TERRITORIAL ARMY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 59, Issue 16, 29 October 1938, Page 2

TERRITORIAL ARMY.

STEADY RECRUITING, (Per Press Association.) AVELLINGTON, October 28. “Recruiting is going on steadily, and the Territorial Army should reach its peace-time establishment before Christmas. At present we are only about 1800 short,” said the Chief of the General Staff (Ala j or-General J. E. Duigan, C. 8., D. 5.0.), in an interview to-day. “Tt will be the first time since the abolition of compulsory training that the force has been at full strength. Early in the year there had been a culling-out in the Territorial Army, and this had resulted in the number of discharges exceeding the number of enlistments,” said the General. “Since May, however, enlistments have exceeded the outgoings, au'd last month all three military districts have been well up. Recruiting ip the central and southern districts has been particularly good, and many units are full.

The General said the total number of enlistments in the Dominion in September had been 479, compared with 234 outgoings. It was expected that the October recruiting figures would be good, as already 120 members of the Returned Soldiers’ Association had enlisted in the searchlight sections.