THE FIRST DIVISION

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3079, 9 May 1917, Page 7

THE FIRST DIVISION

UNDER 40,000 MEN REMAINING.

The completion •of the seventh ballot under the. Military Service Act 'leaves fewer than 40,000 men in the First Division of the Expeditionary Force Reserve. The roll of the Division contained just under 85,000 Dames before the first ballot-was taken in November last. Since then the number of men. drawn for service, has been 85,312, and voluntary which have been proceeding side by side with the ballots, have accounted for the rest, of the reduction in the nominal strength, of the Reserve. Tho ■ Defence authorities required 8530 names to be. drawn in the seventh, ballot, or five names for every vacancy in the Thirty-first Roinforceinents. It seems certain that this high proportion will be maintained. Apart from the demand for men to cover the' existing shortage in the training camps, a big margin has to be' allowed owing to the recent tightening of the medical examination, and Jjhe increasing proportion of unfit men in the. Division. The volunteering (system is • lifting fit aien out of the Division day by day; and the want tend to remain for the call of the ballot. ' : The size of the next draw cannot be gauged yet, , but the indications are that it will be at least as large as this month's draw, and it.may be larger. • The rate of volunteering is pot increasing among tho First Division men, .