A NEW BRIGADE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3039, 28 March 1917, Page 6

A NEW BRIGADE

ADDITION TO THE N.Z.E.F,

USING THE AVAILABLE MEN A WAR OFFICE PROPOSAL ACCEPTED WITH CONDITIONS. A very important announcement regarding'the New Zealand Expeditionary' Force/was made by the Defence Minister (Sir James Allen) to a Dominion reporter yesterday. Some hint was mven a few days ago about the possible strengthening of the New Zealand Division at the front. Sir James Allen explained what has actually been done. ■ "The War Office was very anxious," said the Minister, "to utilise the New Zealand Division, and as many other New Zealand troops as wero available for the big push in the summer campaign, and they asked us to allow them to put the accumulated Reinforcements in England into a brigade. We agreed to the proposal on the understanding that the new brigade was to be attached to the New Zealand Division,' and not used elsewhere, and that no additional Reinforcements more than we are now sending should bo forwarded from here. Owing •to the casualties being light in the period of partial inactivity during the winter, there were considerable accumulations of Reinforcements in England and in France. Wo are not touching the Reinforcements in. France .to make up this new brigade. It is being; made irp entirely of men available in England. This brigade will remain in the division, and will be available to reinforce tho division should it fall below strength,'?