AN URGENT CALL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2628, 25 November 1915, Page 6

AN URGENT CALL

MEN WANTED SHORTAGE ACUTE FOR THE CITY SCARCITY OF INFANTRYMEN. f . } An impression has grown lately that 1 recruiting is very satisfactory in the - City, but from inquiries made yesterday . it appears that tho present position ret veals an acute shortage of recruits. i, , To-day, whatever the gross registra- ; tioris may be, the fact is that the De- - fence authorities have only about sixty i infantrymen on their books. At the j "end of last week there were fifty fit - men willing to join the infantry. This week (three days) only nine fit- infantry- > nion have enlisted. Some of these may ; yet be required for the Tenth Reinforce- [ nionts, but, even if all are left for the - .Eleventh, it is pointed out that the ; City's position is serious. ; The Eleventh go into Trentham Camp l on December 14. That leaves fifteen l recruiting days, and, therefore, about ■ ten fit infantry are wanted every day. i This week the average so far is three ■ infantry daily. Only sixty-five men for all arms have [ registered ( in-the City this week. The figures'for the chief arms are: Total. Fit Lifantry 17 9 Mounted .: 8 6 Both branches 25 15 v This is an exceptionally low rate bt recruiting, and the City military state that a big improvement is needed. Particularly are men urgently required for infantry. ■ . Sinco the outbreak of war 8730 menhave registered in the City. That ia at the rate of about 135 per week so that tho' present slack times are just about the equal of the average. The best week produced about 330 men. TOWN HALL ENROLS 1200. The Town Hall recruiting office, winch has now been open six and a half weeks, has enrolled just on 12U0. men. About firty per cent, of the total registrations have been passed as fit, and nearly forty per cont. have signed on tor infantry. Taking infantry and mounted together, over 50 per cent have joined the more important arms. When the total registrations at the Town Hall were 1165 (on Tuesday morning) the position was as under:— Infantry ;...• 452 Mounted '. 147 Other amis " sgg . - ' Total' 1165 As to the fitness or otherwise of tho men the figures wore:— Unfit 293 Not examined and not returned from doctor - 285 Total 1165 Among the unfits are included those who are temporarily unfit. ■ Striking an average in order to gauge the usefulness of the Central Office the following results are obtained: — i Recruits enrolled weekly .... 170 Fit men per week 87 Infantry and mounted per '«'oek -.. 90 The average for' the whole city for the war period is 135; the average for tne Town Hall for its six and a half weeks' of existence is 170. POOR RECRUITINC. Only nine fit men were enrolled on the city books yesterday, and only one chose the infantry arm. The list is:— Louis, L. J. Eilers, bank clerk, City (Artillery). J Wm.' Aichd. Fuller, broker, City (Samoa). Wm.' A. Stimpson, clerk, City (Mounted). Stephen Roberts, clerk' City (Ambulance). Thompson C. Ward, accountant, Roseneath (Eugineers). - James Robt. West,' saddler, City Darey Auckram, farm hand, Eltham (Infantry). • Walter Geo. Clu'snall, farmer, Ohiro Road (Samoa). A H. Thomson, chemist, Featherston , (Ambulance).

AS WELL IS OAN BE EXPECTED.

I have been informed by the Defence Department," said the Prime Minister yesterday, "that, generally speaking/recruiting is going on as well as could be expected in view of the approach of the Christmas and New Year holidays. There will be no difficulty in -filling up tho reinforcements required within tho next month' or six weeks." .

N.C.O.'S FOR THIRTEENTH DRAFT. The AVellington City Group's N.C.O.'s for the Thirteenth Reinforcements have been chosen, They will proceed •to trentham with the men of the Eleventh Reinforcements on December 14. Their names are:—

Infantry.—A. R. J. Parker, K. G Chamberlain, N. A. Foden, C F AtT. D. H. Hall, G. E. Bradley V L. Hoare A. T Duncan, J. C. Paul, H. A. Petersen, H. H. Smith, H. H S Compton, A. Kyle. Artillery—Kenneth M'lntosh Cole, W. H. Jenkins, G. Howe. . Mounted.—J. Pearson.

MEDICAL ORDERLIES FROM THE ' CITY.

Recently the Wellington City group .called up fifty medical orderlies, and one dispenser, to go into camp at Trentham as permanent ambulance men' , Yesterday the principal medical officer for the district (Lieut.-Col. Elliott) made a selection of twenty-seven men from about thirty-five who presented themselves at Garrison Hall. The IRspenser also, has been chosen. The remaining twenty-three men are being called for. and will be sent into camp shortly, after their acceptance. Those already chosen, are to proceed to Trentham to-day. They are:— Dispenser—A. H. Thomson. Medical Orderlies.—F. Hey W P Crowther, G Sara, Thos. Gilmore,' H? AVeltloii RE. Beharrell, G. C. Russell, Murdoch M'LeanW. C. S. Robinson, G Pearce R Pamell, G. C. Johns, C. E. l n v',F- E m ?°° lev - F - E - Trim. N. E. Pollen, N. B. Sutcliffo, F. Harris, H Saunderson A. Robertson, J. K. Wcirj F Rowband, W. Gooding, R. Kcene, D F. Howell, A. Bruce, J. H. Lepper.