THE REINFORCEMENTS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2919, 3 November 1916, Page 8

THE REINFORCEMENTS

k EXTENT OP DOMINION'S LIABILITY OVER 2,000 MEN MONTHLY

"Am I riglit, in thinking we send; away 2500 men every tyro months?" asks a correspondent, who proceeds to arguo that if 20,000 fit men available for service can be found in the First Division of the Expeditionary Force Reserve, the supply should suffice for sixteen months to come. There would then be no need to call upon married inen under the compulsory clauses of tho Military Service Act before the beginning of -1918. The position appears to be misunderstood by some people who have not noticed the successivo increases in New Zealand's commitments for the supply of reinforcements. The original Expeditionary Force, known as the Main Body, contained only 7761 men, and the Defence Department's undertaking waa to maintain that body at full strength for the period of'tbe war. A monthly reinforcement draft of about 1100 men appeared ample for that purpose. But the Main Body, on which the rate of reinforcement is calculated, has grown by stages. The Rifle Brigade and other additional units were formed, and at' the close of the Gallipoli campaign New Zealand was supplying reinforcements on about 14,000 men.

Before the New Zealanciers moved to France the nominal strength of the Expeditionary Forco was increased substantially. Accumulated reinforcements were used, to create a third infantry brigade, and the New Zealand Division was formed. The division contains rather more than 20,000 men, and tho Dominion has undertaken to keep it at full strength for 'tho period of the war. Then there is the Now Zealand Mounted Rifle Brigade, distiiict from the division, and there are also certain other units, bringing tho present nominal strength of the New Zealand forces in the field to about 22,000 men. The actual rate of reinforcement, calculated on a percentago basis, is lower than it was in the early stages of the war, but the nominal-strength of each fourweekly reinforcement draft is close upon 2200 men. The recent announcement that artillery and arniy servico reinforcements are not required for a few months has reduced tho actual strength of the drafts.

The number of men sent out of New Zealand for all forces since the outbreak of war is between 59,000 and 60,000. This total, of course, does not include tho men at present in tho training camps in various stages of their preparation for service. Between 5000 and 6000 men have been invalided back to New Zealand. Tho figures indicate that substantial bodies of New Zealand . troops aro in reservo outsido tho Dominion.