19TH REINFORCEMENTS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 14053, 25 July 1916, Page 8

19TH REINFORCEMENTS.

| MAINTAINING THE FLOW O<F I RECRUITS. ' i (Special to Herald.) ; l WELLINGTON', this day. I The chairman of the Rec raiting Board, Mr W. F. Massey, makes the folkwing statement : — i t The registrations for the 19th Reinforcements, which mobilised for training this week, show a Dominion excess of 93 over normal requirements. The oilicia-1 figures of the enlistments for the infantry, all other arms of the service being full; as at date of Friday, the 21sfc inst., are as follows: — < Auckland military district an excess of one. Wellington military district an excess of 75. . ' Canterbury military district an excess of 32. . ' Otago military- district a shortage of 10. Or a total Dominion excess of 98. At the same data 1158 infantry had | registered for the 20th Reinforcements, I which is due to jaobilise for training [ at the end of August. As the normal requirements for infantry for each four- | weekly draft 'is 1816 men, tbe present- | registrations for the 20th leave, a 'short- | age of 658 men to be found m the ■ coming month. Tha Anzac troops, continues the Prime Minister, are iioav taking a glorious part m the stirring deeds of the present great ' Western offensive, and it is not necessary for ms to remind every fit and eligible" man m the Dominion of the urgent call that daily comes from [ his comrades and felloiv citizens m | France to step forward and fill the | gaps m the ranks. i We read that the Germans are ; AA-ondering how great are the English reserves, because tliey knoAV that the continuance of our offensive Avill depend on our reserve strength. Let the military manhood of this Dominion, by keeping up a steady fknv of reinforcements, demonstrate to the enemy that our reserve force is sufficient to continue the offensive until a definite victory is achieved. It will be a truly glorious achievement ■ if avo can maintain our flo\v of recruits by voluntary enlistment, but maintained they must be, Avhether by tlio voluntary principle, or by bringing into force the compulsory poAvers contained m the "Military Siervice Act.