THE ELEVENTHS SHORT.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 566, 2 December 1915, Page 10

THE ELEVENTHS SHORT.

MUCH CONCERN FELT.

URGENT APPEAL TO NEW ZEALAND MANHOOD.

COGENT REASONS GIVEN. Press. Association, WELLINGTON,' December 2. An urgent appeal was issued by the Defence authorities to-day for the balance of the men required for the infantry of the 11th Reinforcements. The position, it is slated, is giving tliem grave concern, because if the number is not raised immediately the matter wilt be serious. It has been the reason for the present hanging: back was that eligible men did not wish to spend the Christmas and New Year holidays in camp, but if this is true they considered that it cduld only be due to the failure of New Zealand's manhood to understand the urgency of the call. The statement proceeds: One thousand men are wanted to register at once to make up 600, the balance required for the infantry of , the Elevenths, going into camp on December 14. If these men are not forthcoming by the required date it will mean that New Zealand, for the first time,' has failed to fulfil the definite pledge given the Imperial Government; and more than that, we will have failed in our duty to our ~ own force in the field by not maintaining th£m. at the full strength required. It has been suggested that the numbers might easily be made up after Christmas. So they might, but that involves seri6us consequences if the draft is to ireceive the full period of training arranged. It follows that it will „• depart at a later date. That, in other words, means that it will arrive at the front behind the due time, with consequences that no one can foretell. But this is by no means the most serious aspect of the question, and a more grave matter is that if the Eleventh is a fortnight or three weeks behind the scheduled time of leaving, the departure of subsequent drafts will be delayed in proportion, the reason -Being that the time table of transports has been so narrowed down that We cannot get back in time to fulfil future arrangements. There remain two alternatives:— (1) To send the Elevenths away seriously short. (2) If the draft is made up later to send a very considerable number away only partially trained on the due date. The objections to the first alternative have already been dealt with. The second will mean that not only will a large number of men depart not fully trained, but the efficiency Of the whole draft will suffer as a result. Under these circumstances the authorities appeal with confidence to eligible men in New Zealand to fill up the ranks at once. ,

AUCKLAND'S QUOTA ASSURED. SURPLUS FOR THE TWELFTHS. Press Association, AUCKLAND, December 2. Auckland has completed its quota of (502 men for the Eleventh Reinforcement, to leave on December 14. The quota includes 415 infantrymen, 98 mounted riflemen, and 89 in other branches. Having made up its quota for the Elevenths, Auckland has still a surplus of 460 in'all branches to form the nucleus for the Twelfth Reinforcements. In the last three days the registrations have totalled 69 men. TO-DAY'S LIST. Up to 3 p.m. to-day there were 11 registrations for -enlistment at the Christ church area recruiting office, and four at the C.D.C. bureau. Francis Stevens, 10.'! Worcester Street, clerk —lufsuitry. Frank Williams, c/o 11. I\ Stevens, 10.'5 Worcester Street, clerk—lnfantry. William Dempsey, :S9 Mackworth Street, Woolston, laundry worker—lnfantry. James A. Milne, 145 Linwood Avenue, engine driver—Samoan Relief Force. Matthew J. Woodward, 5I!0 Tuam Street, Linwood, retired—Samoan Relief Force. Hastings W. Washer, 222 Peterborough Street, clerk—Ambulance. Thomas Malloy, Winchester Street, Lyttelton, labourer—lnfantry. Harold N. Day, R.N.Z.A. Barracks, Lyttelton, gunner—Artillery. Duncan Mackay, Sumner Road, Lyttelton, seaman—lnfantry. » Samuel W. Marshman, 5 Dampier's Bay Road, Lyttelton, farm labourer—lnfantry. Alfred Colenson, 23 Queen's IVoad, Shirley,

seaman—lnfantry. Arthur J. Le Cren, 73 Grey Roa<l, Timaru, land salesman—Sanionn Relief Force.

William Patterson, c/o Patten and Pit caithly, clerk—lnfantry. And two others.