OUR WAR RECORD.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 November 1918, Page 7

OUR WAR RECORD.

'..OYER 100, COO < IN MONB7. i,W' . \ V* ' £05,000,000 lit SgIODUCE EXPORTED. '(Auckland Star.)' 1 , cw Zealand has every cause for pride in the share which she has taken in the groat war, not only for flue gallantry that has made her soldier-sons famous, but for the part borne by her whole population. New Zealand is a small country, and tho largest body of troops which she has ever been able to place in the field cn one front has been, in the words of an American correspondent, but a microcosm of the British force to which it lias belonged. Still, tho Dominion, with its population of a little over a million, has maintained, since the Expeditionary Force reached its full strength, never less than 14,500 bayonets capable of holding the front line. This figure does not, of course, represent the total strength, or '"establishment," of the force, which, when at its greatest, was 28,000 strong, with an actual lighting strength of 18,500.

OVER 300,000 MEN DEALT WITH. The magnitude of tho Dominion's manpower effort is perhaps best gauged from the figures cited by the Defence Expenditure Commission in its report, published at end of August last, just before the fourth anniversary of the outbreak of war. This return showed that no less tlaan 301,739 men had been handled by the Defence Department—nearly one-third of the whole population of the country. Of these, 111,055 had gone abroad, were in camp, or were wearing uniform for general service; while the remainder, numbering 19,831, had been rejected as medically unfit, disdharged from camp, or exempted. In addition to this, the Commissioners pointed out, the Dominion had maintained a territorial force of Nearly 61,000, as compared with 71,000 before tho war. 99,822 MEN OVERSEAS.

Figures issued by the Defence Department in the last few days show that New Zealand has sent away 43 reinforcement drafts, which, with the Main Force, make up a total of 92,449 men. To this must be added the Samoan Force and its reinforcements, 2067; Maori contingents, 2232; Island troops, 456; Tunnelling Company and its reinforcements, 1308; wireless troop and its reinforcements, 178; British section of Main Force, 240; Flying officers and cadets, 10S; Naval patrol service, 190; Naval reservists and naval ratings, 564; hospital and hospital ship complements, 774. This makes the total number of men rent abroad up to October 18th last 39,522. These, with 12,042 men in camps on tJho same date, make up a grand total of 112,470 men mobilised. The Dominion has thus contributed in fighting men about 10 per cent of her population—a proportion which before the war was considered to bo the maximum which any country could put into the field and at t)he same time maintain tho essential services at home. Experience has shown that 10 per cent can be much exceeded, especially through the employment of women in industry, but when it is remembered that New Zealand lhas had to provide for the transport of her troops round half the earth, and at the same time has kc-pt up her supply of foodstuffs and wool to •Great Britain, the magnitude of the work will be readilv understood.

15,306 LIVES LAID DOWN. The losses which tlho Dominion's manhood has suffered in the war are naturally proportionate, or more than proportionate, to her contribution in men. Up to October 21 the deaths numbered 15,360 (705 officers and 14,661 other ranks). In addition 1,6 M officers and 37,568 other ranks Ikad been wounded, 5 officers and 351 other ranks were prisoners of war, and ono officer and 49 other ranks were missing. Thus the whole numbers of casualties number fully 55,000. New Zealanders may perhaps realise tho loss of young lives when they remember that for every five wounded men they see in t)he street there are two at least who will never return.

FRUITS OF CONSCRIPTION. New Zealand was the first of the oversea Hominioijs to introduce conscription, and the end of the war finds her the only one to carry the principle so far as to call up married men with families of two children. Previous to tihe first ballot in January, 1917, the country's voluntary recruiting record had been an excellent one, and all requirements had been fully met, The Military Service Act of 1916 passea with but little opinion of the country was solidly in its favor. A return published only a few days ago showed that up to October 30 last 134,739 men had been called up by ballot, including 80,000 belonging to the First Division, and of these 113,739 had been medically examined, 40,222 being passed as fit and 72,470 as unfit for activo service. Tihe return also showed that B,BGB men iiad been granted exemption sine die by tho military service boards and that the average percentage of men classed fit for active service was 33.39.

GREAT WAR BILL. When one turns to war finance, it is plain that hero also the Dominion has borne her full share. Tihe war bill to the end of August last was £46,056,498, apportioned as follows: Maintenance of troop 3 in the field, £12,435,000; pay and allowances, £18,222,618; equipment, £8,527,558; transportation, £5,174,848; rations, £l, 696,871; financial assistance to soldiers, £106,156. In addition, war pensions amounting to about £1,500,000 annually have been granted. The public debt of the Dominion is now in the neighborhood of £150,000,000, and the interest charge exceeds £7,000,000 per annum. Needless to say, the coming of peace by no means relieves the country's burden, for even if many of the New Zealand troops are not retained in Europe on garrison duty for a couple of years or more, the mere task of transporting the forces back to New Zealand will occupy a long time, and the public fund 3 will certainly bo heavily <lrawn upon when repatriation and reconstruction problems really have to be tackled. EXPORT PRODUCTION.

The remaining principal aspect of New Zealand's war task is her export production. 'Ehis, despite ever-present shipping difficulties, has been kept up remarkably well. Up to August last the total value of primary products bought Tj(y the (Imperial G-overnment was £59,881,444. Of this £22,851,823 was oaid for meat, £23,350|ga for .wool,

£3,107,284 for cheese, and £2,241,622 for butter. During the later part of the war period there was a falling off in quantity production in certain lines, owing to the shortage of shipping space, and the depletion of the farming community for the firing line, but the output was ample to meet all the Imperial Government's requirements, and the increased prices and prolmpt payments brought a degree of prosperity to the primary producers, which was reflected in generous subscriptions to tike three internal war loans and the numerous patriotic funds. The sums contributed to these latter aggregate millions, and their size has been the subject of high praise from such distinguished men as the King of tlh.o Belgians and Mr Balfour.

