CALL FOR MORE MEN

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 166, 3 April 1918, Page 6

CALL FOR MORE MEN

! STATEMENT BY DEFENCE MINISTER THE "B" CLASS SECOND DIVISION MEN MAI EE CALLED A LITTLE EARLIER By Telegraph.—Press A«sociation. ' Christohuroh, April 2. If New Zealand maintains its division at the front intact to tho end of the war it will have done.its duty to the full. 1 liave always said that, and Mr. Lloyd George knows it. Sir James Allen, Minister of Defence, made the above statement to a reporter to-day. Sir James Allen emphasised, however, tliat that did not imply any slackening of New Zealand's efforts. Oil the contrary it meant a big effort. He could not conceive of any casualty list that we could not replaco at the present had plenty of trained men fit to go into the firing line straight away. He pointed out that at the front it was only tho beginning of the summer, and casualties might possibly necessitate an increase in our. reinforcements. Possibly men of Class B of the Second Division might have to go into camp a little earlier than was anticipated when the new mobilisation arrangements were announced a few days ago; but he knew the Second Division men wero keen to do their duty when occasion demanded. Tho Defence Department would keep its bargain to give the Second Division men three months' liotico as far as possible.

. While discussing the matter the Minister said he had not received any information of casualties in the fighting of the last few days. He could not say definitely what would be done in the matter of reinforcements. New Zealand had always sent forward reinforcements at the rate the Army Council asked for, and had never failed in its obligations, with a result that was satisfactory in ordinary conditions. The present conditions might be extraordinary, and probably were. Though wo were in a position to meet ordinary cas--I'ialties it was possible that an increase in our quota might'be necessary as in other Dominions, but that would depond on the. Army Council's decision. In ■ renlv to another question Sir James Allen said he had never favoured the formation of the Fourth Brigade, and did not favour it now. PRIME MINISTER'S STATEMENT ARRANGEMENTS IN HAND. No statement as to the effect of tho call to New Zealand for more men, and of tho response which .it may be expected the New Zealand. Government will make to the urgent appeal, can yet be made by the Prime Minister. Before this can be. done Mr. Massey must consult his colleagues in the Cabinet, and most of the Ministers, including tho Finance Minister and the Minister of Defonce, are out of town. Mr. Massey did make the following comment on the situation yesterday:— ' "Matters connected with the movements of troops, for instance, cannot possibly bo made public. I can only say that arrangements to comply with the request of the British Prime Minister are in hand, and a reply to this effect has been transmitted to England. "I should like to remark, however, that the Government and tno Defence Department arc not unprepared for what has taken place, hut in doing what has become our obvious duty we expect, and I have no doubt we "shall receive, the support of both Parliament and people. "I am quite sure the public will understand it is now more urgent than over that the loan money asked for by the Finance Minister should be. forthcoining without delay or difficulty, and I feel confident that the response of the • citizens of the Dominion will bo adequate and expressive of the public sense of the gravity of the situation." THE EMPIRE'S NEED 'NEW ZEALAND AND THE NEW WAR LOAN. By Toleeraph—Press Association. Inverdargill, April 2. Interviewed this morning, Sir Joseph Ward said that on arrival here last night he received a telegram from Mr. Massey, conveying the one sent by the Prime Minister of England .making an appeal for additional reinforcements. Sir Joseph Ward said he was not taken by surprise at the request from Mr. Lloyd George in this great Empire emergency. Nothing could emphasise more clearly than the'message did theurgent necessity for the continued active co-operation of tho oversea Dominions with the Motherland in the hour of need, when it was absolutely essential to show a determined and united front. It had to be recognised ! that the effort of, the enemy at the j present time was colossal, and was be- \ ing carried out with a reckless disregard of life, with the idea of smashing through the Britisli and Allied front, and with the object of Germany placing itself in a position to lie able to dictate conditions of peace to suit itself. It was the first time 111 the history of the British Empire tlmt such an appeal had been made by. any English Prime i Minister, and it was unthinkable to tho men and women of this country that the warning should go unheeded. In providing troops, and in the quality of the men sent, New Zealand had up to the present done her duty nchTy, and he was convinced that the appeal for a still greater effort owing to the present crisis would be enthusiastically re- j sponded to. The gigantic operations, unparalleled in the history of the world, now taking place :in Europe should show the people here how important it was to provide the necessary finance to enable New Zealand to do her part. There should be 110 stronger incentive than the telegram of the British Prime Minister. Sir. Joseph Ward said he was looking to everybody, men of small means and men of large means, with the. greatest confidence to show the : snemy that, in addition to our men, our financial resources were available until ive attained that superiority . on the field that would give Great Britain , ind her Allies the _ right to dictate terms, and thus bring about the perpetuation of peace upon a solid basis ivhich would last for centuries to come. 1 On the other hand, if by any chance ■ ,ve failed to attain our well-recognised 1 objective, we would become slaves of ■ >rmany—a nation that had shown it- ; self baselessl.v cruel and heartless in all ts war methods. ] "Unity is strength." added Sir j Joseph, "and there has been no ' ;imo in the history of the British Em- \ >ire when it. was of such vital import- i nice to show unity in every direction." < SV.v Zealand troops at the front wero ! loing their part magnificently, and our j learts heat in union for their safety, j Plieir bravery and self-sacrifice in ae- | f lion, fighting for their freedom, was so { nspiriting that it filled us all with nd- j niration and buoyed us up with the f inowledge that thev were doinr; their ' f >art in the most titanic struggle that' r| lad yet taken placo for the freedom of ,he world. "Those of us who?remain." concluded !ir Joseph AVard. "living in comparaive comfort, will not hesitate to do c iverything in our power to support tho nen who havo gono to the inc." ° c