401
General Freyberg to the Minister of Defence

Reference your telegram of 13 October.

As you know, the proposals in my telegram of 8 October (No. 399) were those which would suit us best. I realised that the manpower situation in New Zealand and the availability of shipping might well make modifications necessary. I have considered the plan in view of the dates of replacements you give, and I feel that if the drafts arrive as forecast in your message we shall be able to carry out re-organisation by stages as planned, except that the relief of the 7th Reinforcements will have to be postponed until a later date. If the estimated time of departure for the 14th and 15th Reinforcements, as given in your telegram, could be adhered to, this would mean that both drafts would then be here when the Division is out of the line for the reorganisation and training period in February-March next.

With regard to officers, detailed figures have been supplied to Army Headquarters and we will be glad to accept as many as can be released.

I returned to the Division in the line on the 11th and will take over as soon as possible. All goes well.