RECRUITING OFFICE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 75, Issue 90, 16 April 1932, Page 7

RECRUITING OFFICE

LARGE FORCE OF SPECIALS OVER THOUSAND ENROLLEE DEFENCE UNITS AVAILABLE [ Per Press Association. ] AUCKLAND, April 15. Over 1000 special constables were enrolled by tho police in the city to-daj as a safeguard against further disturb anccs. Air. Till, Superintendent of Police has direct charge of all operations, and ho has under his control military, naval and air force units, a largely' augmented police force and a specials force. Thu detective office was transformed into a recruiting depot, when sixty detectives were kept busy at typewriters taking the details of those offering for special duty. Before eight o’clock men were waiting at the office for enrolment, and there was a continual stream of applicants until well after midday. Later in the afternoon when tho 1009 mark had been passed, it was necessary to dose down on the applications in order that tho special force should nol bo too unweildy. All sorts and conditions of men offered their services, but the majority were young fellows of tho average city type. MOUNTEDS ARRIVE WAIKATO TERRITORIALS WERE CAMPED AT GAMBRIDGF I Per Press Association. J AUCKLAND, April 15. Alminted men from the Waikato, comprising two squadrons of Waikato Mounted Rifles, who were in camp at Cambridge and volunteered for special duty in Auckland on Thursday night, reached tho city this morning and were quartered at Epsom showgrounds. The men were in uniform on arrival, but it was decided that they could not operate as a military force and were therefore changed into civilian garb and their arms were changed for batons. Tho decision of the squadrons to offer their services for duty was reached following an appeal made by the Mayor of Auckland over the air for reinforcements, and at eleven o’clock or Thursday night those of the men who were asleep in camp were awakened and a number were recalled from a dance in tho township. A request for railway transport was made to tho railway authorities at Frankton, and tho necessary arrangements were speedily carried out. A railway officer was despatched to Cambridge and shortly after aroused the railway officers along tho line to Cambridge. A special train was then despatched to Cambridge and shortly after three o’clock this morning a start was made to entrain tho mon and horses, the special getting away for the city by 4 a.m. By 9.30 a.ni. the squadrons were accommodated at the showgrounds. In preparation for eventualities tho horses had their shoes removed to make their manouvres on tho paved roads safer. ARMY AND NAVY AID FOR THE POLICE [ Per Press Absociation. ] AUCKLAND, April 15. In addition to the protection pro vided by the police force and special constabulary, Army, Navy and Defence Force units were at hand in the Citj to-day. When the Police Court opened in tho morning detachments of naval men picketed the approaches, preventing any disorder in the environs of the Court, while they continued on duty during the day. Afembcrs of tho Royal Naval Volunteers Reserve were asked to present themselves for service in the evening, and 200 men responded to the call, 56 of these being men on tho non-active list. They were employed in patrol duty, while two sco tions of navai men, equipped with steel helmets and batons, but without rifles or bayonets, were used in Karangahapo Road. The permanent Defence Force, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel J. E. Duigan, was invested with tho responsibility of protecting a number positions in the city and suburbs. The force, which was equipped with steel helmets, rifles, bayonets and aminuni tion, was on duty all day and through out the evening. Members of tk« permanent staff of the Hobsonvillc Air Base wore called into the city and were held as a special reserve unde: control of the Defence officers, who were closely co-operating with the po li e o.