EXTRA BATTALIONS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2538, 12 August 1915, Page 6

EXTRA BATTALIONS

OUR OFFER ACCEPTED THE MEN WE SHALL NEED BIG FIGURES The offer of two extra battalions of infantry recently made by tho New Zealand Government has been accepted by the Imperial Army authorities. These two batalions will be added to the two battalions of the 'J'Teiit'liam R-egiment to make a new infantry brigade. Yesterday morning the Hon. J. Allen (Minister of Defence) received tho following telegram from His Excellency tho Governor:— "The Army Council gratefully ac- ' copts the offer of tlio Government of New Zealand to send two additional infantry battalions, and heartily agree that they should be trained in the Dominion, until February." "Now that our offer is definitely accepted," said the Hon. James Allen yesterday, "we will provide at Featherston for another 1(J00 men. We had provided originally for 2500, but we will now take 31)00 men there. In the two camps, Featherston and Trentham—tho permanent camps—wo shall take 7600.. Tho new battalions will go into camp when the Trents leave, winch will bo about the middle of October." "Will fresh, recruiting efforts be necessary?" the Minister was asked. "We shall see," lie replied, "tho public may as well know that between now and December 14 next we shall want to have in cam]), iu addition to what wo have now, close on 12,000. Wo shall require that many actually to pass tho medical test. By June of next year we shall want over 22,000 to pass the medical officers. So you see, we have our work cut out; and especially as I have given my positive assurance both to General Birdwood and General Godley that New Zealand will keep up its regular reinforcements to the main body and for these separate battalions —the Trents" and those we have just agreed to send away. "Air we want now is a steady registration of men, without any undue excitement, to supply these added responsibilities; but we don't want tlie ifien who register to leave their ivork until asked by tlie Defence authorities to do so. That is the New Zealand policy, and it has proved its value. "We are making this appeal especially to the young unmarried men, who have not already registered, to get on to the register as soon as they can, and remain at tlieir employment until we ask them to come out. "The Bth are ready to come into camp, and a certain number have registered for the 9th. Mr. Allen stated that he did not consider it expedient to establish a camp at Auckland.