A SERIOUS SHORTAGE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2882, 21 September 1916, Page 6

A SERIOUS SHORTAGE

IN 21st REINFORCEMENTS WELLINGTON DISTRICT WANTS 303 MEN AUCKLAND DRAFT INCOMPLETE The shortago in the 21st Reinforcements is assuming substantial proportions, owing to the failure' of large numbers of registered men to answer the mobilisation call, and it is apparent that the districts will require to make a big effort in order to provide tho additional men required by Tuesday next, tho date fixed for sending tho supplementary drafts into camp. The Wellington Military District has a shortage of no fewer than .303 men to make good. The Auckland draft, which reached camp yesterday, has a shortago of something like 100 men. Preliminary reports indicate that tho South Canterbury, AVestland, and Otago men will come into camp below strength tc-day and to-morrow. Tho recruiting authorities are asking the district' committees to make special offorts to secure the required number of men by Monday, in order that tho 21st Reinforcements may be brought up to full strength on Tuesday. Additional infantry recruits are wanted in all tho districts where shortages have been reported, unless the men already registered will come forward at once. There are many hundreds of men who have registered within tlie last few months and have stated at the time that they would be ready to go into camp in September. Theso men are wenring the King's armlet, but they have caused a shortage by their failure to fulfil their original undertaking. Troubles of this kind'will be impossible under the now system, under which registered men will bo required to tako the oath and so become subject to military discipline; but in the meantime thero is an urgent call for recruits to complete tho 21st Reinforcements, which include the men required to cover tho shortago in tho 20th Reinforcements. Tho shortago in the Wellington Military District of 303 men of all arms is mado un as follows:— Re- Pro- Short-

Eleven mon were rejected on medical grounds after the arrival of the draft in camp, and oight men not included in the abovo.figures went'into camp at. Awapuni, making the net shortage of all arms 303. _ This shortage has been incurred mainly in the infantry, which requires 276 additional men. The Auckland draft wont into camp .yesterday, the last of the men arriving lato last night. A telegram from Auckland, published yesterday morning, sUtcd that the draft was being sent forward with a shortage of only seven men, hut this estimate proved to be over optimistic. Exact figures wore not available last night, but the actual shortage was stated to be not less than 100 in the infantry brancli. Tho Mounted Rifles lacked two mon, the Army Service Corps two men, and tho Artillery one man, and there was one medical rejection in each of those branches, making a total shortage on their account of eight. Wellington Recruits.; Tho following men have been accepted for service in No. 5 Group (Wellington City and suburbs):— J. W. M'Cullough, returned soldier, City. K. H. 0. Caldwell, clork, Karori. H. G. Scott, chauffeur, City. 0. Hodgson, railway fireman, City. 11. J.J. Harris, clerk, City. E. Holtsv' labourer, Karori. H. V. Baker, storeman, City. , P. G. KrusSj engine-driver, City. T. Turner, motorman, Lyall Bay. W. D. West, carpenter, City. L. J. : Maule, law clerk, City.

quired, vided. age. Group. 5 ). 248 176 ' 72 Group 6 '.. ' 173 109 64 Group 7 152 128 24 Group 7a 113 64 48 Group 8 167 76 91 853 553' 300