THE REINFORCEMENTS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 29, 29 October 1918, Page 4

THE REINFORCEMENTS

NO SLACKENING OF EFFORT.

The recent announcement that the mobilisation of men already posted to reinforcement drafts was to be set back one month seems lo have been interpreted in some quarters as an indication, that Hie turn of the tide of war had' Blackened the demnnd for reinforcements. The postponement was made possible by the fiict (lint Ihe number of men in the training camps iras in excess of immediate requirements, but it docs not follow that all the Class C men, and perhaps the Class D men aiso, will not bo required to"mobilise in their turns. , It wns stated officially recently that the casualties of the New Zealand Division in two months' fighting (August 23 (6 October 21) had numbered G9OO. Since then the Division has been engaged again in attacking and capturing important German positions. The cablegrams have indicated that the Allied High Command does not intend to stay its offensive during the winter months. This may mean more heavy fighting for the New Zealand Division during Ihe months immediately ahead.

The r New Zealand reserves were large at the commencement of the Allied offen* sive. and they sire still substantial; but if fightjng continues ior -the next six months on the present scale there will be need for the reinforcements that ar» within reach. Men who already, been posted to drafts certainly ought not to oount upon any further postponement of mobilisation.