MILITIAMEN JOIN

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 114, 16 May 1942, Page 7

MILITIAMEN JOIN

SERVICE IN A.I.F.

Stricter Supervision While

On Leave

Australian Correspondent

United Press Association.—Copyright

SYDNEY, May 15. Militiamen are applying in large numbers to join the Australian Imperial Force following the Government decision to permit enlistments from the citizen forces. The Minister for the Army, Mr. F. M. Forde states that he expects a large number of transfers.

The Government decision was made as a result of a conference between Mr. Forde and the Commander of the Allied Land Forces, Sir Thomas Blarney. Normal Australian Imperial Force recruiting continues, but Mr. Forde emphasised there had been no need to appeal for recruits since Japan's entry into the war. Militiamen serve in Australia under the same conditions of training pay and pension rights as the Australian Imperial Force. They can be sent to serve in mandated territories, but they are not permitted to wear the Australian Imperial Force grey background to colour patches, nor the Australia shoulder badge. Mr. Forde announced that the Australian Imperial Force physical standards will be lowered to permit militiamen of inferior physique to join the Australian Imperial Force. The Minister stated that it was now considered if a man was fit to fight in Australia he should be fit to fight outside Australia. Militia officers and non-commissioned officers will retain militia rank on transfer to the Australian Imperial Force. "It is believed, now that all barriers to militiamen joining the Australian Imperial Force have been removed, few men will hesitate to volunteer for service abroad," says a Sydney newspaper. Militia transfers to the Australian Imperial Force were stopped when Japan entered the war. All officers of the Australian military forces have enlisted for service anywhere. Militia officers are in their present positions only because they are considered most valuable there.

Members of the militia enlisting in the Australian Imperial Force will be put in the reserve until the change-over can be effected. In the meantime they remain and train with their present units.

Stricter supervision of Australian servicemen on leave has also been announced by Mr. Forde. Special provost units will watch for men who are under the influence of drink and appear untidy in public Army officers state the untidy appearance of a few men on leave has been shown up badly by the generally smart appearance of the American soldiers, but slouchers were in a very small minority.