DOMINION REINFORCEMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 November 1916, Page 8

DOMINION REINFORCEMENTS.

THE MONTHLY REQUIREMENT, (From Our Own Correspondent.) Wellington, Nov. 1. "Am I right in thinking we send away 2500 men every two months." writes a correspondent, who argues that if there are 20,000 fit men available for service in the First Division of the Expeditionary Force Reserve, the supply should suffice for sixteen months. The positon appears to be misunderstood by a great many people, who have not kept in touch with the successive increases in New Zealand's commitments. The original Expeditionary Force consisted of only 7701 men and the strength of the monthly reinforcements draft did not exceed 1000 men. But the Main Body has grown by stages. At the close of the Gallipoli campaign New Zealand was supplying reinforcements for a Main Body of about 14.000 men. Then the forces were further reorganised. A New Zealand Infantry Division was formed by the creation of a third Infantry Brigade from accumulated Reinforcements. A Mounted Rifle Brigade was formed for service in Egypt, the artillery was strengthened and some other changes involving additions to the personnel of units were made. The rate of reinforcement increased steadily. To-day, New Zealand is providing reinforcements for a Main Body of rather mere than 22,000 men. The rate of reinforcement is not as high, per'thousand, as it was in the earlier stages of the war, but the nominal strength of the four-weekly draft is about 2,200 men for the Infantry division and the Mounted Rifle Brigade, plus men required for the artillery, tunnellers, and other units. At present no reinforcements are being sent for the Artillery and Army Service Corps, so that the Defence Department is effecting a small saving in men.