements to provide the whole of this special reserve, as it would rather add to tho efficiency of our training than otherwise. It would not mean many extra men going, probably only about one thousand under the proposals now being considered. The Men Available. Before coming to the-conclusion, it was the Government's duty to ascertain what men were available. He wished to place bofore the House the figures disclosed by the census of 1911. The number of men who might be available, the men between the ages of 20 and 40 years, were approximately as follow:— Unmarried men, including divorced men, 112j000.

A total of 193,254 men of military age. It might bo oxpected' that out of this number of men the Dominion ought to bo able to supply the additional numbor to, be required during the next twelve months. They all hoped that the war would oome to an end before that time. But the Government thought that the time had come .when the regulations as to physical fitness should be altered, and it was proposed to reduce the height from sft. 4in. to oft. 2in., and to increase the maximum age from 40 yards to 45 years. Ho had come ■to the conclusion, and so had the Staff, who had been in close touch with him and with the Cabinet, that New Zealand could say "yes" to the Army Council's request. It was a large order, but the task the Empire had 011 hand was a big one, and the magnitude of it was realised by the Parliament and tho country. Help with Recruiting. It ionly remained for him to ask honourable members to assist the Government when they went to their homes in the matter of recruiting. He hoped that .every member of Parliament would get into touch with the recruiting agencies already existing in his own district, and would assist those recruitiii"committees to the best of his ability" realising that the country owed a duty to itself at this time, and that the Dominion owed a duty to the Empire. The Best System.

Tho Minister asked the House to accept tho aesuranco he gave with regard to the Dominion's system of recruiting. .Thero had beon some questions raised about the method of enlisting men and bringing them into camp. He had not had his ears shut to what had been stated—that there wero men who gave tip their work, although tQie Government told them to remain in their work after they were registered until they wero called up. There were others who had asked that the Defence Department should bring the men into a training camp immediately they registered. lie wished to repeat that the Defence Department had considered the w'holo question, and had como to the conclusion that the policy followed up to the present, which had been so successful, should bo continued. What tho Government desired was that all differences of opinion should bo put aside, and lie wished honourable members to take his assurance that ' the policy of tho past was the right policy for the future. If men were brought into camp individually, the country could not have tho same degree of organisation and thorough training as it had to-day, when men were brought into camp every two months and started on a definite scheme of training. This schenio had been carried out, and he thought carried out with great iiuccees, Ho hoped demands for subsidiary carnm in

local districts into which men could bo brought immediately after enlistment would not bo pressed, because there was not sufficient stall' for training thorn. The Minister omphasiscd tho import l anco to tho coujjtry of men remaining at work until called up. Drafts Every Month. Tho alteration agreed to by Cabinet involved considerable changes in tho method of bringing men, into camp. Ho had already informed tho llouso that tho Dominion would have a maximum of 10,000 men in camp at tho 0110 time. Under tho now proposals there would be 12,0 j.J men in cam/i. The alterations which wero proposed with regal d to (.raining would tlo away with a great deal of tho difficulty of men giving up work notwithstanding their instructions. What tho Staff proposed to do now was to 6eud Reinforcements away every mouth. Men would be brought into camp every month, and men would be sent away every month. It was pioycsed to bring into camp in the present mcr,th 6000 men, in November 3cDO n.e.11.. if the proposal for tho reserve was agreed to, 111 December SSOO nien, arid in every month during the roxt j;ear 2oOJ men. It would bo possible to i ir (vide transports for those men. No Compulsion Yet. ,In cajling up men it would bo the Government's endeavour to see that men were not taken from industries which wore providing for tho needs of men at tho front —from the woollen mills and boot factories, for instance. Ho believed the Dominion could get the men by the will of the people, without any power or force of legislation. If tho peoplo throughout tho country realised how much was asked of them they would respond to tho call. Wore that not so, then, as 110 had publicly stated, and as tho Prime Minister had stated, the National Government would not hesitate to take the further, step which 110110 of them would wish to take, tho step towards compulsion. "I do not think that will be necessary," added the Minister. "I think that wo can get' these men by appeal to the patriotism of tho public. We appeal to tho men of military age, and especially the unmarried men, who ought to respond first, to come forward in tho service of tiio country and of the Empire, and of tho freedom that wo all cherish." Patriotic Members. Following Mr. Allen's statement, tho Prime Minister (the Hon. W'. F. Massov) moved that the Houso should convey to Messrs. T. E. Y. Seddon and W. Downie Stewart a recognition of their patriotic action in joining the New Zealand Expeditionary Forccs. He said that they should also remember ox-members. Thero was Mr. Bell, jun., who was now servng on tho Western front, and Dr. Rangihiroa, who was with tho Maoris at Gallipoli. There was also Dr. Collins, of the Legislative Council.' . Many other members would like to go to the front, but could not do so, but they had sent sons and relatives. Coming back to tho members, he was sure Mr. Stewart and Mr. Seddon would do honour to themselves and to their country.

