NEW ZEALANDERS.
T.ET'nER FROM GENERAL GODLEY.
WELLINGTON November 1. The following extract from a letter from General Sir A. J, Godlev to Brigadier-General Sir Alfred Robin dated August 26 was read in the House to-day by the Minister of Defence: “You need not be in the least anxious about the 4th. Brigade. We all thoroughly realise that if there is the slightest shortage of reinforcements that it will he at once broken.,up and utilised to keen mp the division proper but I hope it may bo possible to keep all four going, and as long as we can we shall do so as it is a great convenience to have an extra brigade which can bo out of the line resting and acting as a relief brigade for the other three, and it -is so much better for the officers and men to be in a proper organisation too, instead of « simply at the reserve group at Sling | or in the depot at Etaples. “At the present time the division is just going out of the line for a bit of a rest and training and I am glad to say that lam going out also, and it will be for the first time since the beginning of the war that I will he able to get a little rest out of the front line, for which I shall not be sorry. I propose .to let General Russell have the Fourth Brigade temporarily as one of the three of the division, and to keep the Rifle Brigade' in rest, and ready to relieve .one of the others if required. The strain on a brigadier is very great at the front, as you will he able to realise from your war experience. Ho has all the responsibility of the Higher Command, and at the same time the physical work and fatigue of having to he continually in the trenches and between the two, I think the brigadier has the hardest time of anybody, and is more likely to break down than anybody else. The division took La Basse Ville in great style, and in a smaller way it was just as good as the taking of Messines. You are indeed having difficulties about the transports and, reinforcements, but I think you are filing splendidly, and I have nothing but admiration (and appreciation for ,the way in which you have helped us. I ■
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Hokitika Guardian, 6 November 1917, Page 3
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401NEW ZEALANDERS. Hokitika Guardian, 6 November 1917, Page 3
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