NOTES AND COMMENTS

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 135, 10 February 1915, Page 4

NOTES AND COMMENTS

TH E REINFORCEM ENTB. A good deal of confusion appears to exist in the public mind as to the naming or, numbering of the varous reinforcement drafts being despatched at regular intervals, for service with the Main New Zealand Expeditionary Force. The following explanation, by the Evening Post, will. 1 therefore, be welcomed: What arc called the "Ist lb - inf rcements" left with the Mail! Force on Kith October last, and accompanied it to Egypt. This was done in accordance with the procedure laid down in the British Field, Service Keg illations, which provide that certain units shall mobilise in excess 'slirdln units shall mobilise with a proportion of personnel in excess, being knmui as "Ist Reinforcements," The Ist Reinforcements were calculated at 10 per cent, of the rank and file of the unit, and when the Alain Force goes to the front will be left at the base ready to fill up the fresh gaps when they occur. The force which left Wellington on ]2fti December last, and whose arrival in Egypt lias-just been reported, was thus the "2nd Reinforcements." The whole of the /"3rd" and "4th Reinforcements," together with the officers and n.e.o. s tor the "sth Reinforcements," are now in camp at Trentham. Each will bo despatched at regular intervals, enabling the Main Force to bo kept up to full strength. This system will continue in operaton right throughout the war, one batch of reinforcements going into camp for training as no earlier contingent finishes its course.