THE FOURTH BRIGADE.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 November 1917, Page 6

THE FOURTH BRIGADE.

LETTER FROM GENERAL GODLEY READ IN PARLIAMENT.

The following extracts from a letter from General Sir A. J. Godlev to MajorGeneral Sir A. W. Robin, dated August 2G, 1017, were read in the House of Representatives yesterday by the Hon. Sir James Allen (Minister of Defence). "You need not be in the least anxious about the 4th Brigade. We all thoroughly realise that if there is the slightest shortage of roinf- ■.•cements it will be at once broken up and utilised to keep up the division proper. But I hope it may be possible to keep all four going, and as long as we can we shall do so, as it is a great convenience to have an extra brigade, which can be out of the line resting and acting as a relief brigade for the other throe. It is so much better for the officers and men to be in a proper organisation, too, instead of simply at the Reserve Group at Sling or the depot at Etaples. At the present time the division is just going out of the line for a bit of rest and training, and I am jjlad to say lam going out also. It will be for the first time since the beginning of the war that I will be able to get a little rest out of the front line, for which I shall not be sorry. I propose to let Russell have the 4th Brigade temporarily, as one of the three of the divisions, and keep the Rifle Brigade in rest and ready to relieve one of the others if required. The strain of a brigadier is very great at the front, as you will be' able to realise.from your war experience. He has all the responsibilities of higher command, and at the same time the physical work and fatigue of having to bo continually in the trenches; and between the two I think that a brigadier has the hardest time of anybody, and is more likely to break down than anybody else.

"The division took La Basse-Ville in great style, and in a smaller way it was just as good as the taking of Messines.

xou are indeed having difficulties about the transports and reinforcements, but I think are doing us splendidly, and I have nothing but admiration and appreciation for the way in which you have helped us."