THE FOURTH BRIGADE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 33, 2 November 1917, Page 4

THE FOURTH BRIGADE

LETTER FROM GENERAL GODLEY. Extracts from a letter from General Sir Alexander Godley to Brigadier-General Sir Alfred Robin, dated August 2li, 1917, were read in the House of Representatives yesterday by the Defence Minister. The extracts are as under:— "l r ou need not be in the least anxious about the 4th Brigade. We all thorough,ly realise that if there is the slightest ehortago of reinforcements that it will be at onco broken up and utilised to keep up tho division proper. But I hope it may bo possible to keep all lour going, aud as long as wo can wo shall do bo, as it is a great convenience to have an extra brigade, which can be out of the line resting and acting as a relief brigade for the othor three. And it is so much better for tho officers and men to be in a proper organisation too, instead of simply at tho Reserve Group at Sling or the depot at Staples. At the present time tho division is just going out of the line for a bit of rest and training, and I am glad to say I am going out also, and it will bo for the first time since tho beginning i of the war that I will be able to get a little iest out of the front lino, for which I shall not be sorry. I propose to let Russell have tho 4th Brigade temporarily, as one of tho three of the division, and keep the Rifle Brigade in rest and ready to relieve on© of the others if required. The strain on. a brigadier is very great at tho front, as you will be able to realise from your experience. Ho has all the responsibilities of higher command, and, at the same time, the physical work and fatigue of having to be continually in tho trenches, ana between the two I think that a brigadier has the "hardest time of anybody, and is moro likely to break down than anybody else. _ ''the division took La Basse-Yule in great 6tyle, and, in a smaller way, it was just as good as the taking of Mes. ""You are indeed having difficulties about the transports and reinforcements, but I think are doing us splendidly, and I have nothing but admiration and appreciation for the way in which you have helped us/'