NEW ZEALAND'S RESPONSE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3239, 12 April 1916, Page 50

NEW ZEALAND'S RESPONSE.

THE FIFTEENTH REINFORCEMENTS.

DUNEDIN SENDS ITS FULL QUOTA

OTAGO DISTRICT 51 MEN SHORT. The city was gay with flags on the 6th, when another contingent oi men left tor Trentham for training preparatory to going to the front. The Dunedin men assembled at the drill hall, at Kensington, and, after being addressed by Colonel Smith, marched into town by way of the Anderson Way road and Princes street to the Octagon, thence down Stuart street to the railway station, where .Major Moller brought them to attention to listen to the farewell speeches. The Invercargill and Milton men arrived in Dunedin by the south express, and, after partaking of refreshments at the Early Settlers'' Hall, provided by the Otago Women's Patriotic Association, joined the Dunedin men in front of the station.

There was a large crowd of people in attendance, and the proceedings were most enthusiastic. The Mayor of Dunedin (Mr J. J. Clark), who conducted the farewell ceremony, was supported by the Hon. J. Alien (Minister or defence), members of Parliament, of the City Council, and of the Dunedin Recruiting Executive. The Maori Hill Band (under Mr J. Simpson) led the Dunedin section through the city, and afterwards opened the proceedings at the station by pjaying the National Anthem.

The Mayor said the citizens of Dunedin had cause to be proud of its young men. That day it was sending away its full quota of the Fifteenth Reinforcement.— (Applause.) The people were at last recognising the reality of the war and the need there was for everyone doing his duty to the Empire. Month after month they assembled to say good-bye to brave men, and at those times the one thought in the hearts of all was that those men were going away to fight for them. These men could not do more if the Huns were hammering at our gates, for if the Germans won it would mean as much tragedy and horror to us as to the people of the Old Land.

The crowd showed its appreciation of the valour of the departing soldiers by giving them hearty cheers. Continuing, the Mayor said to the men that they were leaving the city with the heartfelt good wishes of the people, whose earnest prayer it was that God would protect them. They were setting out on a long march-—a march that, it was hoped, would end in Berlin, when they would plant the British banner on the topmost pinnacle of that city.—(Applause.) He was sure they would worthily uphold the honour of the brave lads of Anzae, and that they would do nothing on or off the field that would bring discredit on their city, upon their land, or upon their 1 Empire.—(Applause.)

The Hon. Mr Allen, who was received with cheers, said he appreciated the sacrifices the men before him had already made. He looked to the South Island to show the North Island that, by organisation and work, it could produce regularly its reinforcements without any shortage. The North Island would then follow the example of the South Island in bringing into force the organisation which had been devised in the recruiting scheme put before the people by the National Government and the Recruiting Board.—(Applause.) He again congratulated Dunedin on securing all the men wanted. He was proud to stand in his own city and know that in the Fifteenth Reinforcement there were four more men than were asked for. —(Applause.) Again addressing the soldiers, he said men had fone from New Zealand who were now ead.

"I do not ask you," he added, "to avenge them, but I ask you to complete the work they began—the upholding of truth, honesty, uprightness, and justice, as against military despotism, wickedness, and murder—(Applause)—for there has been murder committed by our enemies. You are going to do this great duty to yourselves and to your country, and we congratulate you, and wish you every success." —(Applause.) The band played another selection. Chaplain-captain W. Gray Dixon also delivered a stirring speech. The men were then marched to the special train, which left at mid-day.

Lieutenant Dobson attended to the entraining. The following is the list of names of the men who went forward from the Dunedin group : CIVILIANS. David Asher. Albert William Austin. James Aitken. Alfred Frederick Beissel. Albert Joseph Bell. Alexander Bennett. Alpiionsus Clark. John Walter Lyall Combs. Paul Davies. William Daniel Drew. Edward Crotty. Thomas Stanley Cockburn. Joseph Dyer. Robert Gorraack. George Garland. Peter Gray. Hugh Scott Hannah. Alfred Henry Heather. Stanley Robert Hill. Robert Lawrie Hutton. Thomas Ingram. William Keenan. Joseph Kicto. Charles Yore Kirke. Malcolm M'Leod. James M'Ciymont. Robert Ross M'Donald. Frederick Digby Mailing. James Monro. William Matheson. Thomas Grettan M'Kenzie. Alexander Rankin M'Kenzie. John MTntyro. Arthur William Mackay. David Morton. Neil Neill. Charles Victor Ogier. Richard Patrick O'Brien. Percy Oliver. Alfred Pellowe. Thomas Reynolds. William Wallace Smith,

