THE TERRITORIAL ARMY

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22520, 30 September 1938, Page 15

THE TERRITORIAL ARMY

# MANY VOLUNTEERS FOR SERVICE

PEACE-TIME STRENGTH NEARLY REACHED

[THE PRESS Special Service.]

WELLINGTON, September 29.

No special recruiting is being undertaken by the defence authorities at present; but many inquiries about enlistment have been received, both at army headquarters and at the headquarters of the central military district in Wellington. Men of all ages, and representing every walk of life, have expressed willingness to serve in any capacity in the event of the Empire being involved in war. Only those who are eligible for service in the territorial army are being enlisted, though the full peace-time strength of the force has almost been reached. There is no question of taking volunteers for any special duty, and all those enlisting are men who are prepared to undertake the normal obligations of territorial service, and carry out' three years* training. The only object of the defence authorities at present is that of home defence, one staff officer said to-day. The number of inquiries being received was amazing. Telephones at headquarters were ringing unceasingly, and members of the staff could not take their meals in peace, nor were they safe at home. He had even been brought out of bed to answer an inquirer. Many of the men who wished to enlist were married, and a large percentage of them were- businessmen who occupied responsible positions in the community. Recruiting Accelerated Recruiting for the territorial force has averaged 450 for the last three months, and had been greatly accelerated by the present situation. So far only one annual camp has been held during the new training year, that of the Third Composite Company, N.Z.A.S.C., with headquarters at Christchurch, and it is considered indicative of the keen spirit of the territorial force that the full strength of the unit attended. In Wellington a similar spirit exists, and the special instruction classes being held by the recentlyformed Twenty-second Anti-aircraft Battery have been attended by morel l than 60 per cent, of the members of the unit. , .

Inquiries made to-day at the headquarters of the Wellington Division of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve] showed that, as in the case, of the military forces, no special recruiting effort is being made, though numerous applications for enlistment pre being received. The normal method of the reserve is to enlist recruits once a month, and inquirers are being asked to return to the office at a later date. OFFERS RECEIVED BY MINISTER DUNEDIN, September 29. ' Offers for active service in the event of the British Empire being involved in war have been received in considerable numbers by the Minister for Defence (the Hon. F. Jones), during the last few days. In some cases the men offering their services are returned soldiers who served in the Great War, but there have also been bv younger men who wish to serve their country. A communication has been received from a woman, who has expressed her willingness to serve in any capacity in which she may be required.

RETURNED SOLDIERS VOLUNTEER

AUCKLAND, September 29.

In response to an announcement that the Dominion Returned. Soldiers' Association had undertaken to be responsible for providing men from its ranks for searchlight and equipment services at the ports of Auckland and Wellington, more than 50 returned soldiers have offered their services at the Auckland Returned Soldiers' Association headquarters. The men will be organised for duty at this port,