A BIG ORDER.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 66, 17 March 1916, Page 6

A BIG ORDER.

1900 MEN IN TEN WEEKS. 1 i c APRIL DRAFT 632, MAT 1264. c t t THE CALL TO INFANTRYMEN. i: t NEED FOR SUSTAINED EFFORT. ) \ Auckland's next district quota goes j into camp on April 4th, when 632 men j ■will leave for Trentham and Feather- ( \ ston —the infantry and artillery going 1 to the former camp, and the mounted J ritles and army service corps men to ' the latter. On this occasion more in- I fantrymen than usual will be dis- * patched. The mounted rifles draft will I consist of 30 men only, instead of 105, as on previous occasions. No arabu- * lance men will he sent, and other arms V have been reduced in order that the ■■ infantry numbers may be increased. - This, presumably, is being done to meet the position in Southern centres, where infantrymen are scarce, but where the j non-combative branches contain lengthy r ■waiting lists. The next Auckland draft will include approximately 500 infantrymen, instead of 394, as in the case of * previous monthly quotas. 1 Auckland's April quota is fortunately J assured. The big recruiting effort will require to be sustained however, for in 1 May we will send away two drafts— , one in the first week, and one in the i last. That means dispatching 1204 men in May, or practically 1900 in the next , ten weeks. The reason for two drafte in May is not because of any extra , demands. It simply happens that way because the four weekly drafts of 632 ! men fit twice into the month. At the present time we have 96;> men on the ■books. 808 of whom are fit for nervier. No less than 504 of these are ready to go next month, so that our April quota is nseured. The position to-day is that men, physically fit, have signified tbe.ir willingness to go with future reinforceniente as follows: — 13ths letbs 17ths IStlis April. May. May. June. Mounted Rifles ... 10!) 31 1 7 ArtJUwy 36 1!) — 3 Engineers '£i IS 8 tSlgual Service 11 7 « — Infantry 275 2r> 1 30 l Army Service Corps 17 !> 7 1 | Ambulance 47 S 6 — Veterinary 7 — — — Hospital Ship 11 — — — Tunnelling Corps X 2 — — — Satnogn Relief 17 — — — Maoris ». 10 — — — 1 Totals MM 112 2» 41 ] AUCKLAND'S EXAMPLE. j The position in Auckland, therefore, is generally satisfactory. Colonel Hume,' ■ 0.C., returned yesterday from an official j visit to Wellington, and he states that j the recruitiug boom in Auckland is being ■ largely featured in Southern papers, and is acting as a useful stimulus in other centres. It ie obvious, however, that in j view of our obligations during the next j six weeks the men enlisting will not:! exceed our requirements. In fact, the I call for extra infantrymen makes it im-1 perative that wo shall keep up a steady i enrolment. To-day's figures show that ' n'hile city recruiting is brisk the coun- ■ try groups are inclined to lag. The j Auckland military district is divided .' into four groups, with headquarters in "j Auckland city, Pacroa, Whangarei, and ' Hamilton. In No. 1 group (City) 534, fit men are waiting to be called up. No. i 4 (Hamilton) has 156 men, No. 2 (Pac- , roa) 99 men. and No. 3 (Whangarei) 771' men only. On thia basis the city is sup-;-plying 534. against a combined tion of 334 from the rest of the district. The actual position is:— : City l'ae- Wba- Hamiroa ngarcl IHou Tl. Monnted Rifles 77 17 23 43 lfiO Artillery 37 !t 4 14 tH ! Engineers 85 8 18 (52 i, Slsnal Service 12 3 :t 8 2«i Infantry I'lß .'!!» 33 05 HS!)' , A.S.I , 20 0 5 4 35; I Ambulance... 