DWINDLING RAPIDLY

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 144, 13 March 1919, Page 4

DWINDLING RAPIDLY

NEAT ZEALAND'S DIVISION IN GERMANY. (Special Dispatch from the Official War Correspondent with the N.Z.E.F.) France, March 4. Demobilisation proceeds apace. _ The disbandment of the following -units has ljeen completed First, Second, and Third Brigade Headquarters; Divisional Ammunition Column; Brigade Ammunition Column; Nos. 2 and 3 Field Companies; Nos. 1 and 3 Divisional Train; Nos. 1 and 3 Field Ambulance; Mobile Veterinary Section; Nos. 1, 2, and 3 light Trench Mortar Batteries; Artillery Brigade, Signal Sections.

The following are the units now remaining:—Divisional Headquarters; Signal Company; Headquarters Engineers; No. 1 Field Company; Headquarters Divisional Train; Headquarters Company and No. 2 Company, Divisional Train; No. '2 Field Ambulance; one company of Mnchinc-Gun Battalion; North.lsland Battnlion (Lieut.-Colonel Turnbull); South Island Battalion (Lieut.-Colonel Stitt); Eifle Brigade' Battalion (Lieut.Colonel Jardine); Artillery Cadets. ■ {Two hundred of the artillery remaining are at Teutz, opposite Cologne, and the rest of the Division is now concentrated at Mulheim, a few miles farther north. All are comfortably quartered, mostly in German houses.

All tho animals, excepting a few awaiting shipment to New Z«v'nnd, .have been disposed of. Three thousand were sent to Dieppe and Rouen for shipment tp England; 200 were evacuated sick, and 350 were ltillfed locally for meat. Permiasion was obtained for the men accompanying the animals to the base to be demobilised there, by which means GOO of all ranks were cleared. Practically all vehicles, harness, saddlery, and ordnance equipinont have already been handed in in good order. To-day another draft heads for home, reducing the strength below 3000. The remaining artillery will leave on March IS, and the draft on March 25 should see us practically all clear from Germany. The Artillery and "Ride Brigade Bands are .chill with us. the i Uiers having been dispatched. Demobilisation from this end Ims proceeded smoothly, and the conduct of the troops during the occupation of Gorman territory has been good. There have been very few complaints, and these were not of a serious nature. Most of the equipment purchased in England for the recreational scheme has been disposed of; the remainder will bo purchased by the Y.M.C.A. The soda-water plant and other oddments have been sold. The historic printing-press, which he.s much excellent work both in the battle zone and in Germany, will bo retained for the War Museum.