THE CALL TO ARMS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2497, 25 June 1915, Page 8

THE CALL TO ARMS

A THOUSAND MORE MOUNTED MEN WANTED

On account of the nature of the fighting at Gallipoli it has become necessary to use mounted infantry as infantry, just as the British Lancers and Cavalry Regiments havo been called on to do trench fighting in Flanders. The New Zealand Defence authorities havo deemed it advisable to reinforce the mounted sections to the same percentage as infantry, an increase from 10 to 15 per cent, per month of the- establishment of mounted rifles serving with the Expeditionary Force in the field. The meaning of this decision is that about a thousand men will have to be trained and despatched in addition to the regular reinforcements, and the regular reinforcements 011 mounted infantry will be increased from 10 per cent, to 15 per cent. As it is desirable that these men should be got away as soon as possible, the Force will be made up with the men of the Sixth and Seventh Reinforcemonts, and they in turn will be brought up to strength without any unnecessary delay. Referring to this matter, the Hon. James Alien said that it was not a request from the Imperial authorities that this should be done. No request for reinforcements of any description had como from the Homo authorities; the initiative all through had been with us. In the present instance our mounted men had volunteered to go to Gallipoli from Egypt as infantry; and they were allowed to go. Our arrangement with tho Mother Country was 1 to send reinforcements at the rate of 10 per cent, for mounted men and ?o per cent, for infantry; but as soon as we had found our mounted men were going as infantry we undertook to increase their reinforcements to 15 per cent., and to make that quota retrospective. Thus -we would De sending something like another 1000 men. The men would go into camp almost immediately. They would not take horses with them to the front.

ANSWERING THE CALL

YESTERDAY'S VOLUNTEERS. Tho following men who enrolled and who have been medically examined handed in their papers yesterday:— Robert Watchman, Karori. L. Coker Blundell, clerk, City. Joseph Cochrane, farm hand, City. Robert Priest, labourer, City. Charles Wm. Macdonald, labourer, City. Bertie Cecil Ballinger, clerk, Northland. Thomas O'Gorman, labourer, City. John Sidney Guilford, labourer, City. Peter-Jas. Wilson, clerk, City. Orton Avena Mangin, clerk, City. Alexander Craig, Customs clerk, City. There were thirteen registrations yesterday.

LITERATURE FOR THE WOUNDED

' AN APPEAL FOR MALTA. Sir,—Will you kindly give space to the following extract from a letter wliich I have just received from Dr. Milne Rae, secretary i of the Colonial Committee of the United Free Church of Scotland? I need hardly express the hope that_ Mr. Sim's request will be complied with for I am sure there will be many not only willing, but eager, to send the required literature. -I am, etc., JAMES GIBB. LITERATURE FOR MALTA. "I received a letter this week from the Rev. 6. A. Sim, our Chaplain at Malta, in which he says: 'Any Australian or New Zealand papers would be welcome, as we have a number of men from both these Dominions.' "We have been sending out parcels of literature since September, but the need now is greater nian ever, and the number of wounded at Malta must be increasing daily from the lighting at the Dardanelles. Mr. Sim adds that they can do with all the papers that are sent from every source. "I wonder if you could kindly make this known through your Church papers or otherwise? I am not writing to anyone else in New Zealand about the matter, as I have no doubt you will be able to cause Mr. Sim's appeal to be made known as widely as possible. "Parcels should bo addressed: Rev. (J, A. Sim, 205 Strada Forni, Valletta, Malta." St. John's Manse, Wellington, June 23, 1915. NEWSPAPERS FOR THE TROOPS. (To the Editor.) Sir, —Seeing the request to post newspapers to Mrs. G'hicholo, Cairo, for the use of the soldiers, I mado up a parcel of thirty papers or so. To my surprise I find the postage required is Id. per paper: surely some cheaper method could be davised. Will you kindly use your influence to have this exist- somewhat reduced, say to Id. or 2d. per lb. weight, and so assist those who have :i kindl.v thought for our soldiers in li«vpt <ui<l elsewhere. —1 am, etc., P. ISAACS. Wellington, June 23, 1915. We arc informed by the Post Office authorities that it. is regretted the Post. Office here has no power to reduce this nowspapcr rate to Egypt below Id. for each newspaper. This rate is fixed by mutual arrangement between the conntries concerned, and applies to newspapers addressed to Australia, South Sen Islands. Canada. Egypt, and many other British possessions.

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