THE NEW ZEALAND DIVISION

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 109, 1 February 1919, Page 7

THE NEW ZEALAND DIVISION

END OF IT§* "WATCH ON THE RHINE", \ DEMOBILISATION PROCEEDING! STEADILY (From N.Z. Official War Correspondent.) London, January "28. , Demobilisation of. tho division has been proceeding, steadily from Germany; 3500 have already left, and in about nine weeks, if all goes well.' the New Zealandors' "watch oil tho Rhino" will havo elided. As demobilisation '' progresses "units .ire reorganised and amalgamated. Infuntrv reinforcements nre being gradually reduced by a.process .of amalgamation that will preserve their identity, till finally thero willbbian amalgamation of those remaining in tho Auckland and Wellington units to form a North Island Battalion, and those in Canterbury and Otago to form a South Island Battalion. Similarly the Jiiile Brigade is being reduced to one battalion. Other units are being dispersed by process "of lion and amalgamation. The Maori Battalion, which was demobilised as a unit, is already en route to Zealand. In tho Divisional Artillery the batteries are being gradually reduced. The light trench-mortar batteries are being disbanded. and the medium trench-mortar batteries have been absorbed in the D.A.C. Horses and vehicles aro being disposed of here. Equipment for tho New Zealand P<fct Bellum Defence Forces, including field guns, trench-mor-tars, and machine-guns, will eventually be sent to New Zealand, but in view of present shipping scarcity, this will taka a considerable time. Demobilisation is being carried out 011 the basis of ."length of service. Officers and others desiring it can obtain their discharge in England, lour pierrots companies and' thirteen bands are being demobilised as units, special arrangements being made for the custody of tho valuable sets of instruments that have been acquired. A Canteen Board has been formed in tho Expeditionary Force to deal with the accumulated profits, which are considerable, in the interests of the troops generally during, demobilisation, or to be held 011 account of particular units. Demobilisation will most probably continue to bo from English ports, a fortnight's leave being granted before departure. Evacuation of the camps and hospitals in England has already commenced. The Field Artillery Depot at Ewshott, the 'Signal Depot at Stevenage, the hospitals at Sidcup, the Engineers' Depot at Boscombo havo already been evacuated. Approximate dates for the evacuation of others are:—Machine-gun Depot, Grantham, January 29; Brockenhurst Hospital, January HI;. Riflo Depot, Brockton, February 4; Convalescent Hospital, Hornchurch, February 25; Auxiliary and General Hospital and Motor Transport Section, Oatiaiids, February -25; G Group, Torquay, March 11; Officers' Convalescent Hospital, Brighton, MaVch 18; Nurses' Home, Brighton, March 25; B Group, Codford, April 2; Hospital, Codford, April 9; Hospital, Walton, and A Group, Sling, June 1; London, August; Motor Transport Department, Weybridge, August. ■ These dates will depend largely on the amount of Shipping allocated for demobilisation, and might Ire detrimentally affected by the strikes of coal miners or transport workers in Great Britain. In the final stages Codford will be a receiving depot, Sling a reorganising depot, and. Torquay a discharge depot. Various officers havo been selected to proceed to New Zealand in connection with the demobilisation there.