New Zealand and the War.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume XLV, Issue XLV, 13 July 1917, Page 2

New Zealand and the War.

Iu the of a speech on the war Sir James Alltn said :—lt was because of the casualties that the necessity existed for sending away reinforcements. Up to July 23 some 26,000 men had suffered casualties, and of that total 7500 would never see New Zealand again—a big list which had not bean published before. These facts had to be told. One hundred men were missing, 71 were prisoners' of war, and 18,879 were, yvounded.

I -Out of- the .wounded it'was fortunata ! that a great many did recover and .got back to the front again./ Up to May 9 the men who recovered and rejoined ■ the ranks were 61- per cent. They -might well have~demanded the right to come back to New Zealand, tut- they saved us the necessity of sending heavier", reinforcements.' . ■:

He hoped the war might end this year. It was not a pleasure to him asMinister of Defence to call up the married men for .service. He did not look upon it as a pleasure, but as a solemn duty. Many of them had dear ones buried at and otherplaces who • had fallen at the call of duty, but though , they , had sustained these losseß.to the body"'they had gained in the spirit and, the soul. The spirit of these men called to 'them again to-. keepfUp the New Zealand force to its . strength. He prayed that the war might end this year.so that tbe Second ;• Division would not go, but if the .war went through the winter into the next soire of the classes of the Second Division would have to go.