THE CALL FOR MORE MEN.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 144856, 7 December 1915, Page 7

THE CALL FOR MORE MEN.

SHORTAGE OF INFANTRY. THE DOMINION’S POSITION. SOUTH ISLAND BEHIND. Tho Eleventh Reinforcements are to commence moving into camp on December 14. Eleven days before that date there was a big shortage of infantry"— that is according to tho latest returns. TAo exact shortage cannot bo arrived at (says Tho Dominion), because the Auckland and Canterbury returns have been made out showing tho gross number of lit men oil tho books, not tho precise number who are willing to go into camp in the middle of this month. However, that does not prevent one trom arriving at the position approximately. Wellington and Otago, by tho way, show their exact positions in vitiation to tho Eleventh Reinforcements. The shortage is mostly in tho South Island, waoro only about 3U per cent, of tho infantry required has boon secured. The positions of toe four military districts aro:—Auckland Military District: Quota, 6'J2; total fit on books, 1058. -Wellington .Military District: Quota, 778; available, IUG9. Canterbury Military District: Quota, 594; total fit on books, 531. Otago Military District: _ Quota, 428; available, 337'. Tho chief arms aro tho infantry and tho mounted. The districts’ positions regarding infantry aro:—

Short. Over. Auckland Military District... Wellington Military District Canterbury Military District 221 Otago Military District 212 As to tho mounted arm, tho district positions are;— Short. Over. Auckland Military District... Wellington Military District ■ OS Canterbury Military District —2 Otago Military District 5 REQUIRED FOR “ELEVENTHS.” Tho totals required of New Zealand for the Eleventh Reinforcements, and the, totals enrolled for it are shown in tho following table;— Required Enou Deo. 14, rolled. Mounted 389 535 Artillery ...1(13 420 Engineers 1)5 197 . • Signal Service 25 59 Infantry 1659 1285 A.S.C. ‘ 20 254 Ambulance 61 245 Totals 2402 2995 The position of tho infantry is as follows >— Required hv Deo. 14. Enrolled. Shortage. *1659 1285 374 The actual urgent need of infantry is, however, far uv excess of 374. The Auckland and the Christchurch enrolments are the gross numbers of (it men on tfio books ot those districts—not the net fit men available for the Eleventh draft. If tho Wellington rate of unreadiness of tho total lit infantry to go into camp this month is taken as a guide, Auckland's and Canterbury’s infantry figures should bo reduced by about one-third. That would show Auckland's fit and available infantry to number about 300, and Canterbury's about 130, which would increase tho Dominion shortage to about 587. The position of the two Islands regarding infantry appears to bo;— Required. Secured. Shortage. North 952 859 93 South 707 213 494 Totals 1659 1072 587 So far as infantry for the Eleventh Reinforcements is concerned, the position is, therefore, about 100 better than it was a week ago. Still, more than 537 infantry short for tho Eleventh have to be found. Gaps in the Tenth Reinforcements remain unfilled, and infantry are needed for that force. _ Wellington Military District alone is being asked for 85 men for tho purpose. WELLINGTON QUOTA ALL IN. EXTRA INFANTRY DEMAND. As tho Eleventh Reinforcements are to go into camp eight days from now tho progress of recruiting in tho Wellington Military District is being watched with close interest. The chief arm regarding which there is anxiety is tho infantry, and the net result of the last week’s recruiting in tho whole of the district is a gain of 132 infantry fit and available for tho December drafts. Tho state of the military district’s fit and available enrolments as compared with the quota required of it for December 14 now is:— Quota. Available. Mounted 126 224 Artillery 53 93 Engineers 31 68 Signal Service 8 18 Infantry 537 559 A.S.C 7 60 Ambulance 16 49 So; while a little ovor a week ago tho district was 110 short of its infantry for the Eleventh Reinforcements, it is now only 22. Nevertheless, still more infantry are required. A call has cpmo for an extra 85 men to fill gaps in the Tenth Reinforcements. The Wellington groin) has been asked for 40 of these extras, Hawke’s Bay and Poverty Bay for 35, and Taranaki for 10. These men are to go into camp on Thursday next.

A week ago all tbo groups except Manawatu were short of infantry for the Eleventh. Now only tho city group, 'Wairarapa and Taranaki are short for that draft. The host recovery lias been made in Taranaki, which improved in the week from 45 infantry available and 52 awaiting examination to 104 fil and 126 awaiting examination. However, the additional call for extras to make up for shortages in the Tenth causes the latest return really to show a deficit. THE NIST SHORTAGE. Taking the infantry wanted by December 0 for gaps in the Tenth draft.

and tho quotas wanted for. tho Elevonth j draft by December 14, the position is; Avail- ShortWanted. able, age. -City and Suburbs 184 129 55 AXanawatn 120 141 —■ Hawke’s Bay 115 106 9 Wairarapa 83 79 4 Taranaki 120 10-1 16 Military district... ■ 622 559 ’63 'Not shortage. »> ' FURTHER LOCAL VOLUNTEERS. The following men have passed tho necessary medical test during tho past few days:—A. L. Humphries, A. It. Julian. L. B. Scrivener, R. J. Brokenshiro, T. L. Brown. F. L. Paid. L. C. Richards, L. L. Sbrimptou.