Troops delayed by flu

The announcement that the departure of the Fortyfourth and Fortyfifty Reinforcements has been postponed on account of the influenza outbreak is being read by members of the House in the light of the war situation. The Minister of Defence, in

making the statement, was careful to explain that he did not want the public to think the postponement meant that the war was at an end, or that the despatch of reinforcements had ceased. Nobody could tell definitely how long Germany could hold out, but he added that the transports that were to have taken the two reinforcements were going to be sent away with full cargoes. The significance of this statement cannot escape notice. New Zealand’s supply of ships is strictly limited, and if two vessels that were intended to take troops go away with wool and wheat instead the immediate result is to set back all reinforcements. It appears that the senior draft now in camp cannot reach the firing line before April next at the earliest, and members are asking if it is going to be worth while to send the men away at all under the changed conditions.