DEMOBILISATION

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 101, 23 January 1919, Page 5

DEMOBILISATION

WAR OVER FOR AUSTRALIANS AND

NEW ZEALANDERS

FORCES MOVING TO THE

COAST

FACTORS GOVERNING REPATRIATION

By Teiegrapli-Press Association-Copyright

London, January 18,

The news of the decision' that the" war is over for the Australians and , New Zealanders, whatever , may occur, has been received with the utmost satisfaction. The Corps is still stationed in the Charleroi and Dinant districts. Most of the men are comfortably billeted in towns and villages; and even the privates , have the luxury of a bed, which is , indeed a; luxury after their strenuous campaigning, and constant movement. , The soldiers. find the people extremely hospitable, :n. contrast with- others in various- places in France and Belgium, where the tendency was to exploit the: soldiers-. 'Jjhe Belgian people, just released, from, theHun invasion, greeted the Australians: with the greatest cordiality. Australians are frequently seen Taking a: Belgian family, father, mother,, and! children, to the local militaTy kinenia show

The New Zealand Division remains in the neighbourhood of Cologne,.'hut theMaori battalion has been reassembling-: at Dunkirk, with a view to , repatriation; in a body. - *

It' is likely that the- Niew Zealand'ers, will shortly move t<s the' coast,. nearHavre, with a view to , facilitating: the process' of demobilisation , .'' Tlla French railways are congested, but through, trains, composed of ambulance- cars;, rlow converted into sleepers* are-, running from Germany to' the , , coast in order to bring- Out all the remaining. 1915 Australians, numbering. 12,000. It has been arranged that 1000' men will' cross the Channel from Havre to Weymoiith evtiry, three clays-, being replaced, by the latest reiriforc'enients , . It has been decided that all the Australians will embark for home fronv aii English port, During December 13,5001 men departed,in fifteen" steamers; and , eight, steamers have sailed in ,lainisry,,carrying 6500 men. The total shipped is now 20,00tJ,- and the depavrares .iveragff: 500 a day.

An official circular to the troops explains that three factors govern' repatriation—length of. service;, whether a man is married or Single,, and) whether he has employment waiting for him. i» Australia, 'there- are 70,000 ; 'Aiißtar liaris who enlisted' in 1916, ;vnd : 30,000 who enlisted in 1917 V and 15.000 who eillisWd iii 1918. Special cases are being considered on common-sense' lines, inany whose , nffarrs justify tlieir. early return being .iiidude.fl in- lloute shortly, to sail. Tlie sc'lienie'of general deraobr iligation will soon he in full swing;, wheil.eacll division -will send away 1000 men every ten or twelve days. ■• ■

There is some dissatisfaction among nurses and dtetors regarding; their reliatria.tioii, but it will be smoothed out wlieii all ctfiWemed thoro'ighlv iind'ei:staiid the scheme. Three-great Australian -hospitals, at -Boulogne,. Abheville r and Roiien, and tile New Zealand hospitals at Bi'ockenhurst and Walton-on-Thhmes will slioitly he closed I .—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn.