THE. EXPEDITIONARY FORCE.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2232, 19 August 1914, Page 6

THE. EXPEDITIONARY FORCE.

TROOPS AT THE CONCENTRATION CAMPS

GENERAL GODLEY'S INSPECTION. WELLINGTON RIFLEMEN'S SPLENDID RESPONSE.

'I'ho concentration camps in the four military districts are now established on a war footing, and training will be started in earnest fronj to-day. At Palmerston. North, camp yesterday, where the men volunteering in the Wellington military district arc concentrating, there were over 1200 men under canvas. This is to be the largest of the four camps, and it is anticipated that over 2000 men will bo receiving final training there before leaving New Zealand. Major-Geiieral Sir, Alexander Godley returns to Wellington this morn 7 ing, after having inspected the Auckland camp, and goes on in the evening to the South Island to inspect the camps at Dune-din and Christchurch. He returns to Wellington on Sunday. The Hon. James Allen (Minister.of Defence) informed a reporter last evening that he had received a telegram from the Commandant (Sir Alexander Godley) stating that he had vistied the Auckland mobilisation camp,.and found everything very satisfactory. The infantry were all in camp, and were a. very good lot indeed. Of the mounted men about fifty per cent, were in camp. Some of- the horses, General Godley reported, were not quite up to the mark. The Minister is not ytft in a position to. say .when he. will .be ablo_ to set out. upon his projected inspection of the mobilisation, camps. _ Pressure of work meantime detains him indefinitely in Wellington. , . The. enlistments in the Wellington i'Military District for the main Expeditionary Fosce have now reached 6250. These include the following numbers' of civilians Wellington, 1600; Palmerston North, 712; Napier, 710; Hawera, 580; Masterton, 330._ In order to raise thp sth (Wellington) Regiment to war strength—looo strong, and. to replace, those who have been accepted for service with the Expeditionary Force—3oo of the general training section posted to the sth. Regiment, is. being called tip. The ships which will convey the New Zealand Expeditionary Force to England, the Prime. Minister: Stated l yesterday, are the Maunganui, Tahiti, Arawa, Athenic, Waimana, Star of . India, Hawkes Bay,.. Ruapohu, • Orari, ■: and Limerick. All necessary arrangements were being made on those ships for the reception of the troops, .but it has r.ot yet been decided which ships shall leave any P ar " ticular port. ■ . IN OTHER CENTRES. GOOD RESPONSE TO THE. CALL. ■ (By Telegraph—Press Association.) Wanganui, August 18. One . hundred and twenty men leave for Palmerston camp to-morrow. An enthusiastic meeting of the Ola Navals' Associatiou last night resolved to offer a company of ' sixty-five ft>r home defence. Palmerston N., August 18. Although the climatic conditions were bad up till yesterday, only three cases .of illness were reported, one of appendicitis and two iof pneumonia. The rifle clubs in the district are rapidly strengthening their numbers. , Creymouth, August 18. A second detachment of 77 men entrained to join the first detachment from the Coast already at Addington; making 200 in all, or over the Coast's quota on a company basis. They were i'arewelled by an immense which gave housing cheers. The second detachment was practically mobilised in twenty-four hours. For instance, a man working in the bush at 2.30 p.m. yesterday was two hours later enlisted, fully eqiiippejl, and ready for the front. There are still numbers offering. ~T!maru, August 18. Twenty more "mounted men- are leaving to-morrow to complete South Canterbury's quota of 160 mounted men and 180 infantry. Hagerty, the boxer, has been accepted for the front. Dunedin, August 18. About, a thousand .men, including 600 from the south, are in camp at Tahuna/ Forty-three of the Army Service Corps men, and twenty-one Engineers, and a detachment of Signallers left this morning for the Dig concentration-, camp at Palmerston North." Lakes County is offering a hundred horses. Huntervllle, August 18. • Eighteen volunteers for the Expeditionary Force have been accepted from this district. , • AUCKLAND TROOPS UNDER CANVAS. INSPECTION BY GENERAL GODLEY. (By Telegraph—Press Association!) Auckland, August ,18. . The great majority of tho volunteers who are .to form the Auckland contingent "of the Dominion's Expeditionary Force are now under canvas at the mobilisation camp "at Epsom: There are still a few men to come 1 into csmp, but by to-morrow* the force will be completely, mobilised. The camp was inspected this morning by General Sir Alexander Godley, who _ had como to Auckland, on' a' brief visit for this special purpose. 'The inspection over, General Godley told the men _ho was going in command of them. He himself would be leaving New Zealand in one of the troop-ships sailing from Wellington, so he would , not have another opportunity of coming to Auckland. Before ho went lie would like to remind them that they, .were going to Europe, Where they would .be serving side by sido with highly-trained and disciplined men, wlio took an infinite pride in their personal appearanco and. equipment. It therefore behoved' them to pay increasing attention to such details and not to become lax in discipline. "I havo no fear," concluded tho General, "that you will not fight if tho need arises, with the same courage as was ■ slioyn by your countrvmon during*'the Maori wars and jn South Africa, and elsewhere." Prior to his departure for Wellington by tlie midday express' General Godley had a confidential chat with all tho ofiicers.