51 .1 3 o 021 • Veterinary ... c — — 1 7 Hospital Sblp. in 1 — — 11 Tuunelllnz C. 13 « — 17 85 Samoau Relief S :: S I 17 Muoris 3 7 — — 10 534 00 70 336 80S THE CITY'S EFFORT. On present indications, the regietra- , tions at the City 'Recruiting Office will, , by to-morrow evening, reach the total i. of 1000 for the 14 days' operations. As already pointed out, a good many of the men coming forward simply re-register ' in order that they may comply with the conditions, and 'by submitting to re- ' examination, obtain a badge indicating that they are medically unlit. Nevertheless the number of fit men offering is highly satisfactory, as indicated by the fact that out of nearly 900 men enrolled, 210 only have been rejected. Amongst those who registered yesterday afternoon was Mr H. D. Heather, ohairman of the Harbour Board. Mr Heather was rejected because the medical authorities considered he was over age. Mr Heather ! had to be satisfied with the knowledge that he had set an example to a great many men who are well within the age. The number of enlistments to date is as follows:— No. Re?. Ace. Def. Itej. March 4 to 11.. 559 27r> ISO 128 Monday ill .13 35 23 Tuesday (18 27 20 21 Wednesday ... Dl 21 21 9 Thursday 5M 23 13 17 Friday (till 3 p.m.) 40 25 5 10 Total 892 404 280 208 The group commander (Captain Rust) is exceedingly well (satisfied with the recruiting results indicated by to-day's ■official returns, but point* out that in view of our obligations during the ensuing weeks, a sustained recruiting effort is essential. DEPARTURE OF FIFTEENTHS. Arrangements for the departure of the Fifteenth Reinforcements provide that the non-commissioned officers and men to the number of 632 will leave Auckland on April 4. All members of the Mounted Rifles and Army Service Corpe will proceed to Featherston, via Woodville, by the train leaving Auckland at 12.40 p.m., and the artillery, engineers, signal service, and infantry from Nos. 1, 2, and 4 groups will leave for Trentham by a special train at 2.50 p.m. The infantry from the North Auckland group will leave Auckland by the evening expieee. The midday Main Trunk train will carry 13 non-commissioned officers and men from No. 1 (Auckland) group, four from No. 2 (Pacroa) group, four from No. 3 (Whangarei) group. The men from No. 4 (Hamilton) group. The men from -Nos. 2 and 4 groups will join the train at Frankton Junction. Captain N. j. Ellingham will be in charge of the party on this train. The special afternoon

train will carry 258 men from Auckland, 103 from Paeroa, and 141 from Hamilton, a total of 502. The officer in charge of the special train will be Lieutenant-Colonel E. Slierson, and he will be assisted by Captain F. Batten and a medical officer. The evening train will carry 99 non-commis-sioned officers and men from the North Auckland group. An officer ■will be detailed to take charge of the party. During yesterday afternoon and evening the following men were accepted at the recruiting station in Victoria Street: W. H. Bowman, labourer, Arch Hill. •J. H. Bell, engineer, Balmoral Road. T. A. Cronin, labourer, Matakohe. F, Daniels, auctioneer, Auckland. H. R. Dwight, tinsmith, Anglcsea Road. A. J. Dobson, clerk, Auckland. G. Hatton, waiter, O'Rorko Street. V. Mareantelli, labourer, Ramarama. J. L. McKinstrey, baker, Papakura. T, Mcßrine, labourer, VVaverlcy Street. D. McLean, storeman. Baker Street. 1 ; . Pitkethley, cook, Crummer Road. R. Perkins, cabinetmaker, Brcntwood Avenue. F. Ruddle, tailor, Napier Street. W. G. Spratt, ironmonger. Grange Road. N. C, Wcston, tinsmith, Franklin Road. A. T. Williams, carpenter, Brentwood Avenue. Eleven men enlisted at the Drill H-all this morning, one of the number being rejected and two deferred. The following is a list of the eight men accepted:— H. Jackson, carpenter, New Lynn. J. Graham, carpenter, King's Road, Mt. Roskill. H. Gill, sbcepfarmer, Onehunga. W. Powley, sheepfarmer, Eden Terrace. J. Carroll, eurveyor, c/o T. Carroll, surveyor, Waimiha. W. Connelly, cook, Clarence Street, Devonport. J. South, seaman, Brunswick Street, city. R. Marr, railway porter, Papatoetoe. FIFTEENTH RUNTORCEMOENTS. NORTH AUCKLAND GROUP(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WHANGAREI, Thursday. '''The following is a return of