The division was among the attacking forces of the British army on the west front for about two months - a very long time, in view of the heavy fighting - and during that period it never failed to accomplish the task assigned to it.
The casualties suffered by the New Zealand Division from August 23 to October 21 number 6900. The fact that the division was able to retain its place among General Haig's shock troops for two months, in spite of these heavy casualties, is another proof of the military value of the unbroken stream of reinforcements from this country.
''I regret exceedingly that the number of casualties in the division has been so large,'' said the Minister of Defence today; ''but at the same time I share the pride every New Zealander must feel at knowing that the division has been able to meet every call made upon it at this critical stage of the war . . .''
Widespread flu epidemic
When questioned yesterday as to the inroads being made on the health of the people of Dunedin by the prevailing epidemic of influenza, Dr Faris (district health officer said that as influenza was not a notifiable disease, he had no official knowledge of the extent of its ravages in Dunedin.
From conversations, however, with medical men, he learnt that there was a fairly widespread local epidemic of influenza, and he personally knew that a number of doctors and medical students were laid up with it.
The disease was characterised by the suddenness of its onset and the great prostration during both the actual attack and convalescence.
Reassurances on air safety
Many people still think of the aeroplane as being a highly dangerous contrivance (says the Daily Chronicle). Ordinarily well-informed people still think that if the engine stops, or any other mishap occurs, an aeroplane must drop like a stone to the earth and smash itself and its pilot into atoms.
Both impressions are quite erroneous. Even before the war the Government were building aeroplanes which were ''stable''. A test, which has actually been carried out, shows how stable those aeroplanes were. A pilot climbed to a sufficient height, and then stopped his engine and took hands off the controls, merely keeping his feet on the rudder bar.
He steered for an aerodrome 20 miles away, and except for keeping straight, he let the aeroplane do what it liked. It travelled the whole 20 miles as steadily as a bicycle coasting down a long straight and gentle hill.
Of course the pilot had to take hold of the control stick to land the machine in the aerodrome, but, except for that, and the steering, the aeroplane made the whole journey by itself.
Sitka spruce for aircraft
''The most valuable tree in the world now is undoubtedly the Sitka, or silver spruce, which is found in the forests of British Columbia,'' states a New York paper.
''A few months ago this tree was almost despised and valued by the lumbermen at 1 or 2 a ton. To-day it is the most sought-after of all the woods in the world by reason of its being the only timber that meets all the exacting and peculiar demands of the aeroplane builder."
- ODT, 24.10.1918.
COPIES FROM ODT OR WWW.OTAGOIMAGES.CO.NZ
