RETURNED SOLDIERS' CORPS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2918, 2 November 1916, Page 6

RETURNED SOLDIERS' CORPS

SUGGESTIONS TO DEFENCE AUTHORITIES. A cablegram from Sydney states that the New South Wales Returned Soldiers' Association, "disgusted at the result of the Referendum, proposes to form a regiment from the returned men." It is believed that "2000 of tiio men will be ablo to pass the tor."A suggestion of a similar character was mado to tho New Zealand Defence authorities a fortnight ago, but it has not yet received official approval. , The idea was that returned soldiers should bo allowed to form a distinct unit in one of tho Reinforcements. Tlioy would have to bo embodied in the Now Zealand Division after their arrival at the front, but they could bo allowed to train together and travel to the Now Zealand Rase together. The example of tho mon who, having already "done their bit." were prepared to fight again might assist in promoting voluntary recruiting.

"I believe that we could enlist 501 returned men for service with a Returned Soldiers Corps," said one of tho Gallipoli veterans yesterday.. "Hundreds of the men who were invalided home and discharged in tho earlier stagos of the war are now fit for service again. Many of them havo already re-enlisted, and every Reinforcement for some time past has contained returned soldiers who had elected to get into the firing lino again. Why should not theso men ho allowed to go back together, in recognition of tho fact that they are putting their shoulders to the wheel for the second time? They would appreciate tlio concession, and they seem to havo earned it."