the names of men enlisted in No. 3 Group (North Auckland), who have passed the doctor up to the present date, supplied by courtesy of Captain Walker, No. 3 Group Commander:— MOUNTED RIFLES. R. Wilkinson, Maungatapere; A. Wilkinson, Cabbage Bay; C. Beaumont, Whangarei; V. E. Riekett, Ohaeawai; E. Yorke, Waitangi Falls; F. E. Thompson, Purerua; G. A. Dodd, Maungaturoto; R. J. Eddy, Marohemo; E. K. 1 P.rown, Tara; .1. M. Bowmar, Kuaka. Waipu; H. M. Clcary, Kara: D. D. Donclfcy, Kohukohu; R. O. L. Green, Peria; H. A. McLeod. .1. M. MeFarlane, Waipu; \ E. Sanderson, Mangakura; J. R. Sturge, I jOkaihau; R. S. Carter, Whangarei. j ! ARTILLERY. j j C. F. Gieeen, Whangarei; W. H. 11. j jSmith, Kamo; D. Anderson, Whangarei. J INFANTRY. J j F. H. Slevin, Mangakura; T. H. Jake-j man, Hikurangi; R, Brookcr, Whangarei; j iA. Davidson, Waihaha; F. C. Urwin, jH. W. Mclntoe'h, Honhora; A. McLcn- j nan, Hikurangi; J. R. Morrison, Riverihead; M. E. Ramm, Aratapu; J. G. Gul-J ihransen, Pahi; G. A. Rawlings, Darga- j ville; G- Hammon, Mangawai; O. Mar-. I tint Awanui; G. Agcr, Opua; W. Chris-! Itenscn, Kaitaia; V. Cosson, Awanui; j iJ. Dobson, Hikurangi; H. S. Goodhue,! .Aponga; W. D. Haggcr, Kaimauraau; .1. iHampson, Totara North; J. S. Johnston, iKaretu; W. King, Rangiora; E. A. N. McLean, Kawakawa; W. N. McMurdo, .Marchcmo. ARMY SERVICE CORPS. J. Rumble, Whangarei; W. J. Fulton, Kaipara; F. Ham, Kara; W. E. McKeli vie, Mangapai; A. E. Christenscn, Kaiitaia; A. Shand, W r hangarci; B. R. Thor- ; burn, Ruatangata; A. Wright, Manga - I wahinc. ENGINEERS. H. A. do Lautour, Whananaki. SIGNAL SERVICE. H. J. Walker, Whakapirau. PROBATIONARY NON-COMS. Artillery—T. Battersby, Whangarei; W. F. Clouson, Paparoa; A. J. Edmunds, T. H. Kenny, H. W\ Kclleher, S. M. Vaughan, Whanga-rci. Mounted Rifles.—A. G. Roberts, Whangarei. Three artillerymen and 64 infantrymen arc required to complete the quota. KEW ZEALAND'S SHARE. WORDS OF APPRECIATION. The "New Statesman," in its issue of ! January 2'J last, says: —"To realise the full meaning of the ttgures given by Mr. honar Law on Tuesday (January 25) ac to the number of men bo far contributed by New Zealand to the British forces it is necessary to recall the size of the population from which they arc drawn—which is only just over a million. Thirty-four thousand men (which is equivalent to 1,420,000 from the United Kingdom) have already Jeft New Zealand. liy June, another 15,000 (equivalent to 030,000) will have sailed, whilst a further 12,000 (500,000) will then be in training, making a grand total of over 60,000 (2,550,000). But even this does not represent the. full extent 6f New Zealand's military effort. By this week's mail the full details of the New Zealand war census have come to hand, and we learn that, including those already serving, almost exactly 150,000 New Zealanders have definitely declared their willingness to serve if called upon. It is interesting to ob* ecrve that of these nearly 60,000 arc married men. A contribution of 150,000 from the population of New Zealand is equivalent to a contribution of 6,300,000 men from the population of the United Kingdom, which, as it happens, is as nearly as possible the actual number of men who from first to last have enlisted or attested in these islands. We arc entitled to be very proud of our own record, but it must be admitted that, considering the remoteness of New Zealand, both from the actual scene and from the interests and passions of the struggle, hers is finer, still. It almost reaches the incredible. The stability of the Empire has never been in doubt, and a certain amount of help from the Dominions in case of need was always expected, but such solidarity of sentiment—this willingness to make sacrifices equal to those of the Mother Country—as is exhibited in these figures, is something of which before the war the most wildly sanguine of Imperialists never dreamed."