NEW ZEALAND'S PART

Taranaki Daily News, 14 February 1919, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND'S PART

A WONDERFUL ACHIEVEMENT. OVER HALF OF MANHOOD SERVE. INTERESTING FIGURES. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Feb. 13. Official: A publication prepared by a branch chief of the general stall' reveals for the first time the extent in detail of New Zealand's effort during the war. New Zealand actually mobilised in camp for service in the expeditionary force overseas 124,211. men, being 11.4 per cent, of her total population, men, women, and children, or. in other words, a little more than one-ninth. Of the men of military age, It) to 45 years, she sent into camp more than half, or nearly 31 per cent. The total number actually sent abroad on active service was 100,444, being 9.3 per cent, of her total population, and nearly 42 per cent, of the males of military age. This is specially impressive as being three and a third times the number of the English at Waterloo. Of the total mobilised fpr foreign' service no less than 91,941 men were voluntary recruits, while 32,270 were sent in under the Military Service Act. Thus 7.1 per cent, of the men mobilised were volunteers. These voluntary recruits include 703(3 home service men, so that the total number of volunteers recruited for the expeditionary force was 84,905. The total number put through the recruiting machine by voluntary enlistment and compulsion was 120,089 out of an aggregate male population of military age in August, 1014, of 253,390, with aii annual increment of 8000 males coming of military age. The number of reinforcements immediately available in England, France, and Egypt when the armistice was signed was just on 5000, while in New Zealand 8024 were in training in expeditionary force camps and 0732, mainly ballotted men, were still under orders to proceed to camp for service overseas, dn addition, New Zealand on armistice day had 24,999 territorials and 27,831 senior cadets training for home defence and feeding the expeditionary force as they came of age. The strength of the expeditionary force in the field, excluding Samoa, was on different dates: December 1914, main body 7761; December 1915, end of Gallipoli campaign, 14,338; February 1910, when the division was formed, 21,809; March 1917, when the fourth infantry brigade was formed, 28,000; November .1918, when the armistice was signed, 24,000 t , The total wastage of 100,444 men embarked was 41,435, made lip as follows: Dead 16,302 Missing 84 Prisoners 358 Returned and discharged 20,721 Returned and not discharged 3,294 Discharged in United Kingdom 078 The total wastage of men while undergoing training in New Zealand camps was 11,333, including 509 dead in camp, and 575 deserters. The deaths in New Zealand camps include 290 during 191S, of which 208 were due to the epidemic.