The Right Hon. Sir Joseph Ward supported the remarks, of the Prime Minister. It filled them with admiration when they realised that two soils of two former members were shortly to loavo to fight for the Empiro. Ono could not speak of Mr. Seddon without remembering his father, who had done so much for the Dominion. It was a great credit to Mr. Seddon to find that ho was willing to give up overything to go out to fight for that freedom that they were sure would eventually come, and which they wero anxiously hoping for. Mr. Downie Stewart, was following the footsteps of his father in the Houso of Representatives, and on the very threshold ho put his career aside to go out and fight for the Empiro. Ho (Sir Joseph Ward) appreciated what they were sacrificing. He hoped that they would live to como back to this country safe and sound. "A Chord of Sympathy." Referring to the statement by the Minister of Defence, ho said that it would strike a cliord of sympathy throughout Now Zealand. He endorsed what tho Minister had said as to. the system of registering and training to ensure a regular system of men going out from this country. Everybody who saw tho body of men on Saturday realised that they had been well trained to fight. He was saying what ho did to prevent any disagreement in any section about the method of training and recruiting. -At first he was in some doubt and thought that perhaps camps in the four centres would be desirablo for the earlier training.' Ho was now satisfied that tho most effective and best-way in the interests of the sons of tho fathers and mothers of New Zealand was the prosent policy. It would be a mistake to start a new method of training, and he endorsed what the Minister had said. He hoped they would stand unitedly together to givo assistance to the Defence Department. Completed the CiroFs. The Hon. Sir James Carroll said that the speeches showed to the outsido world that even from the Legislature there were those fitted to servo the Empire. It would also mean that as they were recruiting from ovory scction a help would bo given when it was known that even in the Legislature those fitted wero willing to make the sacrifice. It completed tho circle, and showed thero was no break. We wore doing our best to assist the Motherland in this great and terrible war. Tho motion was carried. Troops' Splendid Conduct. Mr. Massey also moved: "This House heartily congratu- 1 lates the military forces of tho ■ Dominion upon the splendid couduot and bravery displayed by tho New Zealand troops in tho operation's at the Dardanelles, and expresses a deep senso of appreciation of thoir gallant and'soldierly qualities."

He said that -when wo sent our troGps away wo felt confident they would do well, but what they had done had exceeded all expectations. Their bravery and heroism had excited the admiration of every section, of the Empire, both military and civil. His Maiestv the King had . cabled to th© Governor heartily congratulating Mm upon the splendid conduct and bravery displayed by the New Zealand troops, and the Secretary of State and- tho First Lord of the Admiralty, as well as Sir lan Hamilton, had also, sent highly complimentary messages. The call had come, continued Mt. Massoy, and up to the present the response had been magnificent from this country. Soon after the war Lord Plunket had asked what we could do. Ho replied that we could send 25,000 men, but wo had already sent 28,000 men, with more to follow. We had many more of the same stock, and just as good a stamp as thoso who had gone. There was not a man who could have seen those men swinging through the streets oil Saturday without having his heart stirred. Their system of training in, Now Zealand had been endorsed liy Lord Kitchener. Members would bo returning to their constituents in a few days; again tho call of the Empire had come for more men, and ho hoped every member of tho House would do his best in the capacity of a recruiting agent, and in support of the present system. Wo wero llvintr in strenuous timos, and although lie did not like to boast ho said that what had happened in this country during the past few months had mado life worth living ' Traditions of the Past. Sir Joseph Ward said that in every instance when our men had been put In tho tost tlioy had brought down to tbosa .traditions of our forefathers.

Mr. Massoy: I will amend tho motion accordingly.

Ho folt deeply for thoso who hod lost their eons. Tho tributo from tho King and other distinguished heads of the Empire showod that they appreciated what hnd been dono.

Mr. T. M. Wilford suggested that tho motion should he mado to apply to nil our troops oil whatever front they wore.

Mr. Wilford said that the fact that wo had sent 28,000 of our best and bravest was evidence that Now Zealand had responded to tho call mado. No ono could say when tho call would ceaso. Deep down in tho minds of all was tho idoa. that they woro assisting tho fairest Empire in tho history of the world. Our foe had broken ovory treaty, and the breaches of faith must have tolling effect when tho end came.

Tho motions wero carried, ' and all members rose and sang the National Anthem.

In the Legislative Council a similar motion expressing gratitude to tho troops was carried without debate and a motion of recognition for tho patriotism shown by tho Hon. Dr. Collins in joining tho Expeditionary Forces was also carried.