THE AUSTRALIAN FORCE.

Taihape Daily Times, 29 November 1917, Page 5

THE AUSTRALIAN FORCE.

ONLY FOUR ACTIVE DIVISIONS

November IS, General Birdwood has arrived in London, high-spirited, unpretentious, and with no signs of fatigue. He speaks with pride of the recent achievement of the Australians, and., says they did extraordinarily well not failing whenever tested. The majority are now resting, and the others are on an easy sector, the situation permitting hopes of a lengthy quietude. The general suggests that his recent promotion is a compliment to the Australians and recognition of their part in the war, rather than 0 f his own personal merit. He does not mean to relinquish the Australian command,His son, who is under will qualify for a commission soon, and will join his father’s staff. Asked in Melbourne how long it would be before the reserves in England would be exhausted as reinforcements for the Australian Imperial Force, Mr G. F. Pearce, Minister for Defence, said: “I do not intend to give facts and figures which might prove useful to the enemy, and per-< haps the best reply that I can give is that Sir Willikm Birdwood views the whole outlook with such misgivin that he has withdrawn one division from the field, and is keeping it as a reserve division. “General Birdwood does not regard the camps of Australians in training, in England as reservoirs which cannot become exhausted. As a matter ofi fact, we must be continually sending reinforcements forward, as men en-* listed now may hot he put into tha field of battle for six or eight months to come.” H

According to a statement issued id Melbourne on November -20 - recruit* ing figures for the last w r eek show ad increase over those of the preceding week, the totals being; Last week* 729; preceding week, 644 Details are;] Queensland, last w r cek 83, preceding week 56; New South Wales 348 andj 324; Victoria, 169 and 139; Soutli Australia 31 and 52; West Australia,43 and 29; Tasmania, 55 and 44. i An official return shows that the Australian casualties, exclusive of men who have returned to duty, total 117,284, comprising the following:—• Dead, 36,369; wounded, 50,155; miss* ing, 16,16; sick 25,963; 2933. .