THE NEW ZEALAND DIVISION

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 98, 18 January 1918, Page 4

THE NEW ZEALAND DIVISION

SEPARATION FROM TFIE AUSTRALIANS. No offici.il explanation of the breaking up of the Anzac Army Corps, consisting of the New Zealand Division, and an Australian Division, is yet available. Mr. C. J. Parr. M.P., has written to the Minister of Defense asking if the relationship between tho Australian and the New Zealand forces is to be permanently severed, and if the charigc involves any alteration in the army command. These questions may not he answered fully for some timp. There appears to be no doubt that the disappearance of tho Anzac Corps was .due to the inability of the Australian command to maintain the fivo Australian Divisions at full strength. The shortage of reinforcements from Australia made it necessary to break up one division. The four remaining Australian Divisions form two army corps of two divisions each. The odd Australian Division having gone, tho New Zealanders were left alone, and it seems from the rccent statement or the Federal Minister for Defence that they have, been associated with a British Division in a new army corps.

The transfer does not necessarily involve nnv change of command as far as the New Zealanders are concerned. General Russell is still at tlie head or the New feiland Division, and the command of the army corps mav have remained unaltered ■when a British Division took the place of the fifth Australian Division.