ARMY WASTAGE.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 March 1916, Page 3

ARMY WASTAGE.

NEW ZEALAND'S STRENGTH. (From Our Own Correspondent.) Welington, March 13. Tn the House of Commons the other day, Mr. Tennant said that the wastage of the British armies in the field was at the rate of 15 per cent, per month. The statement was described by some of the London newspapers as a very gross exaggeration, but it was supported W New Zealand's experiences during the Gallipoli campaign. The Main Exneditionary Force was being reinforced at the rate of roughly 15 per cent, per month at the time of the landing on Gallipoli last April, and there were some accumulated reinforcements in hand. But in spite of that fact the force in the field actually dwindled, auii a few months later the Dominion was asked by the Imperial Government to increase the rale of reinforcement to 20 per cent. Even thin rate did not overtake the extraordinarily heavy casualties, from wounds and sickness, suffered by the troops at Anzac. The position now is very different. The New Zealanders having been withdrawn from the front, the amount of wastage lias become negligible and the strength of the Force has grown rapidly. The Reinforcements, despatched regularly from New Zealand, are accumulating in Egypt. . The first result was. the creation of a New Zealand Infantry Division, by file formation of a third brigade from accumulated reinforcements, and now the Defence Minister states that the artillery is to be strengthened, the artillery reinforcements being used to mail another battery, o" even more than one battery. The guns will be supplied by the War Ofliec. The Division is now complete, the three Infantry Brigades having beei: constituted and brought to full strength. A brigade contains nominally 4fl()fl men. In addition there is the New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade, which is at full strength without absorbing all the mounted men who are available, the artillery and other units. And still the reinforcements are accumulating. The position, from the point of view of the officer commanding, is a very pleasant one. and it is clear that the New Zealand Division will be able to face its share of this year's campaigning with very good heart. Presumably there will be a substantial reserve in hand when next the force goes into action.