THE NEXT FORCE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2612, 6 November 1915, Page 6

THE NEXT FORCE

QUOTAS REVISED

CITY INFANTRY SHARE REDUCED WITHDRAWALS THE CAUSE MANAWATU IN STRONG POSITION. The Wellington Military District quotas for tho Tenth Reinforcements have been considerably altered, and it is understood from inquiries made that tho reason for the chanm is grave doubt as to whether Wellington City would fulfil tho obligation originally placed upon it. When the quotas were first drawn up Wellington was asked for (among other men) 160 infantry. Several times the quota was almost attained, but calls to provide tho shortages of other districts depleted our stock of men repeatedly. However, at tho beginning of the month the figures showing tho number of men on the hooks led to tho belief that tho City would easily securo its 160 infantry and all tho other men required of it. Apparently, that calculation was quite sound on the surface, but an element not visible in the official returns was at work; tho Wellington office has had numerpus requests from men due to be called up who wish to be set back into January. These requests .have been numerically sufficient (as far as can be ascertained) to cause the authorities to alter the quotas. Wellington will how be asked to find only 130 infantry, and an extra thirty infantry will be failed up from the Manawatu Group. The Wellington Military District is divided into tho following five area groups:—

Group s.—Wellington City and Suburbs. Group 6.—Manawatu. Group 7.—lliuvke's Bay and Poverty Bay. Group 7a.—Wairarapa. Group B.—Taranaki. The original quotas which' thosegroups wero asked to supply for the Tenth. Reinforcements were:— „' „ 5 6 7 7a 8 T'ls. Stonntcd .. 96 36 66 30 86 314 Artillery 48 15 2 2 9 76 Engineers ..:... 20 19 — — 4 « Signallers 6 — — 2 — u Infantiy 160 135 115 75 323 808 f s ;o. se-- 1 14 ambulance 6 3 — — 2 11 Group totals 341 216 183 109 425 1 274 Tho following are tho new quotas:— 5 6 7 7a 8 T'ls. Mounted 96 36 66 30 96 314 Aitillorv 48 15 2 2 9 76 Engineers 20 19 — — 4 43 Signallers 6 — — 2 — 8 Infantry 130 165. 130 128 323 876 A.S.O 5 8 — - 1 14 Ambulance 6 3 — — 2 11 Totals '.. 311 246 198 162 425 1342 Group 7 infantry quota includes fifteen men from tho Now Zealand Rifle Brigade (already in camp), and Group 7a infan.try quota includes fifty-three men for the Rifle Brigade. The numbers of men on' the books of tho groups up to and including November 4 were:— ■ ' 5 6 7 Tfe 8 T'ls. Mounted 90 90 70 65 118 433 Art'll&ry 187 42 29 19 39 316 Engineers 46 31 11 3 20 111 Bisnallers 18 1 1 .10 1 31 Infantry 130 282 103 191 444 1050 A.S.O 122 52 20 19 41 254 Ambulance 97 22 17 23 17 176 Veterinary 3 3 2 1 3 12 Miscellaneous.... — 16 34 4 23 77 Totals '..693 539 287 335 706 2560 ■Tho total of 2560 men on tho books is reduced by twenty-five per cent, when, allowances are made for unfitness mid those unavailable. This is shown by tho table which follows. - Tho,table gives the numbers of men fit and available for tho Tonth" Reinforcements. 5 6 7 7a 8 T'ls. Mounted 87 •84 60 63 50 334 Artillery 183 36 28 11 19 277 Engineers 46 27 8 3 3 87 Signallers 18 — — 6 1 25 Infantry 121 274 76 127 212 810 A.S.O .;.... 119 49 18 4 26 216 Ambulance 95 20 17 7 5 144 Veterinary 3 3 2 1 2 11 Miscellaneous... — 6 9 4 5 24 Totals 672 499 218 216 323 1928 Comparison of the proper sets of figures will show that we still need 66 infantry to make up the district quota. Details of the infantry requirements and.present strength are:— Avail- Short- SutGroup. Quota. ,able. a?e. plus. 5 130 .121 9 - 6 165 274 - 109 7 130 76 64 - 7a 128 127 1 — 8 323 212 111 - / Totals 876 810 175 109 The last table shows that on November 4 every group but Manawatu was then short of its quota.