ADVERTISING FOR RECRUITS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15560, 18 March 1914, Page 6

ADVERTISING FOR RECRUITS.

As considerably more than 50,000 replies have been received to the widespread invitation of the British War Office to apply for the new booklet, "The Army and What It Offers," it is to be presumed that a great number of young men in the country are now "throwing a chest" in anticipation of a military career. An official at the offices of the London Territorial Association said that the value of the cinematograph for advertising purposes was shown by what took place at a special meeting in Manchester where a territorial" film was exhibited. At the close of the meeting about 100 young men came forward, in response to an invitation, and joined the local force. To make up the shortage of men, the East Lancashire Territorials were organising cinema exhibitions at headquarters, and in, order to find officers they were carrying on what wa3 practically a house-to-house campaign. The method was to call at the houses of manufacturers' sons and others, of independent means and ask them to assist in the country's defence. Replies would be placed against each name, and when the canvass was completed the result would be sent to the War Office. In East Lancashire the shortage of men alone is about 7000. Major Scudamore, of the London Territorial Association, said that the total shortage, on a war footing, throughout the country was about 65,000. i There were signs of a steadily increasing j interest in territorial work, and. the pro-j bable success of the new Army publicity would encourage the territorial authori-, ties to do likewise. It was very likely/ in fact, highly probable, that the. War Office campaign would also react favourably on territorial enlistment. One of their principal difficulties was the attitude of employers, cfiiefly the small employer, whose business interests clashed with the occasional facilities required by territorials from their masters. He thought that a campaign amongst employers, particularly with a view to finding work for ex-soldiers, was as necessary as a campaign amongst the young men of the country to find recruits.