MEN FOR ARMED FORCES

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 84, 3 January 1940, Page 7

MEN FOR ARMED FORCES

British Proclamation

(British Official Wireless.) (Received January 2, 7 p.m.)

RUGBY, January 1.

A proclamation under the National Service Arunetl Forces Act, issued on Monday, makes liable for service. six age groups. These bring in men of 19 years, men who attained 20 years since December 1. 1939, and men who on January 1, 1940, had reached 23, 2-1, 25, 26 or 27 years. Men of 19 will not, however, -be called up -till they reach 20.

The method adopted, of making liable many groups at once, is mainly dictated by administrative convenience. Men will be called on to register by age groups, one group at a time, starting with men aged 23, while those who reached 20 since December 1,1939, and those attaining that age during 1940, will be registered throughout the year. It is expected that about 2,000,000 men will be made liable for service under this proclamation, and together with 230,000 registered under the proclamation of October, and 240,000 under that of December 1, about 2,750,000 men, including those called up by the pre-war Act, have either joined or been made liable to join the armed forces since the introduction of compulsory service. Though the group called up in October is not yet completely absorbed in the services, it is expected that both this and that of December will be enlisted before the end of February, and the whole of ,the new classes will be with the colours by the end of the present year.

The proclamation, asi far as can be foreseen, covers the manpower requirements of the three services till the end of the year, states a Press Association message.

Sir Thomas Phillips said that arrangements were being made to enable Australians and Canadians drafted to British units to transfer if they wished to Australian or Canadian contingents. Unemployed who had no prospect of work would be called up out of turn if desired.