DEEDS, NOT NUMBERS. j Whatever may be the value of figures in setting forth New Zealand's share in the war, it is not in such facts that future generations will find a memory of these four dark and tragic years. The true record of New Zealand in the war is the long tale of battles in which her sons have written their names for ever— Anzac, Rrithia, Suvla, Chunuk Bair, Flers, El Arish, .Gaza. Messines, Passchendaele, Bapaume, and Le Quesnoy. To attempt an adequate description of the achievements of our troops in the more than Homeric adventure of Gallipoli, the titanic struggle in Western Europe, and tte tedious but ultimately triumphant campaign in Sinai and Palestine, is beyond the scope of anything short of a book, but it may be said with perfect truth, and without the slightest desire to boast, that tho men who went from these islands—whether the care-free, langhing adventurers who made flp the Samoan expedition and the Main Force, or the married men and youngsters who answered the ballot and sailed nearly four years after—have fulfilled the highest traditions of tflic British race, and have left a story not unworthy to be set beside those of their greatest ancestors. In saying this one is bound to pay a tribute to those New Zealanders who in a less conspicuous way have done service fully as great as that of tho men who s:ave reaped the greater measure of fame. It should not be forgotten that many have served faithfully and with great distinction in the British Navy, in the Australian forces, in Imperial and Indian regiments, and in the flying service, both military and naval, wlhile somo have even fought in armored cars upon the battlefields of Poland and Galicia, and one inconspicuous unit—the New Zealand Wireless Troop —has endured hardships literally for years in Mesopotamia. So also should be remembered the nurses who lliave faithfully done their duty, and in some cases laid down their lives, at sea and in all the theatres of war.

Again, it is worthy of record that whenever credit has been given to them for any achievement or for any soldierly quality, New Zealanders have never hesitated to give all the praise duo to their comrades from other parts of the Eiipire or from Allied countries. They have never been accused of "swelled head." Thus, at the first Anzac Day commemoration in St. Paul's it was the New Zealanders who paid a public tribute to the worth of the gallant 29th Division, which landed on the same eventful morning in the face of perhaps an even fiercer resistance, and to which, they felt, every possible honor was due.

DECORATIONS, Although it has often been said that no force which participated on ibe Gallipoli campaign received its due award of decorations, the sum total of honors received by New Zcalandors in the war is close to 4000. Included in these are thirteen Victoria Crosses (eight won by members of our own Expeditionary .Force, three by New Zealanders in the Australian Forces, and one each by New Zealanders in tho Navy and the Imperial Army). Eight of the recipients havo laid down their lives. A return of decorations made by General Godley about May last was as follows; British (Decorations Victoria Crosses 5; Distinguished Service Orders, 9; bar to Distinguished Conduct Medals, 221; to Distinguished Service Orders, 5; Distinguished Conduct Medals, 221; bars to Distinguished Conduct Medals, 2; Military Crosses, 307; bar to Military Crosses, 4; Military Medals, 1195; ">ars to Military Medals, 29; Meritorious Service Medals, 35; mentioned in dispatches 925; brought to the notice of the Secretary of State for War, 117; Royal Red Cross, first class '7, second class 34. Total 3043,

Foreign Decorations:—French, 4G; Russian, 7; Belgian, 52; Serbian, 29; Montenegrin, 3. Total 142.

STRENGTH OiF OUR FORCES. It may bo of some interest to many who have only a vague idea of such things, to be reminded of the composition of the Main Force, which sailed, by ■the way, on October 15, 1914. The force was 7,000 strong, and with it went the First Reinforcements (10 per cent), making a total of 8,400. It was made up of the following:— Headquarters. Mounted Brigade Field Ambulance. Otago Mounted Rifles Regiment, independent.

One Infantry Brigade, four battalions. One Field .Artillery Brigade, three batteries.

Field Artillery Brigade Ammunition Column.

Signal Company: One Company 'Divisional Train. One Field Ambulance. Veterinary, Dental, Pay, Record Unit 3. Chaplains.

The New Zealand Division was not fully formed in France till February, 1916. This was after the formation of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade, half of which saw service in Western Egypt before proceeding to France. The following was tho composition of the division: — . Divisional Keadquart - "

Cyclist Company. Divisional Field Artillery ('Headquarters, three Fieid. Artillory Brigades, one Howitzer Brigade, trench mortar batteries. and divisional ammunition column)(Divisional Engineers (Headquarters, three Field Companies, one Signal Company)'. _ , Machine-gun Corps (three companies). Infantry (three brigades of four battalions each, one Pioneer Battalion). Divisional TrainMedical Corps (three Field Ambulances. one Sanitary Section). Veterinary Section. Records and Pay Staffs, Chaplains, etc

The total strength of the division was 20,00 H men, or 13,000 bayonets, with 18 4.5 in howitzers and 04 18-poundets (field guns'). The NeW Zealand force operating simultaneously in Palestine consisted of a mounted rifles brigade ISKO stronc, made up of three reffiments of 460 each. There were, in addition, two New Zealand companies in the Imperial Camei

were the Tunnelling Company in France and the Wireless Troop in Mesopotamia. It is the proud record of New Zealand that she not only kept her units in the field always at full strength, but promptly complied with every request of the War Office for increased reinforcements.