FIRST DIVISION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1679, 27 February 1917, Page 4

FIRST DIVISION.

STILL 00,000 LEFT. ENOUGH FOR SIX MORE DRAFTS. POSITION OF SECOND DIVISION A good deal of interest is being evinced as to the probable date of the exhaustion of the First Division of the Expeditionary Force Reserve, and the consequent calling up of members of the Second Division. More or less wild statements have been published lately regarding the probable date, but these should be definitely set at rest as a result of official figures supplied to-day. These show that there is very little prospect of members of the Second Division being required to go into •■amp before November or December next, at the earliest. A return prepared by the Government Statistician shows that on the 7th inst., at the conclusion of the last big ballot (completing up to the 28th Reinforcements, going into camp in April next), there still remained 5!),952 reservists in the First Division. The number of First Division reservists then remaining in each Recruiting Distrct was as follows: — Recruiting Ist Division Men District. Remaining. Auckland City 9,151 Hauraki 1,133 North Auckland 1,749 Waikato 2,(159 Wellington City 5,212 Manawatu 2,774 Hawkes Bay 2,30(1 Taranaki 2,820 Christchurch 4,438 South Canterbury 2,791 North Canterbury 1,575 Nelson 2,105 Dunedin 3,804 Southland 3,572 North Otago 1,304 Clulha 1,173 Bay of Plenty 1,153 Wairarapa 2,32(5 Poverty Bay 1,847 Wanganui 2,253 West Coast 2,374 Total 59,925 The First Division register when the first ballot was taken in November last comprised 84,980 men. This means that since then an inroad has been made upon the First Division to the extent of 25,034 men. Of these some 17,407 men have been called up in the four ballots that have been held, while the balance have been accounted for Involuntary enlistment, either being accepted or medically rejected. With this evidence available a reliable answer is able to be given to the question as to how long the First Division is likely to last. This depends on the number of lit men available in the remaining 59,952, and upon the number of appeals allowed by the Military Service Boards. Hitherto the authorities, in order to allow for medical rejections and temporary exemptions, have been calling up three men by ballot for every vacancy to be tilled. Though sufficient: time has not elapsed to state definitely whether this is a proper margin the results appear to be working out in that proportion. In order that no false hopes might be created, however, let it be assumed, for the purpose of ascertaining the probable date of the 2nd Division being called on, that the remaining members of the Ist Division only produce onefourth of the number who can go into camp. This, it will be admitted, is a very conservative estimate, and weights the position heavily against members of the 2nd Division. Working on this Basis it, will be found that the balance of the Ist Division still left should produce 15,000 men fit and able to go into camp. As the Dominion’s commitments only require us to send reinforcements at the rate of 30,000 men per annum so long as the war lasts, these 15,000 men will be sufficient to supply another six drafts. The 28th draff, going into camp in April next is already complete. This means that at a most conservative estimate there arc sufficient men left in the First Division to supply up to the 34th Reinforcements, mobilising in October next. In that event, giving two months’ notice, as is now the practice, the first ballot among members of the Second Division cannot take place before September next, and the men so called up will only be required to go into camp in the following November. With four months’ training they would sail for the front in March,' 1918. That is stating the position on the minimum basis. It has been announced by the Military Service Boards, however, that before members of the Second Division are called on there will be a thorough “combing out” of members of the First Division, all cases of exemption being again gone into. It is reasonable to suppose that such “combing out” will produce sufficient men for another draft,which will postpone calling up the Second Division by another mouth. Another factor which has a direct bearing on these calculations and which should not be overlooked is that they make no allowance for members of the Second Division enlisting in the drafts spoken of. As members of the Second Division are regularly enlisting in considerable numbers and every man doing so replaces a member of the First Division, it will be seen, that if this goes on the membership of the First Division will be spun out in proportion —it may be, for one, or two, or three months longer. It may thus result in the first ballot required

froth among members of the Second Division (to make up shortages due to the failure of voluntary enlistment) not being taken until the vear 1918 has made its appearance.

In any case, the position as it stands now is that the first ballot among members of the Second Division is not likely to lie taken before September next at the earliest, that if such is taken the men so called up will not require to go into camp before November, and (hat if they do so they will not require to sail until March, 1918.