MORE MEN NEEDED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17292, 18 April 1918, Page 4

MORE MEN NEEDED

RECRUITING FROM B CLASS. PROBABLE CURTAILMENT OF NOTICE. (I'nou Oun Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, April 17. In the course ot il day or two iui appeal will bo mode l>y tlio Defence Department for inoro men by voluntary onlistment. Ihe men aro required to <50 into camp at onco or viuriug next month.. Recruiting for members of the !i class has boon closed, owing to tiic fa/jt that a ballot of this class will shortly bo gazetted. Thero is 110 oilieml information to t.luis cifect, but it is probahlo tliat the men of this class will liavo to go without tho tliree months' notice after tho date of medical examination thai. w;u> promise*! t-o them. The promiso was niado by tho Minister that this period would bo allowed, ibut when it was made tho .Minister stated very carefully that this would bo done only so long as it was possiblo to give them loavo for this longer period. Probably it will bo considered tliat this is such an ooension as the Minister may liavo in mind. It is almost certain that the B men, if they aro not forced to go wil tho_ earlier drafts, will bo asked to forego their long leave after their medical examination. Tho number of men required -will Ije in tho neighbourhood of 2500 additional in tho next tliroo months. 0110 of tho points that have not yet been mado cloar is that tho "tank" battalion which is to bo formed is to Ik; a now ibody recruited hero. It will be formed, in tho meantime, out of accumulated reinforcements in England, but New Zealand is to supply the 700 men required to make good the gap thus causc cl. As regards _ shipping accommodation, tho authorities aro satisfied that they will bo ablo to movo all tho men they can get.