Recruiting in Great Britain for the Past Year.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 11503, 4 July 1900, Page 1

Recruiting in Great Britain for the Past Year.

The annnal report of the InspectorGeneral of Recruiting was issued in April. The number of recruits raised for the regular army during the past year was 42,700, and the militia 40,653. The war in South Africa largely contributed to the material improvement which set in, and the year has closed as the best since the introduction of the short service system. Not only did more recruits present themselves for enlistment, but they were of decidedly better physique. The number of men enlisting is steadily increasing, and nothing has contributed so much to this as the decision of the British Government, most municipalities, railway com • panics, private firms, and, in fact, nearly all employers of labour to keep the places open for reservists called upon to rejoin the colours. A marked feature of the year's recruiting hag been the increase in the number of recruits enlisted for the cavalry of the line. The increase compares most favourably with the recruiting for 1898, which in itself was a great improvement over that for 1897. The figures are 2426, 3778, and 4793, for 1897, 1898, and 1899 respectively. During the year 14,289 men left the colours with satisfactory characters, 15,844 were either provided with civil employment or found situations for themselves. Recruiting in the United Kingdom has improved during the year, with the exception of Ireland. The large number of enlistments which have taken place since the commencement of the war shows that when necessary thsre aro ample recrnits forthcoming if there is a chance of seeing active service.