NOTES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXV, Issue 9155, 1 June 1915, Page 5

NOTES.

COMMONWEALTH FORCES.

Australia has despatched for service at the front, or has in camp preparing for aotive service there, a grand total of 70,101 troops of all ranks, coinprising 2074 officers and 68,027. men of other ranks, with 30,946 horses and 3098 vehicles. Of this total 43,146 men of all ranks have already been sent abroad, 24,976 are preparing to leave, 1622 hay« already seen service in German New Guinea, where a garrison of 457 still remains. Approximately, 80 per cent, of the forces sent abroad were Australian-born. There have been 99 deaths in tho forces sent abroad, and 20 casualties in the force in occupation of German New Guinea. " The unchangeable policy of the Government is to train, equip, and transport to .the seat -of war every available man fit to help defeat our enemies," said the Prime Minister of the Commonwealth, recently. " The equipment of such an army has naturally been a task of the greatest magnitude, calling for every ounoa of energy that can be expected in the manufacture of woollen material and blankets. Practically the whole of the output of the woollen raills throughout the 'Commonwealth is required to equip the expeditionary, forces. Twenty-two mills have been requisitioned and are working up to their full capacity; and, in many instances, overtime is being worked in the endeavour to execute orders at the earliest possible date. Orders are now running with the different mills for,

altogether, over 2,000,000 yards of cloth-for jackets and greatcoats, and cord for breeches; for over 1,250,000 yards o!" Han no] for shirts, etc.; and for nearly 250.000 blankets. "With regard to clothing, applications have been invited throughout tho Con&naa»-wea-lth for firms willing to mak<* ..<Rp ma-torial into garments for the Denartuicnt, and 'orders have been placed ■with, altogether, '124 firms for a total of 638,210 garments of various kinds. Arrangements havo been made for th« supply of nearly 1,000,000 pairs of boots by December 31, 1915,