THE REINFORCEMENT DRAFTS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLV, Issue 4007, 13 August 1915, Page 4

THE REINFORCEMENT DRAFTS.

AUCKLAND CONFIDENT OF RAISING ITS QUOTA. 4000 PROBABLY WANTED. Bv Telegraph— Special Correspondent AUCKLAND, Aug. 18. The statement made by the Minister for Defence (The Hon. James Alien) that between now and December 12 000 additional men will he required front New Zealand for tin; strengthening the forces now fighting in Gallipoli indicates one of the biggest recruiting efforts that the Dominion lias yet had to make, tpen the Auckland military district, probably will be placed the onus of raising between and 4000 men. Wore it not lor urn fact that ail along the line more r«- ( edits have been offering in this province than the Government has L-a prepared to accept, it would mean that would have to come forward at. •Jie rate of nearly 1000 a month in order to make up the required mmib-r b. the date mentioned bv the Dem-m-e Minister, viz., December 14th. Aim!•:iand already has been called upon to provide a larger proportion of men Than the Canterbury ami Otago ostriels, so tliat it will be fairly safe to vork on the assumption that probab.y one-third of the 12,000 men will be required from this district. As a matter of fact, although no definite information is yet to as to the ~,-ota that will he required irorn And:land. the defence authorities anticipate* that at least one-iourtli of :i;c ~gn v battalions will Jiave to he raised here and. with this district’s Quota towards 'the 23 per cent rein tor". •- nients. the total call noon Auckland v. ill be between 2000 and 4000. Thanks the readiness with which reemus have come foiward in the past, A ' - And will be in the fortunate possum o’ having some SOU men in the V ■ district to call upon, even alter tm- -•„ men who will depart in the eours-- oi a low days to join the Bth Leimoi■ ' - meats have been despatched. Lym-i----oonfidonec is entertained hy the meal Defence office as to the prospect'- of raising the men in the snecined turn-. Inquiries made by a AStaiq’ representative this morning oiocjted the assurance that no shortage is anticiapted. On the contrary, it is thought tear Auckland will provide an abundame of men to meet the new call of ifImperial authorities. Nor is it conskier ed probable tluvc t/iose responsible for arising recruits will have to resort : to spectacularly persuasive measures in order to ensure the full number <>i ’ men. Happily. Auckland thus far nas ’ been in the proud position of not navii.g to call upon the recruiting poster, the public meeting, or anv other meth- ■ i od of appeal in order to fulfil its ohhI gations.

j • *VVe got a minimum amount or *-!- | iicioncy by spouting/’ said a local offi- ! I- this morning, ' : a;;d we hope to pull | through without resorting to mos* f methods/' ; There is also every reason to I-’— | Ji.we that riser.- will be fewer grounds ><o complaint on the score of _ uniair ! ticatment of men who have signified I their willingness to serve their coun- | {.j y and who are kept waiting for an indefinite period before they am fin;,f!v accepted. Of recent months considerable congestion lias obtained iu Auckland, partly on account ot more men than are immediately required coming -forward, and further becanse ;h<- winter season has tended to deplete the number of men who, under ordinary weather conditions, could i taken into camp, while the Der'-nce Department is not in a position to give an assurance that the services <•; the offering recruits will be promptly accepted. It is .stated that- there ;« every prospect of the rate or departure ! for camp being considerably acoelernt- ■ >-d in the near future. Simultaneous- ; lv with this promise of a more enemtrt aging state of affairs, attention is again drawn to the inadvisability of recruits relinquishing their situations until actually summoned by me Department to prepare to go into camp.

WHAT iS WANTED. STEADY STREAM OF MEN. (Press Association Telegram,)--WELLINGTON Aug. 12. 'We shall be very glad to hav- tn-c two new battalions,” says General Godley in a cablegram to the- Derenc: Minister, •’provided they do nor interfere with the reinforcements for thforces now existing, and. at this moment, fighting most gallantly :ind s'sspera tely.'■' Tke Minister, referring to this mailer to-day. said that General Godley's caUe-gram emphasised the point he himself laid endeavored to make— That the tirsi duty of the Domini*a: ’-va-s to maintain the reinforceincuts for Hie forces already in ih~. field. A iu.'sivy. demand was going t<> be mad*--upon the. men of the country during tlio next few months in order to maintain the reinforcement drafts, while. :.t- the same time, providing the two extra battalions, but lie had no doubt at all that the recruits would be forthcoming. 1) recruiting had to be .-timu-U-T-t-u by some platform work by public nu’.u, then the netvss.try measures would be taken, but lie hoped that the people of the Dominion realised the importance of the matter sufficiently not to require urging when the line of duty was clear. “A steady stream of registration- i" what we require." added the Minister. Tkmie people, inducting some of the the men at the front, have an idea that, all the able-bodied men should c-e sent away at once, but what the military authorities want is an assurance that gaps will be filled and the fighting forces kept up to strength during tho whole period of the war. The Fourth Reinforcements are at the trout now. Ido not know if the Fifth have arrived there. The Sixth will be on the water soon. In October tho Seventh and two battalions formu*J2 The Treutham Regiment will go. i nope that, by the time they get to tho front, we shall have won 'Gallipoli aml our men will he on the way to P-enstaut inopl e.