THE MAIN BODY

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 78, 26 December 1917, Page 7

THE MAIN BODY

Sir,—"Father of a Soldier" in your issue of December 22 has put the question which many who have Main Body hoys still at the front would like to have answered. Letters from these lads have during the past three years always been cheering --and hopeful, while those received by recent mails have a tone of utter depression, ehowing only too plainly that the lads aro ■utterly war-worn and weary, and consequently their fighting efficiency must be seriously deteriorating. There are men in the Main Body who have had only ten days furlough , since they loft New Zealand, while men of the late reinforcements r.re being given furlough in England before even they cross the Channel. Surely this is a grave injustice to the .men who have fought for over three years, and who would now give all they possess to bo. relieved from the awful strain. The question has been asked in a recent letter from a Main Body men; "Are the people of New Zealand going .to allow us to stay here till we are either killed or out of our minds?" We are told that the- Canadians and Austra* liane are to .have leave for their ■Srst divisions when they are sufficiently jeinforced. Why should this not apply to our handful of 1914 soldiers who nre over-reinforced by more than a. whole 'brigade? If it is a question of transport danger, why are picked men of later reinforcements being sent back for commissions, and why are the lives of hundreds of sick and wounded' sd'diers being risked at sea? Hoping 'that this subject will not be allowed to drop until the authorities have iedeemed their broken promise and our Main Body are on the way home,—l am, etc., A SISTER.