STILL SHORT.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 309, 29 December 1915, Page 6

STILL SHORT.

ELEVENTH REINFORCEMENTS. DEFENCE DEPARTMENT WANTS OVER 400 MEN NOW. Recruiting has been nearly at a standstill during the holidays, and the 11th Reinforcements arc still some 400 men short of their proper strength (says the " Wellington Times" of yesterday). The shortage has been explained so far by references to the Christmas holidays, hut the men who have been holding back for that reason should be able to get into camp now. Recruits are needed urgently at once, in order that the vacant places may be filled and the training of the llths placed on a proper footing.

I Within the next three weeks the 12th Reinforcements Slave to enter camp. The number of men required for that force is 2200, so that altogether the Defence Department requires some 2,600 recruits to come forward for training before the middle of January. The number of men waiting on the books is not sufficient to meet thiß demand, especially if a large allowance has to be made for " wastage," owing to the registered men neglecting to enter camp after they have been called up. It is clear, therefore, that a special effort will have to be made during the next fortnight to get the men that are required.

The Defence authorities hope that the shortage in the 11th Reinforcements will be made good before the 12th axe called up. That can be done if the men who waited to spend Christmas at home will come forward promptly now and go into camp at once.