IN THE DOMINION.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 144854, 4 December 1915, Page 3

IN THE DOMINION.

THE LURE OF CHRISTMAS. CHECKING RECRUITING. PER PRESS ASSOCIATION. PALMERSTON N.>®ec. 3. ; - District headquarters at—. Palmerston North advised to-day that of 75 available meu who were warned to go into camp yesterday, only 35 did so, the balance explaining that they preferred to take their Christmas and New Year holidays before entering Tronthaiu. This raises grave concern reuT.iding even the existing registrations for tho Eleventh Reinforcements, and it is evident that public opinion has need to assert itself, if the required number ’is to be secured by the 14th mst. The authorities declare that it is quite impossible to give the troops in camp the Christmas holidays, as otherwise Now Zealand cannot fulfil her engagement to keep up tho firing line. Therefore they hope for the necessary response. THE PERMANENT STAFF. ’ STATEMENT BY COMMANDANT. WELLINGTON, Dee. 4. Brigadier-General Robin, Commandant of tlio New Zealand Defence. Forces* has issued a general order stating that frequent applications are being received for permanent commissions to the Staff Corps and Permanent-Staff. The order notifies, for general information, that no permanent appointments in either branch will bo made until after tho war. Appointments will then bo made from amongst those officers and non-comipissionoa officers who have reudered good and efficient service. As tho present establishment is not sufficient to meet the requirements ■of the Defence Act, an increase in the various ranks to the full establishment is at present under consideration. EIGHTH REINFORCEMENTS. A ROUGH VOYAGE. “Shelly” writes aa follows:—“The Eighths had a splentW, voyage as far aS Lyttelton, but after leaving there the sea got rougher iflfcb day until on Thursday night and Friday morning it culminated in a gale of such fury that our transports were considerably knocked about. The men on board were mostly very sick—some were very bad indeed. The sea was rough all the time and the strain of it for about five ; days began to tell on everyone, so that it was with cheers that we received the news that wo were to put into Hobart for repairs to both the men and the boats. I con I’d tell you many funny incidents that happened on Thursday night when a big sea struck tho ship aft. Many a poor follow wished he had not left dry land. As wo got'near Hobart men whom we had not seen since wo left Lyttelton began to get up on deck for the first time and such wrecks they looked, unshaven, unwashed, and pale, bearing witness to the roughness of the voyage. However they soon cheered up as we neared land. We lay in the harbour nil night and had a ‘great .sleep, though we ‘could still feel the boat rocking. This morning we were up before reveille and everyone was shaving and cleaning up and getting ready for on shore. Hobart is a pretty htrio place, and sc are the girls. At tho present moment we are all sitting under Hie gum-trees, nice and shady, _ ta.lVrg to real Tasmanians or writing letters home and wondering how long wo shall be slaying j here.”