General, Sir John Monash, Personal Files Book 22, 10 April - 1 June 1919- Part 2

RD  14-4-19
Dept of Defence
Maj Gen Sir J W McCoy has at my direction
been familiarising himself with the work
of repatrn & demobsn at these HQ as
an addition to his knowledge thereof gained
as GOC [[?]]  1F  Depots UK in order that he
may report fully to you on my behalf and

may act in Australia as my liaison officer
with you to such extent & for so long as
you may desire
Ditto to Dept of Repatn

RD  15-4-19
Entrainments ^to meet embarkations at
2 out of 4 quotas per week after
Quota 41 as advised by you
by telephone are approved and
send me copies your final
orders. aaa
Monash
D C Mobaust.

15/4/19 -

Told Mr Pearce through Telephone: -
today
"There is no possibility of the
"Shipping Controller now overtaking
"our supply of troops"

RLC  16/4/19
Conference of 16/4/19
McGlinn:-  Congestion at Quota 40.
Minister orders on pause in flow
Whitham's programme

Two Marches Apl 25 & May 3
Subsistence to married men.
Capt. Parker:-  Diafram in shipping shortages  √
Converted Cruisers for family ships  √
May prospective totals.
What he said to Larkin
Private matters - see list arranged.
Diaframs for Capt. Parker. -

Gen. McCay. -

CHF/FB  16.4.19.

D.G
NOTES ON A CONFERENCE - 16.4.19.
Present - Director-General, Colonel  ^Major Genl. McCay, D.M.S.

D.D.G. General Wisdom, General McGlinn,

Commonwealth Shipping Representative.
(1) The Shipping position was discussed. The Director-General 
pointed out that the Shipping provided by the Ministry 
of Shipping fell far short of both promise and requirements. 
The Director-General stated that the progress of transferring
troops from France to England was such that he could provide 
sufficient troops to fill any quantity of shipping that the 
Shipping Ministry were capable of supplying.
(2) The Commonwealth Shipping Representative then stated 
that the Ministry of Shipping definitely promised shipping in 
May for a nett capacity at A.I.F. rates of accommodation of 
30,000 troops of all ranks; this to be exclusive of numbers 
allotted to family ships, and also exclusive of numbers allotted
to transports - Karagola, China, Leicestershire, Orontes, 
Devanha, Sudan, and no matter at what date these ships named 
should sail. The Director-General instructed the Shipping 
Representative to press the Shipping Ministry to raise the 
figure of 30,000 above mentioned for the month of May, to one 
of 35,000.
(3) Family Ships. The question of Family Ships was then 
discussed. The Shipping Representative asked the accommodation 
required for May for Family Ships, and was informed that accommodation 

for at least 5,000 persons was required for the month of 
May, and that similar accommodation would probably be required 
for June.
(4) Invalids. The D.M.S stated that he had only 450 real 
invalids in Monte Video, but that there were many others spread 
out over the various Depots who were nominally classed as invalids. 
He stated that many of these were quite fit to travel by ordinary 
troopships, and it was arranged that as many as possible of these 
should be withdrawn from their present employment and sent home 
to Australia on a troopship.
(5) The D.M.S. further stated that after the sailing of
the Leicestershire, he would require invalid accommodation to the 
extent of 200 D.T.B., about the end of May, and a similar number 
during June; he stated that this/would probably complete the
transport of invalids.
(6) The Director-General then discussed the question of 
accommodation in Depots, and laid down that if necessary, tentage 
was to be used to any extent required. It has become desirable 
that all the A.I.F. personnel, now in France, should be brought
to this country, and for this reason, Headquarters, A.I.F. Depots 
Tidworth, were empowered to make full use of tentage.
(7) Subsistence Allowance. The question of subsistence 
allowance for men going on leave, prior to embarkation, was 
discussed. The Director-General stated that the Minister for 
Defence had ruled that subsistence allowance would not be paid.

.2.
(8) Dry Ships. It was stated that the Warwickshire 
carrying passengers in addition to troops, was not a dry ship 
but that liquor was obtainable by the civilian passengers at 
the ship's bars.
The Commonwealth Shipping Representative was 
instructed to take steps to prevent the sale of liquor to 
anybody on board ships carrying A.I.F. Troops.
(9) Rations. The Director-General raised the question
of the/selling of rations by members of the ship's crew and 
their subsequent re-sale to the troops.
The Commonwealth Shipping Representative was asked 
to make the strongest possible representations upon this point 
to the Ministry of Shipping with a view to checking the 
practice.
C H Foot
16 APR 1919
Brig.-General
D/Director-General.
Repatriation & Demobilisation Dept, A.I.F.

RD  Half Ratn   Despatched
16/4/19
Victorian Institute Engineers
Melbourne
Regret unable accept nomination
Monash
file army letter

RD  17-4-19
Australian Corps
For Hobbs aaa Can you ensure being present at Anzac 
day March April 25th and Dominions March May 3 either 
or both aaa If so wire whether you elect ride with me at 
head of Column or prefer ride at head of battalion representing 
fifth Division aaa Your decision urgently required for 
official programme. aaa Monash
D C Mobaust
Col. Jackson

RD  17-4-19 

Australian Corps.                                                   
As soo                                                
Reference your telegram AA 237 of
13th as soon as you have approximately
determined how many of the 8000 men detached
will rejoin telegraph me approximate ^ estimate grand 
total of whole Corps available for demobilization 
after Quota 41 has entrained, and confirm 
immediately after January April 24. - aaa
Monash

RD  19-4-19
My dear Rosenthal.
As you doubtless know, we are to march, on April 25, eight 
abreast, i.e. two columns of fours, side by side.
Several problems arise out of this. – Firstly as to the length (in 
depth) of the Companies. - I think it will be best for, say, A & B 
Companies to march side by side, followed by C & D Companies, side by 
side. - Each double Company should be under the Command of the Senior 
of the two Company Commander, so that the men have only one order to 
obey, in changing arms, or in the salute &c &c. - Also each pair of 
Companies should be equalized, so as to be the same in total depth. -
Secondly, the idea is, to march in the centre of the street. This is quite 
O.K. except where there are "Islands", which are [[musicians?]] in the 
strand, [[musicians?]] & not far apart. - For the sections of fours to move outwards
as they pass these Islands will only lead to the disorganization of the whole 
march, because the outward wheel, at the on approaching the island, &
the inward wheel, after passing it, will be steadily exaggerated down the 
column, which will speedily become wavy & snake-like. -
I therefore consider it best for the column to march, from the very 
outset, with 2 passes interval between the inner flanks of fours. - This 
can be achieved by having 2 N.C.O's marching between the flanks of the
leading fours of each double company, making same a frontage of 
16 men abreast. - These 2 N.C.O's can disengage at each Island.
The effect will be that the main column of fours will clear the Island, 
one on each side of it, without any wheeling, or loss of covering. -
I should ^therefore like you to give the men one hour or two of practice in 
marching in two columns of fours, with an op preserving an exact  
& uniform 2 paces interval between the inner flanks of all the fours, all down 
the columns, & xxx ^thereby avoid any lateral waviness in the march.-
yours sincerely