THE CALL TO WAR.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 February 1919, Page 5

THE CALL TO WAR.

HOW NEW ZEALAND RESPONDED. OFFICIAL DETAILS OF THE FORCES. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Feb. 17. The ending of the war removes the veil of secrecy which has had to be maintained over the exact numbers of men comprising the different details of the expeditionary force, and other information that the public has had to do without, for the sake of the general interest. No time has been lost by the Defence Department in preparing, under the direction of the Chief of. the general Staff, Colonel C. M. Gibbon, full statements of the personnel, horses and transports of the NcW Zealand Expeditionary Force. There are nearly eighty pages of figures, including several graphs illustrating at a glance the chief features of the Dominion's splendidlysustained effort in the great world struggle. It is seen in this statement how wise was the policy laid down early in the war, that the country should not rush every possible man into the field, but that it should steadily apply itself to the task of maintaining at full efficiency the expeditionary force sent away during the second week of October, 1914. The policy was expressed clearly in a memorandum laid before the House of Representatives in June, 11)15. containing words which were prophetic, and which proved to be true: "If at any time there may be a temporary surplus of recruits, great care is necessary before the popular cry to make an increased offer of fresh troops can be acceded to. To put units into the field which waste away for want of reinforcements h entirely opposed to the principles laid down by the Imperial (lovernment for the maintenance of our armies in the field. We have to prepare for a war which may last for three years. It would be an everlasting disgrace to New Zealand if, before the war came to an end, she had to confess that she could not maintain her expeditionary force in the field. The honor of putting a large number of units into the field at the one time would be forgotten in the failure to maintain them there. We must prepare for a long war, and it is essential that we should count the cost, and make sure that our resources of men are organised in such a manner as to last to the finish." And it is to the credit of New Zealand that it followed this policy of steady effort, for the end of war saw our expeditionary force at full strength, some additional units in existence and well reinforced, and almost a record number of men under training in the camps in New Zealand. The report shows that over 12,500 men were on the camp rolls when the armistice was signed; of those !)024 belonged to reinforcements, a total only once before reached, viz., in March, 1917. This large total was due to a combination of circumstances and sailings had been cancelled owing to influenza and also on account of peace prospects Moreover, the November draft mobilised early in the month, thus leading to an exceptional accumulation in camp of new recruits and trained soldiers. The total also includes men on leave who are retained on the camp rolls. This class was very numerous in 1018 owing to the decisions of the Military Service Boards. To take a general view of the figures before dealing with the details, we see that New Zealand actually put under arms 11.4 per cent, of its total population (counting men, women and children), and that 50 per cent, of the male population of military age went into camp. These figures include the men under training when the armistice was signed. The number of men who had embarked at that date was 100,444 (including 550 nurses) or 9.2 per cent, of the total population. DISPOSITION OF THE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE. For the first time we are able to give exact information as to the numbers of New Zealanders in the expeditionary .force at the date of the armistice. These figures, though lengthy, are too important to be summarised. They are as follows: Disposition of the N.Z. Expeditionary Force on November 12, 1918. On Water. 43rd Reinforcements (second portion) and 40th-43rd Mounted Rifle Reinforcements 1052 Two hospital ships 205 Invalids and duty furlough men returning to New Zealand .... 205G 3313 In Egypt. Strength of brigade 1941 Stregnth of units outside brigade 393 Numbers available as reinforcements 219 Numbers on lines of communication (not available as reinforcements) 134 In hospital 1054 Convalescents 600 4541 In England. Reserve group and detached reserve units (reinforcements) 8705 Command Depot, Codford (convalescent or unfit) 2761 Convalescent Hospital, Hornchurch '. 5087 All other hospitals in the United Kingdom 8197 Headquarters, London, and Postal, Records, Pay, and Police Services, also details awaiting evacuation to New Zealand ... 657 23,467 In France. Strength in field (division and tunnelling company) 18,293 Reinforcements in France 852 Employed other than with Division and Tunnelling Company 2,625 In hospital 1,832 Convalescents .., 713 24,115 Killed and died 16,302 Missing 84 Prisoners •. 350 Discharged in New Zealand 20,721 In New Zealand not yet discharged 3294 Discharged in United Kingdom 678 41,435 Samoan Expeditionary Force. Strength of garrison, Nov. 12, 1918 236 Died 2 Returned to I\evv Zealand 1841

Imperial reservists 211 Naval ranks and ratings 100 H.M.S. Philomel l. r >» Royal naval auxiliary patrol ... 100 Royal Flying Corps 102 Postal and audit officials ...... 2 Nurses 550 3073 Total 100,444 RESERVES. These figures dispose of one point on which there has been a good deal of controversy of a one-sided description—onesided because the people who considered they coulkl have settled the question could only have done so by disclosing information which would have been of much value to the enemy. It relates to the reserve forces existing in England and France. Many people asserted that a huge reserve of men was being built up in England at the cost of depleting New Zealand industries of man-power. Now it can be seen that the reserve group and attached reserve units in England on November 12 last totalled 8705, but of these 710 were Category IJ and C men (unfit); 1133 comprised the permanent stud' at Sling and other camps; 3140 were fresh arrivals not physically lit after the long voyage, and witli their advanced training yet to be undertaken. Eliminating these classes, there remained 3776 men available for reinforcements—not an unduly large number when we call to mind that New Zealand casualties at the Sonnne within t/iree weeks amounted to 4210, and that the casualties at Passehendaele in nine days' fighting totalled 3007. These casualties were exclusive of the ordinary wastage caused through sickness, etc. TRANSPORT TO EUROPE. Though many are in the secret, it is interesting to be able to publish even some yeai's after the event, that the escort of the Main Body and first reinforcements which left Wellington in October, 1014, comprised H.M.S. Minotaur, H.M.S. Philomel, 11.M.5. Pyramus, H.M.S. Psyche, and the Japanese warship Ibilki. The ten ships currying troops reached Alexandria in 48 days. Reinforcement drafts were sent to Suez until after the Oallipoli campaign, when the transports proceeded to England via the Cape of Good Hope until the 2!>th Reinforcements was dispatched. Then the j Panama route was used by the majority ', of the ships. A summary of the official notes on the composition of the expeditionary force, including the history of the formation of new units, will appear in a subsequent article.