SWEARING IN RECRUITS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2879, 18 September 1916, Page 6

SWEARING IN RECRUITS

« AN IMPORTANT CHANGE OATH TO BE TAKEN ON ENLISTMENT The following statement. has been issued by the chairman of the Recruiting Board: — "The Military Service Act places every man of military ago (except "mem- ] bers of the Expeditionary Force or men who have been discharged from that Force becauso of disablement or ill-health, after service beyond the seas) iu the Reserve, and into any ballot that may be taken to make good a district shortage. A man who wishes to eseapo the ballot can only do so b.y voluntarily enlisting, taking _ the oath of allcgiance, and thus becoming 3 member of the Expeditionary Force. There is 110 other method by which he can he taken out of the Deserve. Section 53 of the Act gives the Governor-in-Couneil power to make regulations requiring tfio attestation in such form a?, may bo prescribed. . These regulations are being prepared, and it is proposed to bring them into force on Mondayj September 25, 1910. On and after that date all recruits as they register will be sworn. in* as members of the Expeditionary Force. "The new attestation will be for general service. Each recruit, however, will be allowed to express his preference for any arm of the service, and every consideration will bo given for his preference, but no guarantee will be given that he will be transferred to such arm. "The foregoing applies to all men who volunteer for service, on and after Monday, September 25. The men who at that date are registered in the several group offices will be given due notice to attend at a time and plnco which will be Btated, iu order In take the oath of allegiance. Anv man who fails to . attend and swear in will bn struck off the group office register, and will thus remain in the Reserve, and will he liable to bo called up for compulsory service in any ballot that may bo taken to make good a shortage on and after Mondav, September 2-V "The recruit will bo paid the sum of ss. pay for every day or part of a day occupied in travelling from his home to the nearest Defence office or to tile Defence office at which he has been ordered to report for the_ purpose bf being sworn in. In addition, accommodation and boat or railway warrants will be provided in all cases where necessary. A recruit' will not receivo accommodation, boat or railway warrants, or more than 0110 day's pay of ss. if 110 goes out of his district or to other than the nearest Defence office, or to othor than the office that ho has been ordered to report, for the purpose of being sworn in. He will be entitled to pay as a soldier from the due date of his from his homo to undergo his trainiug at ail Expeditionary Force camp."'