GETTING SOLDIERS HOME.

Taihape Daily Times, 10 December 1918, Page 4

GETTING SOLDIERS HOME.

9000- SICK AND WOUNDED. BEFORE END OP FEBRUARY. WELLINGTON, Dec 9. Sir James Allen made a statement in the House this morning relating to the return of soldiers to New Zealand. Pie said about 2250 sick and wounded men would arrive before Christmas, while between six and eight thousand would arrive in January or February. He expected to have 8000 or 9000 sick and wounded arrive before the end of February, and expected the whole of the sick and wounded to be back before the enff of March. The Minister added that it was impossible to say when the fit men would begin to arrive—probably not till peace Had been signed. The principle laid down was,.“first to go, first back,” and this Avould he adhered to as far as possible. if men began to come back in April, it would probably take from nine to twelve months to bring them all. Arrangements bad been made for demobilising 10,000 men monthly, but be did not think we could get them back at such a rate. A special staff ■was being trained in England to enable men to be demobilised from the ship’s side to their homes. Mr. Pearce: Can’t you get more ships? Sir James Alien: Shipping is entirely under the control of the Imperial authorities.