THE CALL TO ARMS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2729, 25 March 1916, Page 6

THE CALL TO ARMS

LATEST RECRUITS STATEMENT BY HEADQUARTERS

The following ore the latest fit men enrolled at Buckle Street:—

F. S. Cunliile, electrician, City (Infantry).

Hoy S. Smith, marine engineer, City (Artillery).

John C. Wisbart, farmer, City (Infantry).

Sidney B. Wishart. farmer. City (Infantry). David John Douglas, Civil Servant, City (Artillory).

George Watson Telford, cleric, City (Infantry).

Herbert S. Hamilton, lank clerk, City (Infantry). j Donald A. Stiles, farmer, Silverstream (Infantry). . \ James Thomas Markham, letter-car-rier, City (Infantry). J. E. Broivn, storekeeper, Waikanae (Infantry). T. M. Khan, labourer. City (Infantry;.

Francis M. Keating, labourer, City \ Infantry).

Shortages In nth Draft.

Defence Headquarters stated' to n Dominion representative yesterday that tile Infantry shortage in tho 14th Reinforcements had now been reduced to 141, as follows:—

Wellington Military District 4 short Canterbury Military District 48 short Otago Military District 89 short Auckland has sent 12 more than its quota.

, The Department requests that the districts will now bend the whole of their energies toward getting the loth draft into camp at full strength at the beginning of April. Otago and Canterbury have been asked to make up, tlieir shortages, and have been given till the beginning of next week to do so. If they are still short, then the mon are to bo sent in along with the 15th quota. The Training of N.C.O.'s. The following statement of interest to recruits was made by Major A. A. Oorrigan, No. 5 Group Commander, to a Dominion representative:— "The generally-accepted term of N.C.O. class in connection with the Expeditionary Force is creating somo misapprehension. There is no class.. Men aro simply taken as privates or appointed to N.C.O. rank. The first application is made at the Group Office, where a few minutes will quickly discover what military knowledge the applicant possesses, and his suitability for tho rank,, aiid the possibility of ])j s qualifying for commissioned rank. But there is no class. _ Classes for intending N.C.O.'s are held in connection with the sth Regiment, the Artillery, and the Engineers units.- A number of men wisely obtain permisison to join these for drill, which is tho experience which counts. Then, again, there are the enthusiasts ol tho National Reserve, who havo dona tnuch draining, and havo provided a number of men who have well-merited appointments as n.c.o.'s. However, the prevailing imprpssion that there is tt class for the training of n.c.o.'s for the Expeditionary Forces should he corrected, as it is misleading, and is causing muclr disappointment. Tho man who goes into camp as an n.c.o. should already be a competent man, as he only receives an additional two months' training. The final selection of men for n.c.o. rank is mado by District Headquarters. Tho order of selection is, roughly

1. Men who have hold n.c.o. Tank

2. Men who have had good training or war experience, but hare not held stripes. _ 3. Men of perhaps less military experience, but fitted by education and attainments and otherwise.

Every man in camp has a chance of winning his stripes, and, having won t-Kem, a chance of competing for a commission. The camp dungaree and khaki is a wonderful leveller. Grit only tells," 1 Services Rendered by Returned sol--1 dlers. Not the least service rendered by, returned soldiers 'is work done at the Kecruiting Office at Buckle Street, For some mouths now this work has been carried on by men who havo returned wounded. They fiavo liad thoir hard knocks on the held of hattle, but instead of taking' holidays and tours have tackled the recruiting wor'k. It ia not surprising th'aS recruiting officers of this kind are not quite in sympathy with_ the recruit who conies forward seeking some fancy position In the 30th Reinforcements, and in the same breath asks for his arm badge. Grit and the Awkward Art. No fewer than four of the recruiting officers engaged at Buckle Street within recent months have been left-handers with the pen. The explanation, furnishes a tribute to the grit of the New Zealand soldier. Three of the men referred to went to tho front and returned wounded. They offered their services in tho recruiting office and were accepted, but it was found that the whole three had been disabled in the right arm. The men did not let such a. trifle stand in the way, and set to work to learn the I awkward art of writing with the left hand, j Rugby Curtailed. 'At"the annual meeting of the Canterbury Rugby Union the delegates* carried the union's proposals to abandon the usual competitions this season and to confine matches to players under military age.