THIRTEENTH REINFORCEMENTS.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15501, 31 January 1916, Page 10

THIRTEENTH REINFORCEMENTS.

SHORTAGE OF INFANTRY. Unfortunately the Nelson group area's returns have failed to arrive in time for inclusion in the weekly recruiting report for the Canterbury Military District. Last -week it reported a shortage of 21 infantry. Big shortages in infantry are roportcd by the other group areas as follows: — Christchurch ... 76 Timaru . ... ... 21 • Kaiapoi ... ... 21 Grcvmouth ... ... 2G Le.=s than a fortnight remains to fill the hugo gaps. Other branehos of the service show substantial surpluses. The following tables give detailed particulars: — _\o. 0 Group (Christchurch). Available M?dicaily Not yet tor next Jit. Exanune-I. quota. Mounted Rifles .. 53 11 Ua Artillery .. ..61 u '13 Engineers • • .. U0 2 2G Signal Service ..3 1 °3 lniantry .. 62 IVS 34 Armv Scrvice Corps Ambulance .. ..28 — 28 Veterinary .. II 1 3 Hospital Ship 2 — 2 Tunnelling Corps ..1 — 1 Samoan ltclief ..9 — 0 Maoris • • • • — — — No. 10 Group (Timaru). Mounted Kines ..33 15 50 Artillery .. ..12 2 11 Engineers .. 1 — 1 Signal service ..1 — 1 lniantry ..57 27 CO «»rniy Service Corps 7 — 7 Ambulance .. i) — 0 Veterinary .. ..1 1 1 Hospital Ship .. — — — Tunnelling Corpa ..1 — 1 Saiuoun Keiief ..4 — 1 Maoris •• — — — No. 11 Group (Kaiapoi). Mounted .Rifles .. 32 13 It Artillery ' .. ..10 3 G Engineers .. li 2 i Signal Service ..1 1 1 lniantry .. ..17 27 33 Army Service CorpH 0 4 2 Ambulance .. ..5 2 2 Veterinary .. ..2 — 2 Hospital Ship ..2 — 2 Tunnelling Corps ..1 — 1 Samoan Keliet ..2 — 2 Maoris • • ■ • — — . — No. 11a Group (Greymouth). Mounted llifles ..10 2 10 Artillery .. ; .. 1 2 4 Engineers .. ... i — 4 Signal Scrvice ..1 — 1 Infantry .. ..35 12 27 Army Service Corps 1 — 1 Ambulance .. ..2 — 2 Veterinary .. .. — — — Hospital Ship ..3 — 3 Tunnelling Corps .. — S — Samoan llelief ..4 — -1 Maoris .. ..1 — 1 OTAGO'S QUOTA. (sPECIATj to "the thess.") DUNEDIN, January 20. The infantry branch of the Thirteenth. Reinforcements is still 100 short. On the other hand the Army Service Corps is f"U to March, 1917, and tho Field Ambulance till November next. MEETING IN CATHEDRAL SQUARE. The weekly meeting under the auspices of the C.D.C., in pursuance of its Patriotic Fund campaign, was held in the Square on Saturday evening, prcsidod over by the Mayor (Mr H. Holland). Attracted by the band a large and orderly crowd colloctcd outside the United Scrvice Hotel and were addressed by Mr F. "\Y. Hobbs on the subject and work of the Patriotic Fund, and the necessity for contributing so that every disabled soldier, every widow, and every child would be amply provided for. Mr Hobbs briefly referred to the forthcoming Queen .Election, which, he said, had been organised with the idea of giving everybody an opportunity of contributing to the fund. It was not intended to be a carnival of pleasure, but a keen contest. Speaking of contributions from. the country districts and the general impression existing that the country had not, up to the present, done its share. Mr Hobbs said that a campaign had been organised, with such success that from sums already collected and _ promises of further amounts, £50.000 would be obtained from these districts within the space of three months. The speaker concluded his address with an appeal to the gathering to put their shillings and sixpences into the boxes of the lady collectors. The musical part of the programme was attractively arranged. In addition to the popular airs played by the band, enthusiastic applause greeted the efforts of Mrs H. G. Jones, who gave '■Youi- King and Country Want You" and "Thora," and Mr A. L. Cropp. whose ''Deathless Army'' and "Peg Away," were excellently sung. RALLY AT KAIAPOT. An open-air recruiting meeting was held at the Kaiapoi Band rotunda on Saturday evening. Alter a musical programme by the band, the speakers were introduced by the Mayor (Mr J. H. Blackwell), who presided. An inspiring address <vas given by Mr A. S. Clarkson, who was warmly received. Private H. D. Cookslcy, who lost a !err a t the Dardanelles, said the appeal for more men came from the trenches with a 'desire to &ee the war and its misery shortened. Sergeant Maefarlane, also a returned soidier. u'rged the paramount necessity of men enlisting for the infantry. He knew of a letter received from the front in which the writer said that those on service would make it particularly unpleasant on their return for some of those who were shirking, and who had no ties to keep them back. Private R. Lydster and Corporal T>e Yilliers also appealed to eligible men to come forward. Three men present gave in their names for enrolment—T. AY. Mortland ('Ohoka). P>. P_. Yet to (Ohoka), and A. Robertshaw CKaiapoi).