45
General Freyberg to the Minister of Defence

With reference to the latter part of my telegram of 2 December (No. 42), I am most relieved that the final portion of the 4th Reinforcements is now approaching these shores. As you recognise, we are entering an operational period when our reinforcement depots must be full. Having regard to the physical condition of the troops at the end of the long voyage, the period of training here must be reckoned as three months. As all calculations are based upon the arrival of the 5th Reinforcements on 1 April, I would be most grateful for their early despatch, especially the replacement portion of the contingent, for which see paper 12/1/2035 of 18 January.² Priority of despatch should be (a) replacements portion, (b) new units portion. With reference to paragraph 34 of the above paper, the Medium Battery of Artillery is not now required and personnel should be allocated to the replacements portion in proportion to all arms.³