AUSTRALIA'S PLIGHT

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2942, 30 November 1916, Page 6

AUSTRALIA'S PLIGHT

NO MEN FOR REINFORCEMENTS

A GRAVE POSITION

The gravity of the situation created by the failure of the Commonwealth Government to secure the required number of recruits was revealed in figures published in Melbourne last week. The men in the Australian training camps, on Saturday, November 18, were sufficient to provido the November draft, without leaving more than a i'ow hundreds in hand.towards December requirements. The rate of recruiting was scarcely sufficient to provide one full monthly draft in three mouths. "Practically all the men now in training will have to bo 6ent forward this month," said the Melbourne "Argus" last week. "In December, it is stated, there will he no reinforcements available in Australia. The small number of men who aro now entering the A.t.F. will not provide anything like sufficient reinforcements for January, and unless there is some great change in the situation, the military authorities expect to he faced by a similar position <lur- | ing tho succeeding months next year. In six weeks only 4000 men have enlisted at the camps m all the State*, and voluntary recruiting at the outside depots amounts to very little, if anything, over 100 men a day for the whole Commonwealth. The Federal Ministry has recognised and proclaimed the inadequacy of recruiting/' "It is expected that a scheme for raising - the necessary men will be announced by Mr. Hughes when Parliament meets at the end of this month. Officers of the military administration insist on tho necessity of losing, no time in taking action. Tho fact that there are no Reinforcements in Australia to bo sent forward next month is sufficient to show the seriousness of the position. But it has also to bo remembered that there are practically no Reinforcements in isight for next year. Australia. has five divisions (100,000 men) at tho front, and the Imperial authorities estimate that to keep them up to fighting strength tho Commonwealth must send forward 16,500 men a month. The men now in camp comnrise this month's reinforcements. There aro nono in training for next month's quota. At tho present rato of voluntary recruiting probably not more than 6000 men a' month are being obtained for the A.I.F. Even that number is reached only with tho aid of the enlistments at tlio A.M.F. camps. In six weeks slightly over 4000 of the compulsorily called up men enlisted for activo service. These men are already in A.I.F. camps, and are included in this month's quota. Owing to tho shortage of men they may not bo given the usual period of training in Australia. They may havo to be hurried off to England to complete their training there. It is admitted that it will he impossiblo to adhere to the syllabus of training which formerly was in force. "There is only ono alternative to providing adequate reinforcements. Should tho supply of men give out ono or two of the divisions at the front must be used to reinforce the others, thus bringing about the gradual elimination of the' Australian Army. Tho places left vacant by these divisions would have to bo filled bv the Imperial authorities. For England to provide reinforcements for the Australian divisions would amount to the same thing. In reply to a question on this point an administrative officer said that in six. months_ a division (20,000 men) in the firing line would_ contain practically none of its original tro'ops. Within that period reorganisation would have to be made on many occasions—probably once a fortnight. That definite and decisive action is required is evident."