DEMOBILISATION

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 45, 18 November 1918, Page 7

DEMOBILISATION

DETAILS W& ARRANGED

ORGANISATION IN NEW

ZEALAND

The Minister of Defence (Sir James '.Allen) will shortly wake a statement in the House of Representatives .regarding the Government's plans for the repatriation and demobilisation of the New Zeajland Army. Iji , the ■meantime details 'are being considered, and sonic, preliminary measures are-being taken, .experienced records officers are to be sent to England as quickly as possible in order that they may do necessary record work on the voyages of the transports to ±s'ew Zealand.

A few New Zealanders, drawn from the forces in Palestine, are going or have pone to the Dardanelles to assist.in tho occupation of the Turkish forts there. But it is .not expected that any largo share of garrison work ivill fall to the New Zealand troops, whose repatriation will begin at IJio earliest possible mo-' luent. Great Britain will have all the men needed for .garrison duty since her demobilisation necessarily will take , longer than New Zealand's demobilisation. - .

It is not known yet how Ion? the' New Zealand pivision will be required to stfy with, the Allied av;niw. Th<v division' iientitled to a share of the work that lies immediately ahead, in the occupation of the. territory that thfe Germans, in fulfilment of the armistice.conditions, must evacuate,. and it may remniu in Europe, lintil the pence treaty is signed. If that is the case, the division is likely to rest for a while in German territory. Bnt in the meantime the repatriation of New Zealand troops not embodied in the divjeinn can' begin. . I. Generally, speaking, , the' sick and wounded men will conn , Ijfick'-.to New Zealaml first.\ They will include men who, if the war , had continued.'would Jiayp been restored to health in the hospitals nnd eventually.sent bock to the line. It must be. understood, iii tlij; connection, that some of the wounded nien, particularly the men wlm have list, limbs, may renuirc to be held in Britain for a certain tinip.in order that thev may receive Hie highly socialised treatment and ihstruction that .is available ti">re. ■■■

Tmdealine with the fit men, w'>o l'annily form the grent mnjorih - of t'>e New Zealand soldiers Hill ]'"> Defonnn authorities prnnose to lit'iitt HiPiii/back in like the order of their ?,6inp. That is'to.sa.y, the m<>n ivho Itave had the longest, service.will ..come first. Tt will vot ho. possible tn lav <'o\vn hard and fast rifle', since convp'nence 'of transport and deliiik of oreniii«nHonivill nw-pssarily count tn'some extent.

'.T'ie demobilisation ceh<>me. which is rn'be placed before Parliament durin? the. s»«sin",' provide s ; f«r the ''■.rontioi' l of an extensive <ir.?'nnisat'6n. Tt. ha? been ah'p-u ,, ' that there is to lie sv Council ot Keifilrintioni' "oiHstino; -of' flip jr>nifl«" of'De'fonce.'Sit-'-TmnM .*'- ■|"nV flrn'Mmisfpr nf Lai)d=.'(Fon.Ti. P"Hiri«l. t'ie MinMor n f Agric-nll'*-W. p. «: ai"l t' ; e . "inist*i- of .Education• PTpi): -T. 'A. Fa'-MiV ..I'Wi is. .ilso t» V n T)iref , "or nf Itnpctrintion. lv-lio will We .i"U "i tl , * vi>":'miß Tlipechpvie. nrnvide? /nr tlie .ostnMishment nf- . <li=tviet committee. v.-hi«h-nr,> pxnected to Jin r'mrpsP n tativp of varin.'is inte"*stn,. i'le'ii'lin? the flip v-orkers.. nnd Hip former?.. Tollow-insC f>6 lines-of tV British ■'clip'iie, the Government will arrnnoe for the p«v-. i>ient- nf i"i»mi)l'n-nient »r!tpts to v'h'. rlmrijed so'diers if .*ii or'cur , ' brIwpnn discliprrift aiid pinnl6.vn in i>t. Tt ii niiderstnnrl that nrnrision -wil' b'o made for assisting "men to restore businesses.-