SIGN ON!

Evening Star, Issue 16237, 5 October 1916, Page 4

SIGN ON!

RECRUIT BECOMES SOLDIER. NEW REGULATIONS OPERATE. “The fit man becomes a soldier from the moment he enlists.” That is how a military officer summed up the new regulations governing recruiting when discussing them this morning. And his summing up is undoubtedly accurate. There were days when a recruit might sign on, be passed medically fit, and ordered to parade for a given reinforcement draft. He could go if he still felt inclined, or he could stay at homo if lie did not feel inclined to go. Now the position is all very different. The recruit is given a choice of going to the training camps within three months instead of six, and if he does not parade on the day his draft goes forward a policeman will probably want to know the reason whv. The lit man enlists to-night, passes the medical examination, and is sworn in without delay. He receives two papeis—a white one, which is the authority to any money order _ office to pay him -ss, being one day’s military pay on enlistment; ami a blue one, which is a pass giving him leave from, say, this evening until the date of departure of the reinforcement draft for which he has enlisted. At 10 o clock on the morning on which his leave expires he has to report at the Kensington Drill Hall. There is thus little possibility _of the objectionable practice of men failing to parade at the last minute being continued. As a matter of fact, the man who fails to go into camp with the draft for which he has been attested may not only be arrested as a- deserter, but may be despatched to camp under c-cort at the first opportunity. Another most important point under the now regulations is that not only does a recruit become a soldier at once, but that he enlists for “general service.” That is to say, that*where formerly a recruit might enlist for the artillery and wait several months for a necessary vacancy to occur, ha now enlists for* “general service’ ; that is, for a given, reinforcement draft. He may express his preference for the artillery, ambulance, mounted rifles, or any arm of the service he fancies. but there is no guarantee that he will get away in the branch for which he has indicated his preference. The military authorities will endeavor to meet the wishes, of_ the recruit in every possible way. but if he says he will go in November in the artillery, and'then later is told that tho artillery are full for November and that he has been transferred to some otlieu branch, ho will have to accept the change in the best possible spirit. He is a soldier, and has to obey orders, so to speak. Tho new attestation papers, containing several fresh questions to bo asked the recruit, and combining both the medical and dental history sheets, are now being used at Kensington. The authorities are likely to be fairly bvtsy for a few weeks, ns ail men who were passed fit three months ago have to bo reattested and re-examined. As a matter of fact, all men leaving for camp with the next draft will use the new attestation papers. It is laid down under the regulations that only men who arc of military age, who have been passed as medically fit, and who have not. more than three children are to he attested. Non-commissioned officers (on probation) aro to be selected for three drafts in hand. Although n.c.o.s will be enlisted for general service, they will be allowed to express a preference for an arm and a draft, and will only be called up for that arm and that draft. A n.0.0. failing to report when ordered will be sent into camp without delay ae a private. The whole scheme was explained by Brigadier-general Sir A. W. Robin during his Dunedin visit. The point upon which the general laid special emphasis was that it is the desire of the Government to keep voluntary recruiting going as long as possible. If voluntarism fails absolutely then of course there is nothing for it but compulsion. A good many people appear to think that it is the duty of the military to find recruits. That, of course, is quite a mistaken idea. The Government will find the men and the military train them.