Sydney Bach Smith. John Campbell Smith. Arthur George Smith. John Sullivan. James Swanson. Robert Steven. Robert Pryde TurhbulL Kenneth Westfold. James Wyllie. George Wyllie. Walter Alexander WMlie. Peter Kenneth Low. John Maguire. Samuel Hanger. Frederick William Arbucklei INFANTRY. TEKIUTOIUALS. William Jules Borland. Richard Brown. Edward Arthur Barnes. Albert James Bryant. Robert Gilbertson Bowie. George Frederick Chapman. Francis Henry Coatsworth. Taylor Duke. Simon Dick. Fred Ellis. James Guyton. Percy Thomas Gentleman. Alfred Thomas Greig. Joseph Arthur Gibson. Stewart Robert Hall. William Henry Harris. William Ireland. Charles William James King. John Francis Kitto William Wallace Knox. William Taylor Millar. Thomas Marr M'Arthur. William. Miller Lorimer. Bernard Joseph Murnin. James Mitchell Marshall John Lennon M'Bride. Campbell M'Cord. Archibald M'Millan. Harry Hunter Orford. Henry Robertson Parslow. Ernest George Prattley. Robert Hall Rogers. James Henry Traill. Robert Good Percy Turnbull. Harry George Turnbull. Mathcw John Thompson. William Taylor. Geoy Gibson Thompson. James Henry Treloar. Robert Gordon Torrance. Felix Tregarthan Frank Turnbull. Robert Alexander Wilson. Wilfred Charles Waldren. William Robert Wilson. James Wiehart. Peter Draper. James Emerson M'Donald. William Jury. ENGINEERS. TERRITORIALS. Stanley Macwilliam. Leslie Rabbidge. CIVILIANS. James Lillie. Sydney Thomas Smith. MOUNTED RIFLES. CIVILIAN. David Pollok. TERRITORIAL. Farquhar MTvor Sutherland. ARMY SERVICE CORPS. TERRITORIAL. * Horace James Bauchop. ARTILLERY. TERRITORIALS. Harold Leslie Campbell. Gilbert Cooper. Cecil Hunter. John James Stevenson Miller. James Thomas Millow. Francis Clarence W 7 atson. Richmond Pledger. CIVILIANS. Archibald Coleman. William Clark Liddell. N.C.O.'s (17th REINFORCEMENTS)

MOUNTED RIFLES. Leslie M'Kay Paterson. INFANTRY. Leonard Robert Bishop. Frank Fulton Cameron. •>Leslio Galbraith. James Kirk. Arthur Ernest Stevens. Norman Leonard Francis Wood. DEPARTURE FROM MILTON. The South Otago section (Group XVI) quota was 14 short of the district's allotted quota when the volunteers for the Fifteenth Reinforcements paraded at Milton headquarters. The men, the greater number of whom arc civilians, paraded at the Milton defence office on Wednesday evening to answer the roll-call, after which they were dismissed for the evening, and were billeted at the various private hotels. Dxiring the evening they attended the recruiting address given in the Coronation Hall by the Hon. James Allen (Minister of Defence), by whom they were congratulated on having answered the Empire's call. They were afterwards entertained at social func-tions—-©upper in the Y.M.C.A. rooms and a basket social organised by members of St. John's Club. The men paraded again yesterday morning, and marched to the railway station, headed by the 14th Regimental Band. They joined the express to catch the special troop train at Dunedin, and were accorded an enthusiastic farewell by a large number of residents, who had gathered to do them honour. Following was the roll-call of those who took their departure:— MOUNTED RIFLES. Owaka.—■ Geo. T. Falconer. Balclutha—J. Leslie Hall. FIELD ARTILLERY. Roxburgh—W. G. M'Millan. Kaihiku. —John Agnew. FIELD ENGINEERS. Balclutha.—A. E. Spivey. SIGNAL SERVICE. Milton. —David Pringle. N.C.O.'S SEVENTEENTH REINFORCEMENTS. Gore.—John R. Deal, Cyril F. Scobell, Alex. L. Smith. INFANTRY. Pukerau.—John MTvinnon. Kaihiku.—Walter R. Ayson, Peter H. Ayson. Mokoreta. —W. D. Anderson, Geo. Beange.

Waimumu.—Win. G. Barber. Dunrobin.—Murdo M'Kenzie. Clydcvale.—Alex. G. Matheson. Ratantii.—Wm. Williamson. Mataura.—John W. Black, Francis H. Clearwater, Jas. Henry, Jas. R. Wards. Roxburgh.—John Carlin, Jas. H. Cormack, Georgo Collings, Jas. F. Leyden, Gideon A. Smith. Kaitangata.—Chas. H. William?, John R. Williams, Robert Garven, John Hellyer, A. C. Morgan, Jas. S. Rarity. Gore.—Frank F. Cooper, John Fogarty, D. R. Latham, David B. Lyttle, E. D. M'Donald, J. E. L. Simpson, John Taylor. Dunedin.—J. H. J. Gallon. Owaka.—Frederick Hay, Percy S. Johnstone. Balclntha.—Oswald Jonos. Ettr^ck.—W. J. Morrow. W'aiwera South.—C. A. Moore. Edendale.—Thos. Phi Hips. Wyndham.—Lloyd Rankin. Clinton.—Albert J. Sheat. Otaria.—Henry E. Stranger. Waikaka Valley.—W. J. Tripp. Lovell's Flat.—Jas. M. Tweed. Stirling.—Robert S. Weir, Wm. Weir. THE OTAGO QUOTA. DUNEDIN. SECTION COMPLETE. Of the men who left on the 6th 33 proceed to Fearherston and 286 to Trentham. This makes a total of 324, or 51 short of the number Otago was expected to contribute. The numbers allotted to each group and the numbers forward, according to the latest figures, are as under:—

When the Fourteenth Reinforcements left for Trentham, Dunedin was only six men short, but the other groups each showed a big shortage, with the result that the Dunedin group had to send forward a total of 30 men within a fortnight to make up this shortage. Of these only some three or four men came from Oamaru and Invercargill NORTH OTAGO QUOTA. OAMARU, April 6. The North Otago quota of the Fifteenth Reinforcements received an enthusiastic farewell to-day. It was 14 men short. GREYMOUTH QUOTA. GREYMOUTH, April 6. Notwithstanding the extra large draft of infantry, the Fifteenth Reinforcements mobilised to-day only 14 .short, the smallest shortage on the West Coast since December last. Seventy out of 84 required were secured SOUTH CANTERBURY MEN LEAVE. TIMARU, April 5. About 80 men for the Fifteenth Reinforcements left Timaru this afternoon. Others to be picked up en route will make about 110 from the South Canterbury military district. AUCKLAND'S QUOTA. AUCKLAND, April 4. By the noon express 32 mounted riflemen left for Featherston. By special train this afternoon 275 infantry left for Trentham. The country quotas will join the train en route. The' men despatched from Auckland city aro 47 in excess of the number required. SHORTAGE IN HAWKE'S BAY. NAPIER, April 4. The Fifteenth Reinforcements left to-day 47 men short for the group. POSITION SUMMARISED. WELLINGTON, April 6. On the figures available at present New Zealand is 487 infantry short of its quota for the Fifteenth Reinforcements, which are now being mobilised. The Wellington and the Auckland men reached camp to-day, and the figures concerning them are definite. The southern men are coming up tomorrow, and the figures available regarding them are the numbers known just before, departure. From these sources of information the position appears to be:—Wellington military district, 260 short; Auckland military district, 77 short; Canterbury military district, 99 short; Otago military district, 51 short;—dominion total, 487 short. The ..ellington district's original shortage was 269, but a few men have gone to camp in the last couple of days. However, little hope is entertained for the. district making anything like a successful attempt to wipe out its shortage. On the other hand, Auckland has telegraphed to defence headquarters here saying that it can make good all its deficiency by April 13. Although the Auckland district as a whole was short, the city did more than its share. The Auckland group shows a net shortage of 74, and three men were rejected in camp. SHORTAGE OF NEARLY 500. WELLINGTON, April 7. The shortage in the Fifteenth Reinforcements has been increased by the arrival of the southern drafts below their properstrength. Canterbury and Otago, like Auckland and Wellington, have failed to find their full quotas, and the not shortage appears likely to reach nearly 500 men. The present shortages in infantry are approximately as follow:—Auckland, 74; Wellington, 255; Canterbury, 84; Otago, 58;—total, 471. This total is expected to bo increased by about 16 when the West Coast section of the Canterbury draft arrives to-morrow. The chief factor in producing the Canterbury shortage was the failure of group 9 (Christchurch city and suburbs) to provido its quota. Christchurch sent in its infantry 65 men short. The Otago draft went into camp to-day, and was found to lack 58 men in the infantry section. All the other branches were full in the case of both Canterbury and Otago. Defence headquarters has asked t\ic military districts to make up their shortages i;y Friday next.

Number Number allotted. forward. Dunedin ... 117 121 Invercargill ... 108 91 Milton ... 63 49 Oamaru ... 81 48